 2012 Nissan NV. Click image to enlarge |
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2012 Nissan NV
Miami, Florida – When asked to name the second largest Japanese automaker, many people would suggest Toyota or Honda. The correct choice would be Nissan. Ask what Japanese company has been in the commercial vehicle business for 75 years, and the answer is Nissan again.
Nissan flies a little under the radar sometimes, but in partnership with Renault, the company is responsible for over 10 per cent of global automotive and light truck production each year. Surprising, then that we haven’t seen Nissan commercial vans or busses in North America until now.
Better late than never: designed specifically for North American fleet and small business use, the all-new Nissan NV (Nissan Van) commercial van, debuts this year as a 2012 model. Starting at $30,998, the Nissan NV will be available as NV 1500, NV 2500 HD and NV 3500 HD models, the latter two with higher payloads and a high-roof option.
  2012 Nissan NV. Click image to enlarge |
The Nissan NV is a large van with a single sliding door that will compete with the Ford E-Series and Chevrolet Express. Additionally, because it is available with a high-roof, it will also compete with the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
A rear-wheel drive, body-on-chassis vehicle with a fully boxed all-steel frame, the NV is powered with a 4.0-litre V6 engine making 261 horsepower and 281 lb.-ft. of torque, or a 5.6-litre V8 engine rated at 317 hp and 385 lb.-ft. torque. These are the same engines found in the Nissan Titan pickup truck.
Standard features on the NV 1500 S include the V6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission, speed sensitive power-assisted steering, heavy-duty four-wheel disc brakes, 17-inch steel wheels, two passenger seating, upfitter/telematics pre-wiring, audio system, six cargo D-ring and multiple integrated mounting points, and full-size spare tire.
The SV models add enhanced audio, power windows, mirrors and door locks; heated mirrors, remote keyless entry, eight-way power driver’s seat, rear sonar parking sensor, vehicle security system, styled steel wheels, chrome exterior trim and cruise control with steering wheel controls.
Prior to designing and building the NV, Nissan’s research indicated that commercial van owners were one of the least satisfied of any vehicle segment, with many giving up on their vans in favour of a small truck, despite that vehicle’s general incompatibility with their needs (weather protection, security and the ability to carry tall items).
  2012 Nissan NV. Click image to enlarge |
Nissan’s answer is a conventional truck layout with the engine located ahead of the firewall, permitting the NV’s driver and passenger to experience a cab that is similar to that of a pickup truck, without the intrusion of the engine into the cab as would be found in a typical van. This engine location makes it easier to access and service than a van, and frees up space between the seats and at the base of the centre stack. The rear cargo area is 1,378-mm (54.3-inches) wide, easily accommodating standard pallets and 4×8-foot sheets.
The NV 1500 and NV 2500 standard roof models are 2,131-millimeters tall, with 1,417-mm interior height in the cargo area (the 3500 models are 2,156 mm tall), and are able to go through most car washes and drive-through fast-food lanes, according to Nissan. The NV 2500 high-roof version is 2,667 mm tall and the NV 3500 measures 2,692 mm. Their 1,953-mm interior height permits most people to comfortably stand up and work inside the cargo area.
The cabin floor is protected with a washable thermoplastic covering, and the cargo area is lined with a full-length inner wall that protects the outer skin, and is pre-fitted with weld-nut attachment points for aftermarket shelving and cabinets, obviating the need for supplementary sheet-metal drilling. Likewise, the roof is pre-fitted with a roof-rack mounting system that will accommodate several popular systems.
