Nissan compact cargo van looks to muscle its way into segment

Nissan's all-new 2013 NV200 compact cargo van offers class-leading fuel economy and pricing. PHOTO Nissan Canada

TORONTO—Momentum is everything in the automotive world, and Nissan is hoping to ride the wave of success from its full-size commercial van with an entry in the increasingly popular small van market in North America.

Unveiled at the Canadian International Autoshow in Toronto, the Japanese automaker is hoping its 2013 NV200 compact cargo van can cash in on some of the successes its larger NV has had since launching in Canada and the U.S. in 2011.

“Customers looking (at) the NV200 are looking for cost-effective, functional tools,” Nissan Canada senior manager of product planning Tim Franklin said. “Really, we looked at cost of ownership, which is critical to our commercial customers, but also its got a job to do.”

Looking like a mash-up of Nissan’s Murano mated to the back of a milk truck, the NV200 screams functionality right from the outset.

From 40/60 split rear doors and sliding doors on each side, the small-from-the-outside Nissan boasts 3,473 litres of cargo space and a rear floor height of around 20 inches from the ground.

In fact, according to Nissan, the NV200 even has enough cargo room to fit a 40”x48” pallet in the back, an impressive feat for a compact van.

What may be even more impressive, though, is Nissan’s mobile office concept, which sees the no frills NV200 equipped with more storage compartments than an IKEA showroom.

Underseat drawers and a centre console big enough to hold a laptop computer are just a few of the handy features in the NV200, with a passenger seat that turns into a fold-flat work desk the icing on the cake for those on the go.

Getting on the go is done through Nissan’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine mated to an Xtronic CVT transmission, which the automaker said offers best-in-class fuel economy of 8.7 liters per 100 kilometres (L/100km) city and 7.1 L/100km highway.

With the NV200 entering the North American market at a critical time, Franklin said the compact cargo van stands out from the small pack of similar offerings.

“If there wasn’t a market we wouldn’t be going after it,” he said. “We believe there’s an unserved piece of the market that even with (our competitor’s offerings) there are limitations that ours really comes and addresses.”

The NV200 carries an MSRP starting at $22,000.