Maxabout Review

Feature Rich & Practical

The new Nissan NV200 we first saw in concept back in 2007 will debut at the Geneva Motor Show boasting either commercial cargo-carrying or passenger-carrying applications. The Nissan NV200 was previously telegraphed as an in-development product last fall but Nissan was tight-lipped on details.

Nissan is reconsidering its bussiness strategy and intends to tackle the global small van market with the introduction of its new compact NV200 van, designed from the outset as both a commercial and a passenger vehicle. Fitted with front-wheel drive and benefitting from the adoption of a highly compact rear suspension system, the NV200 can house two standard Euro pallets in the cargo area at a time, being able of carrying a maximun upload of 771 kg.

It stands at 1.84m high and has a 520mm ground clearence, the floor itself is the lowest in the class to ease loading, helping to boost the cargo volume to 4.1 cubic meters. Throughout the creation of NV200, attention has been paid to ensuring the highest levels of quality with shut lines and panel gaps in line with the expectations of passenger car buyers.

Built on a modified version of Nissan's B Platform, NV200 has fully independent strut type front suspension mounted on a separate subframe and a compact and lightweight yet robust wide leaf spring rear axle. Designed from the outset as both a commercial and a passenger vehicle, the Nissan NV200 brings new levels of space, comfort and practicality to the small van market, both in Europe and other global markets.

The petrol version will be powered by Nissan's renowned all aluminium 1.6-litre HR16 engine, as found in Micra, Note and Qashqai. Displacing 1,598cc, the 16-valve unit develops 79kW (108PS) and 153Nm of torque and is mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The diesel, also found on Note and Micra, is Alliance partner Renault's acclaimed 8-valve 1.5 dCi (K9K) 1,461cc engine. Developing 200 Nm of torque and 63kW (86PS), it offers an ideal blend of performance, refinement and fuel economy. Power is transmitted through a five-speed gearbox.

To create more space in the cockpit, the gearlever extends not from the floor but from the two-tone wrap around centre console. Above the gearlever, the centre section houses the heating and ventilation controls and the double DIN radio slot. Heating and ventilation extends to all three rows of seats. The NV200 is available with an optional rear view parking camera, a first for a van in this segment, while the cabin is full of storage spaces, pockets and cup/bottle holders. There is also a secret storage space large enough to hide a camera, mobile phones or vital documents within the upper portion of the glovebox.

Joining the parking camera, other car-like items of standard or optional equipment include features such as Nissan's Intelligent Key, power windows and ESP. Safety equipment includes anti-lock brakes with brake assist (BA) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) as standard. Driver and passenger airbags are also standard with side bags available as an option. Pedestrian safety has also been considered with extra crash absorbing material in the bonnet and the adoption of an energy-absorbing bonnet.