It has an aluminium head and block with steel sleeves and has a DOHC 4-valve design, with variable valve timing on select models.

It was added to a new engine family name PLASMA (Powerful ＆ Economic, Lightweight, Accurate, Silent, Mighty, Advanced).

The engine was used in many small to medium Nissan vehicles, including high-performance turbocharged variants.

The 1.6 L (1,596 cc) SR16VE has Nissan's Neo VVL variable valve timing with lift control.

Based on the Single Point Fuel Injection system, it was installed on JDM cars and some UK versions.

The SR18DE crankshaft was produced with four fewer counterweights than the SR20DE variants, which have eight, for lighter weight and better fuel efficiency.

It was gradually phased out over time with the introduction of the low-emissions QR engine family in 2000, until production stopped in 2002.

It is used in the following vehicles: The 2.0 L (1,998 cc) SR20VE has Nissan's Neo VVL variable valve timing with lift control.

It is used in the following vehicles: The 2.0 L (1,998 cc) SR20VET was the first turbocharged engine from Nissan with variable valve lift (VVL), produced exclusively for the Japanese market.