An all-aluminium, four-valve DOHC V6 that Nissan began building in 1994, grown from 2.0 to 4.0 litres and honoured by Ward's for years.
The Nissan VQ is a family of all-aluminium V6 petrol engines with four valves per cylinder and DOHC, first built in 1994 in sizes from 2.0 to 4.0 litres. It replaced the VG series and was later built with direct injection, variable valve timing and turbocharging.
The Nissan VQ is a family of V6 petrol engines that Nissan began building in 1994 and kept developing for more than two decades. Its capacities ran from 2.0 litres to 4.0 litres, and the design appeared in sedans, sports cars, SUVs and pickups across Nissan's line-up.
What is the Nissan VQ engine?
Put simply, the VQ is an aluminium V6 built around four valves per cylinder and twin overhead camshafts. Its basic layout replaced Nissan's older VG engines, and later variants layered on variable valve timing, direct injection and turbocharging without changing that core.
Nissan moved the VQ from a timing belt to a timing chain. The water pump was also moved inside the timing cover, where the timing chain drives it.
One aluminium four-valve design, grown from 2.0 to 4.0 litres and refined for more than two decades.
Where did the VQ come from?
Nissan designed the VQ to succeed the VG series. The first engines used EGI/ECCS sequential multi-point fuel injection, and the family was honoured with a record 14 straight selections on Ward's 10 Best Engines list from the award's inception until 2008.
Renault also adopted the family. It branded the VQ25DE as the V4U and the VQ35DE as the V4Y, which meant that Renault cars carried versions of the same V6 under their own badges.
The VQ30DE appeared on the Ward's list from 1995 through 2001, and the VQ35DE was listed from 2002 through 2007 and again in 2016. Those selections followed the engine through a long production run.
How did the DE series develop?
The DE series is the naturally aspirated core of the family, with output running from about 150 PS in the VQ20DE to 261 to 275 hp in the VQ40DE. Larger engines added continuously variable valve timing, lighter camshafts and a variable-length intake system.
The VQ20DE was an aluminium block and head DOHC 24-valve engine with a 76 mm x 73.3 mm bore and stroke. In base form it made 150 to 160 PS (110 to 118 kW; 148 to 158 hp) at 6,400 rpm, and it powered the Cefiro A32 and A33 from 1994 to 2003.
The VQ23DE displaced 2.3 litres (2,349 cc) and used continuously variable valve timing. It produced 173 PS (127 kW; 171 hp) at 6,000 rpm and appeared in the Teana J31 from 2003 to 2008, while the Renault Samsung SM7 and Renault Safrane used a 170 PS version.
The table below sets out the main DE engines by displacement and output.
| Engine | Displacement | Output | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| VQ20DE | 2.0 L (1,995 cc) | 150 to 160 PS (110 to 118 kW; 148 to 158 hp) | Cefiro A32 and A33, 1994-2003 |
| VQ25DE | 2.5 L (2,496 cc) | 190 to 210 PS (140 to 154 kW; 187 to 207 hp) | Renault V4U; some Nissans, later replaced by QR25DE |
| VQ30DE | 3.0 L (2,988 cc) | 192 to 230 PS (141 to 169 kW; 189 to 227 hp) | Aluminium open deck block, Ward's list 1995-2001 |
| VQ35DE | 3.5 L (3,498 cc) | 231 to 304 PS (170 to 224 kW; 228 to 300 hp) | Many modern Nissans; Renault V4Y |
| VQ40DE | 4.0 L (3,954 cc) | 261 to 275 hp (195 to 205 kW) | Longer stroke variant of the VQ35DE |
The VQ30DE-K was an improved version used in the 2000 and 2001 Nissan Maxima. The name comes from kaizen, the Japanese word for improvement, and its true dual-runner intake manifold produced 227 PS (167 kW; 224 hp).
The turbocharged VQ25DET and VQ30DET added forced induction to the same block design. The VQ25DET made 280 PS (206 kW; 276 hp) at 6,400 rpm, while the VQ30DET reached 280 PS (206 kW; 276 hp) at 6,000 rpm from 1998, and it powered the Gloria, Cedric and Leopard models.
The VQ35DE was built at Iwaki in Japan and at Decherd, Tennessee. Its forged steel connecting rods, microfinished crankshaft and nylon intake manifold showed how the design kept getting refined. The 2005 Rev-Up update added variable exhaust timing and raised output to 297 crank horsepower.
What did the DD direct-injection series add?
The DD series took the DE design and added direct fuel injection, which Nissan called NEO-Di, along with electronically controlled continuously variable valve timing. Compression ratios reached 11.0 to 11.3:1 on the 2.5 litre VQ25DD.
The VQ25DD produced 210 to 215 PS (154 to 158 kW) at 6,400 rpm and appeared in the Cefiro A33 and the Skyline V35 250GT. The 3.0 litre VQ30DD produced 230 to 260 PS (169 to 191 kW), and the Skyline V35 300GT reached 260 PS (191 kW; 256 hp) between 2001 and 2004.
The family grew again later. The 3.5 litre VQ35DD arrived for the 2017 model year in the Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60, and the 3.8 litre VQ38DD came for 2020 in the Frontier pickup with 310 hp (231 kW; 314 PS). The Patrol gained the VQ38DD from 2024 with 312 hp (233 kW).
What were the HR and VHR high-revving versions?
The HR series, whose letters stood for High Revolution or High Response, was built for longitudinal engines in rear-wheel and all-wheel drive cars. The VQ35HR debuted in the US with the 2007 G35 Sedan in August 2006 and made 315 hp (235 kW; 319 PS), with a US rating of 306 hp.
The VQ35HR was a major reworking of the DE engine. Over 80 per cent of its internal components were redesigned or strengthened, the block deck was raised by 8.4 mm, and compression rose from 10.3:1 to 10.6:1. Peak torque was 268 lb ft (363 N m) at 4,800 rpm, and the redline reached 7,600 rpm.
Nissan also built a hybrid version in 2010 that paired the VQ35HR with a lithium-ion battery pack. The VQ25HR, the smaller sibling, made 221 to 228 PS (163 to 168 kW) at 6,800 rpm and ran to a 7,500 rpm redline.
The VHR series was the next step. The VQ37VHR was the first Nissan production engine to use VVEL, the company's variable valve event and lift system. At 3.7 litres (3,696 cc) it was rated at 332 bhp at 7,000 rpm and up to 350 bhp at 7,400 rpm, with 270 lb ft (366 N m) of torque at 5,200 rpm.
Which VQ engines went racing?
The most serious competition VQ was the twin-turbo VQ30DETT, which was used only in racing cars, mainly in the Super GT series, formerly the JGTC. Its race output is estimated at around 480 PS (353 kW; 473 hp).
The VQ30DETT first ran in the Skyline GT-R JGTC race cars in the 2002 season and later powered Fairlady Z race cars. Homologation rules allowed it in place of the stock VQ35DE, and it was replaced in 2007 by the VK45DE.
The VQ38HR came from a longer-stroke version of the VQ35HR block and was built for Super Taikyu racing. It powered the Nismo Type 380RS-C, which then dominated the ST class 1 field. Nissan also made limited numbers of a street version, the Fairlady Z Nismo Type 380RS, with 345 hp (349 PS) at 7,200 rpm.
Nismo also produced a modified VQ35DE, the S1, for the Fairlady Z S-Tune GT. It made 300 PS (221 kW; 296 hp) at 7,500 rpm, a higher rev limit than the original engine.
Frequently asked questions
How big was the largest VQ engine?
The VQ40DE was the largest in the standard range at 4.0 litres (3,954 cc). It had a 95.5 mm x 92 mm bore and stroke, a 9.7:1 compression ratio and an output of 261 to 275 hp.
Did the VQ family ever use direct injection?
Yes. The DD series replaced multi-point injection with Nissan's NEO-Di direct injection, and it was used from the VQ25DD in 1999 through to the VQ38DD for 2020 models and later.
Which cars used the VQ35HR?
It debuted with the 2007 G35 Sedan and was also used in the Infiniti EX35, which produced 297 hp (221 kW) by 2009. A hybrid version followed in 2010.
Why is the VQ30DE-K different from the standard VQ30DE?
The K version adds a true dual-runner intake manifold, which improves high-end performance. The VQ30DE-K produced 227 PS (167 kW; 224 hp), while earlier US-spec VQ30DE engines had only a single runner intake.
