Nissan Prairie III (M12) photos

Launched in late 1998, the M12 generation marked the third iteration of the Nissan Prairie lineage, initially marketed in Japan under the transitional Prairie Liberty nameplate before adopting the standalone Liberty badge. Compared to the outgoing M11 series, the M12 featured an all-new front-wheel-drive and optional all-wheel-drive platform with a lower floor pan, a more aerodynamic five-door minivan silhouette, and dual sliding rear doors that improved access in tight urban parking spaces. The cabin was engineered around three rows of seating with versatile folding configurations designed for family use. Powertrain options initially centered on the proven 2.0-liter inline-four SR20DE gasoline engine, complemented by a turbocharged SR20DET unit in the performance-oriented all-wheel-drive Highway Star GT4 variant, while later models switched to the newer 2.0-liter QR20DE engine for improved fuel economy and emissions compliance. Transmissions included a conventional four-speed automatic and Nissan's Hyper CVT continuously variable transmission on front-wheel-drive trims. A comprehensive facelift arrived in 2001, bringing revised headlamps, a redesigned front grille and bumpers, upgraded interior trim, a flip-up rear tailgate window, and an available power-operated sliding door. Unlike earlier generations sold widely in Europe and North America, the M12 generation was built primarily for the Japanese domestic market, later reaching countries such as Russia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom as a grey-market import.