Nissan Cima Third generation (Y33)
Nissan Cima (Third generation (Y33)) was built from 1996 to 2001. Powertrain: Gasoline: 3.0 L VQ30DET turbo V6; 4.1 L VH41DE V8. Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive; Front-engine, four-wheel-drive. Size: 4,970 x 1,820 x 1,445 mm (L x W x H). Weight: 1730 kg.
Composed from the specifications below, so it states nothing the specs do not. Photograph: TTTNIS, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons), from this generation's own encyclopedia entry.
Overview
The all-new Cima was inveiled June 1996 following the introduction of the all-new, shorter wheelbase, Cedric and Gloria twins. The trim package names changed to a European-style alphanumeric format, adding the engine displacement as a part of the name. They were the 41LX, 41LV, 41L, 30LV, 30L, with the performance "Grand Touring" series, starting with the 41TR-X, 30TR, 30T grades, that added aerodynamic appearance parts and the ATTESA E-TS AWD drivetrain upgrade for vehicles installed with a V8. The top trim package 41LX and the 41LV also included a VIP package that added car service, chauffeur-driven features. For 1997 the AWD was added to the 41LV and added the "S-Four" badge.
Source: the English Wikipedia article on this model, CC BY-SA 4.0. Text may be shortened; read the full article for the complete text.
Not yet sourced for this model. Used prices swing with year, mileage, grade and country, so we publish a market range only when it comes with a named source and a date, and never an estimate. For a live figure, use the landed-cost tool with the price on the auction sheet.
Check before you buy
- Ask for service records: turbocharged engines are sensitive to oil changes and cool-down habits.
- Test the four-wheel-drive system (transfer case, differentials) and look for uneven tyre wear.
- Inspect for corrosion at sills, floor, subframes and suspension mounts, and replace perishable rubber (hoses, bushes, boots) at import.
- Read the auction sheet grade and notes, and verify the odometer against service and inspection records. How to read an auction sheet
- Run a history check (accidents, flood, mileage) before you bid. History check guide
- Import age rules: this generation already qualifies in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Confirm the rule for your exact vehicle with customs before buying. Landed-cost calculator
General guidance for this type of vehicle, worked out from its body, powertrain and age. It is not a finding about this particular model; use an inspection and the auction sheet for the car you are actually buying.
Worked out from this generation's production years and each country's age rule. Rules also depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.
Other generations of the Cima
- First generation (Y31) · 1988-1991
- Second generation (Y32) · 1991-1996
- Fourth generation (F50) · 2001-2010
- Fifth generation (Y51) · 2012-2022
More from Nissan · all Nissan models
- Elgrand (Fourth generation) · 2026 - present
- Patrol (Seventh generation) · 2024-present
- Skyline (Thirteenth generation) · 2014 - 2022 (hybrid); 2014 - present (gasoline)
- Fuga (Second generation (Y51)) · 2009-2022
- GT-R · 2007 - 2025
- President · 2003-2010
Can I import a Nissan Cima (Third generation (Y33)) from Japan?
By production year alone, Nissan Cima (Third generation (Y33)) is inside the age window for United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Rules depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.
What powers the Nissan Cima (Third generation (Y33))?
Per its encyclopedia infobox, engine: Gasoline: 3.0 L VQ30DET turbo V6; 4.1 L VH41DE V8.
How big is the Nissan Cima (Third generation (Y33))?
4,970 mm long and 1,820 mm wide and 1,445 mm tall, on a 2,830 mm wheelbase. For container loading, use the container packer.
Answered from this page's own data, not from outside claims. See the sources below.
- en.wikipedia.org (retrieved 2026-10-19)
Confidence: single-source (Wikipedia infobox). Specifications differ by market, trim and model year; the auction sheet or the vehicle's registration document is the final word on a particular car.
- Complete guide · 12 minHow to Import a Used Luxury Car from Japan: Auction Grades, Paperwork and Country Rules (2026)How to import a used luxury car from Japan: what an auction grade means, how to check mileage and history, which export papers Japan asks for, and the age rules in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Kenya.
- General import guide · 9 minHow Much Does It Cost to Import a Car from Japan? (2026)Shipping is only part of it. The real cost of importing a car from Japan stacks purchase, freight, duty, fees, and US-side costs. Here's the full breakdown for 2026, with a worked example.
- General import guide · 9 minThe 25-Year Import Rule, Explained (2026)The 25-year rule is the single most important law in car importing — and the most misunderstood. Here's how it actually works, by month of manufacture, with the EPA and NHTSA thresholds untangled.
- General import guide · 8 min7 Common Car Import Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)Most import horror stories come down to a handful of avoidable mistakes. Here are the seven that cost first-time importers the most money and stress — and exactly how to avoid each one.
- General import guide · 8 minHow to Check a Used Car's History Before ImportingA clean photo and a low mileage number prove nothing on their own. Here's how to verify a Japanese car's real history — mileage, accidents, grade — before you commit a single yen.
- General import guide · 7 minContainer vs RoRo Shipping: Which to ChooseRoRo is cheaper; container is safer. The choice between the two main ways to ship a car from Japan comes down to your car's value and what you're willing to risk. Here's how to decide.