Nissan NV200

On the inside, things are not as basic as how they are on the outside, but still, the Nissan NV200 feels far from being a desirable place to be in. However, all the boxy stance of the vehicle plays a good role here, as the overall profile has let the engineers maximize the space levels on the inside.

The dashboard looks basic but is practically well thought-out with sufficient features on board. One does get a simple three-spoke steering wheel, which doesn’t get steering mounted audio and Bluetooth controls, but has got tilt adjustment. The instrument console looks basic, but it does get a very informative MID screen on its right portion.

The centre console gets a cascading layout, with a 1-DIN music system at the upper centre position. The dashboard mounted gear level feels ergonomically well placed too. Also, the cup holders placed at the corners of the dashboard feel practical too. However, the glove boxes on the upper as well as the lower portion of the passenger-side dashboard could have been covered.

Apart from the music system, the Nissan NV200 misses out on several modern features and does away with only the basics, including a manual AC, front power windows and remote central locking.

The Nissan NV200 might not be the vehicle which is meant to turn heads and be appreciated for the way it looks. The boxy stance and oddball look clearly make it seem a bit weird, but it is this very design which makes it a practical van.

At the front, the NV200 has got a large slanted windshield and a short bonnet, below which there is a Y-shaped front grille with a chrome accent on its lower portion. The horizontally laid trapezoidal headlamps besides the front grille give it a sense of a wide front fascia, however, the blackened front bumper makes it look cheap when viewed from the front.

From the sides, the flat and boxy profile of the Nissan NV200 is well accentuated by the sliding doors and large front side glasses. Here too, the lack of proper wheel caps, let alone alloy wheels, and unpainted door handles and outside rear view mirrors make the side profile look very basic.

The Nissan NV200 looks almost squared when viewed from the rear, as the rear hatch is almost flat and vertical. The rectangular shape for the rear windscreen and small vertical tail lamp assembly do enhance the boxy appeal of the van even further.

The Nissan NV200 might look boxy in appeal, but this very profile doesn’t play much of a spoilsport in its overall driving dynamics, with surprisingly minimal body roll on offer. The Independent MacPherson Strut with Coil Springs at the front and Rigid & Semi-elliptic Leaf Spring at the rear are tuned on a softer side, which in turn, help in giving the NV200 a supple ride quality. Even the turning radius is also low at 5.2 meters, which is very appreciable for a vehicle of this size.

The Nissan NV200 has got a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as the only mill on the option, which feels as simple as the overall theme of the vehicle. The engine is mated to a CVT transmission and pumps out a maximum power output of 109 PS and a peak torque output of 152 Nm. Without any drama, the engine has a linear power delivery and returns a decent fuel economy of 14 kmpl.

The Nissan NV200’s basic appeal is further strengthened by the presence of the required safety features like dual front airbags and ABS with EBD and Brake Assist.

The Nissan NV200 focuses purely on its single aim of ferrying maximum possible load by keeping the driver and co-passenger in comfort. The vehicle might not appeal visually and the lack of features too don’t help the matters much, but then, it is capable of doing its job pretty well.