Used Nissan Primera cars for sale ...

All the engines rev keenly and smoothly, and the controls work with a light, easy precision although the steering is overly light. Steering aside, you’ll enjoy the Primera’s taut, tidy handling and it soaks up bumps pretty well at speed. However, around town the ride is a little too firm. The dashboard, like the styling, may take a little getting used to. The instruments are in a binnacle on top of the centre of the dash easy to read, but out of your natural line of vision. Still, the car is comfortable, roomy and well equipped, and the luggage bay is an adequate size.

Running Costs
In customer satisfaction surveys, running costs are one of the biggest complaints from Primera owners, but they’re really no worse than those of most family estates. Prices aren’t too steep, although you’ll pay a chunk extra for a diesel version and that means it only makes sense if you cover lots of miles. The diesels sip their fuel at an official average of 46mpg to 48mpg, which is on a par with their rivals. Go for the 1.8 petrol and you can expect it to return mid 30s with normal use, while the 2.0 typically gives low 30s. The diesels and 1.8 petrol come in for group 8 insurance, whereas the 2.0 petrol falls into group 10 or 11, depending on its specification. Typical service costs are likely to be cheaper than for estate versions of the Citroen C5 and on a par with the Ford Mondeo’s.

Hatchback
The Primera may not be quite as sharp to drive as a Ford Mondeo, but it isn’t far off. It handles nicely through the bends, with plenty of grip and taut body control, yet it also smooths out bumps at higher speeds. The steering is overly light, though, and the ride is firm around town. However, all the engines are crisp, rev cleanly and work well with the standard manual gearbox. On the motorway, it’s a generally refined cruiser. However, there is a bit of wind noise, and the CVT auto (continuously variable transmission) can make the engine sound rowdy under hard acceleration. The well-built cabin is a roomy five-seater, with the rear bench sited slightly higher than the front seats for an airier feel. The driving position is comfortable and, while the big boot is a useful size, it has an irritating narrow opening.

Running Costs
You’ll be able to snap up a Primera for surprisingly little dosh. They shed money fast from new, so haggle a tasty deal if you’re buying nearly new to cushion you from any subsequent loss in value. The diesel engines are the best for fuel economy, and you can reckon on getting more than 45mpg. However, diesel models cost a fair bit more, so you’ll have to rack up a fair few miles before the better economy claws back the higher asking price. Over lower mileages, the 1.8 petrol makes most sense. It's cheapest to buy, but still good for mid-30s to the gallon. The 2.0 will return about 5mpg fewer. Insurance is pretty modest: groups 8 or 9, depending on spec, for the 1.8; 10 or 11 for the 2.0; and 7 or 8 for the 2.2 diesel. However, servicing isn’t that cheap. The Ford Mondeo, Mazda 6, Peugeot 407, Toyota Avensis and Vauxhall Vectra are all cheaper to service.

Saloon
The Primera may not be quite as sharp to drive as a Ford Mondeo, but it isn’t far off. It handles nicely through the bends, with plenty of grip and taut body control. Yet it also smooths out bumps at higher speeds. The steering is overly light, though, and the ride is firm around town. However, all the engines are crisp, rev cleanly and work well with the standard manual gearbox. On the motorway, it’s a generally refined cruiser. However, there is a bit of wind rustle and the CVT auto (continuously variable transmission) can make the engine sound rowdy under hard acceleration. The well-built, quirky cabin is a roomy five-seater, with the rear bench slightly higher than the front seats for an airier feel. The driving position is comfortable and, while the big boot is a useful size, it has an irritating narrow opening.

Running Costs
You’ll be able to snap up a Primera for surprisingly little dosh. They shed money fast from new, so haggle a tasty deal if you’re buying nearly new to cushion you from subsequent value loss. The diesel engines are the best for fuel economy - you can reckon on getting more than 45mpg - but they're more expensive to buy, so you’ll have to rack up a fair few miles before the better fuel economy claws back the higher asking price. Over lower mileages, the 1.8 petrol makes the most sense. It's cheapest to buy, but still good for mid-30s to the gallon, whereas the 2.0 will return about 5mpg fewer. Insurance costs are pretty modest, too: groups 8 or 9, depending on spec, for the 1.8; 10 or 11 for the 2.0; and 7 or 8 for the 2.2 diesel. However, servicing isn’t quite such a bargain. The Ford Mondeo, Mazda 6, Peugeot 407, Toyota Avensis and Vauxhall Vectra are all cheaper to service.