Nissan VQ engine.

Tasty · 06-27-06, 06:01

I'm leaning toward a Nissan Frontier (actually any one of the small pickups) for my next vehicle, and I see that the Nissan VQ engine is very highly touted. I know some of you can lead me to places where I can read about why this is so. What makes the engine so great that it is considered the "benchmark" of V6 engines. I know that the one in my brother's Pathfinder runs like a scalded dog. That thing will get up and go.

Picus · 06-27-06, 07:02

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_VQ_engine

That's a good place to start. The VQ35DE is the current engine. The VQ is widely touted as one of the best engines around because of it's long history mostly; Nissan has always managed to get high output from it while packing it with a lot of new technology (SFI, VVT, etc..). Right now it's a bit long in the tooth and is missing a couple notable techs like direct injection; but it should be updated soon (probably to a 3.7L version). It's also been incredibly reliable (all versions). It's also remained pretty smooth considering it's size and output. Another factor has been Nissans ability to expand on it with improved variations of the engine; that's probably why it's in like 20 of their vehicles.

It's important to remember that the VQ is considered the "benchmark" of V6's as taken in all it's variations, the current 35DE is just one of many. Probably the "most" famous variant is the VQ30DETT, which is the twin turbo verion in the GT-R.

G35stilez · 06-28-06, 11:43

I'm 2100 miles deep on my new G35 with the VQ35DE and love it.

The engine has power in any gear at any RPM. The torque is great across the board and up top the car pulls hard.

The only thing I wish for is better gas mileage. I'm averaging about 20mpg right now with a 60/40 (city/highway) split...It may just be because it's not fully broken in yet (according to other owners).