Specification

Verdict

This van is all about practicality rather than sassy looks – if you want max loadspace in a small van, the NV200 reigns supreme.

 

Gross vehicle weight (kg) 2,000
Power (bhp/rpm) 86/3,750
Torque (lb-ft/rpm) 147/2,000
Load volume (cu m) 4.2
Payload (kg) 731
Comb fuel economy (mpg) 54.3
CO2 emissions (g/km) 137
Price as tested (ex-VAT) £13,515

 

By John Charles

2 emissions (137g/km to 153g/km).

 

he van on test here is a bit special, being the first of a series of new commercial vehicles that are pure Nissans rather than clones of models from parent company Renault.

The NV200 replaces the Kubistar (Renault Kangoo) and later this year we will see a new 3.5-tonner to replace the Interstar (Renault Master).

So how does Nissan’s first home-grown effort shape up?

Looks-wise, it appears a trifle odd at first. It’s very Japanese, which is hardly surprising, and the wheels look a bit too small for the body.

But ignoring the aesthetic qualities of the NV200, there is certainly no doubting its practicality.

It’s a step up into the cab, which means the driver sits higher than in, say, the rival Citroën Berlingo. The seats are nice and supportive although a little short in the squab for six-footers like me, while there are plenty of cubby holes and cupholders to keep white van man happy.

In the back, there’s 4.2 cubic metres of loadspace, which is this van’s real unique selling point. This compares to the Berlingo’s 3.3 cubic metres, although the Citroën will hold almost as much with the long body and special fold-down passenger seat engaged.

The fact of the matter is that Nissan has managed to once again create a new sector for itself. It sits between the likes of the Berlingo and its bigger brother the Dispatch.

It’s interesting to see that it has Renault’s evergreen 1.5dCi diesel powerplant under its bonnet – and that’s no bad thing.

This unit can be found in all sorts of cars and vans and beats the Berlingo hands down on both fuel consumption (54.3mpg to 48.7mpg) and CO

On the road the van proves lively, although on the minus side, the power steering is a tad light for my liking and our test model had rather a notchy gearchange. Also on the grumbles front, there isn’t a rev counter on the dash either, which seems a rather curious omission nowadays.