Nissan Philippines introduces the All-New Nissan Livina 7-seat MPV with the following introductory prices for the four variants available in the local market:

• Php 1,029,000 for the E M/T
• Php 1,109,000 for the EL A/T
• Php 1,149,000 for the VE A/T
• Php 1,209,000 for the VL A/T.

Geared for modern and on-the-go families and multitaskers, Nissan is targeting the Livina as a multi-purpose vehicle that will address its clientele's various needs and lifestyles. If it looks familiar, it's because the Nissan Livina shares the same platform, drivetrain, and powertrain as the highly successful Mitsubishi Xpander. It is the direct offshoot of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, which began in 2016.

According to Nissan Philippines president Juan Manuel Hoyos, the subcompact MPV segment has seen an 18% year-to-date growth.  NPI saw the opening of the economy as the perfect time to introduce the new model to the country. Nissan is banking on the Livina's versatility to make it appeal to the Filipino market.

Among the features that make the Livina a worthy contender in the segment are its signature V-Motion Grille, floating roof design, 16-inch alloy wheels for the VE and VL trims, LED daytime running lights, and rear combination lamps. The VL variant also sports silver accents on its exterior, while the rest of the lineup wears black. 

Inside, the All-New Nissan Livina VL gets the lion's share of amenities and comforts with its Keyless Entry System, black leather material seats and steering wheel, a color LCD meter display, a 7-inch infotainment system with six speakers, front and rear air conditioning vents,12 cup and bottle holders, a front passenger seat tray, multiple USB charging, and 12-volt sockets,  and storage compartments hidden under the rear floor. Both the VL and VE variants come with 6-way manual adjustable driver seats.

The All-New Nissan Livina also includes a basic set of tech under its Nissan Intelligent Mobility suite. This consists of a rearview camera and parking sensors. It has Hill Start Assist to make driving up hills less nervy and Vehicle Dynamic Control and Traction Control System for a more stable and safer ride over various surfaces. Nissan mentioned multiple airbags and ISOFIX anchor points are also included in the Livina.

Underneath the hood is a 1.5-liter DOHC gasoline engine that churns out 105 ps and 141 Nm of torque. There are two transmission options:  a 4-speed automatic and a 5-speed manual. Again, all similar to what the Mitsubishi Xpander is offering. 

While sales will only begin on September 15th, Hoyos did mention that reservations are already being taken across Nissan's dealer network. The published prices of the first three variants of the Livina do undercut the Xpander, but not by much. It is worth noting that the top-of-the-line VL, which is priced lower by Php 71,000 compared to the Xpander Cross, does come with leather interiors and 16-inch wheels, both not available in any of the Xpander variants currently on the market. 

Do you think the All-New Nissan Livina will be a worthy contender against the Mitsubishi Xpander, the Honda BR-V, or even the Toyota Veloz?