Nissan Prairie I (M10) photos

Debuting in August 1982, the first-generation Nissan Prairie (chassis code M10) was a groundbreaking vehicle that helped define the modern compact minivan and multi-purpose vehicle segment. Developed without a direct predecessor, it combined the front-wheel-drive platform and mechanical layout of the B11 Nissan Sunny with a tall, boxy five-door body shell inspired by European concept studies. Its most celebrated engineering hallmark was a pillarless body structure that omitted the conventional B-pillar on both sides; opening the front hinged doors and the rear sliding doors simultaneously created a massive, unobstructed aperture for effortless passenger entry and cargo loading. Depending on the market and trim level, the flat-floored interior accommodated five, seven, or eight occupants across two or three rows of seats that could be folded flat into a bed. Initial powertrains consisted of 1.5-liter E15 and 1.8-liter E18S inline-four gasoline engines, soon joined by the more modern 1.8-liter CA18 and 2.0-liter CA20 units, paired with either a manual gearbox or an automatic transmission. In 1985, a mid-cycle facelift brought refreshed front fascias, revised tail lamps, and the introduction of a four-wheel-drive variant that required structural reinforcements and a modified rear suspension. The M10 Prairie achieved global reach, marketed under its original name in Japan and Europe while being sold in North America as the Nissan Stanza Wagon and in select regions with Datsun badging until production ended in 1988.