- Nissan introduced its 2011 NV commercial vehicle this week.
- The van debuted at the 2010 NTEA Work Truck Show in St. Louis.
- NV lineup includes a choice of two body styles and two engine options.
ST. LOUIS — Saying that "commercial van owners are among the least satisfied" of any auto buyers, Nissan on Wednesday rolled out the 2011 NV at the 2010 NTEA Work Truck Show. The NV is a beefy commercial vehicle set to launch in late 2010. The NV spearheads Nissan's new offensive into the commercial-vehicle market in North America.
Nissan says the workhorse truck is aimed at plumbers, electricians and other hands-on entrepreneurs. Yet to be revealed are such critical details as pricing, fuel economy numbers and horsepower on the NV's two engines. Nissan said a pricing announcement is planned for fall.
The NV comes in two body configurations: a standard-roof model and a high-roof model. It rides on a 146.1-inch wheelbase and has an overall length of 240.9 inches, as well as a 10-foot cargo floor. The standard roof height on the NV 2500 is 83.9 inches, while the high roof on the NV 2500 is 105.0 inches. Nissan is describing the NV as the "first-ever body-on-frame high-roof van" and says the high-roof version offers enough clearance for people to stand up straight and work in the cargo area.
The NV comes with a choice of two engines, a 4.0-liter V6 or a 5.6-liter V8. Both are linked to a five-speed automatic transmission. The truck will be offered in three models: the NV 1500, NV 2500 HD and NV 3500 HD.
Safety features include optional front side airbags and side curtain airbags.
The cabin gets a center console and overhead storage bins on high-roof models. Bluetooth and rearview monitors are optional.
While the earlier NV2500 concept was based on the same F-Alpha platform as the Nissan Titan pickup, the company says the production NV has been almost completely re-engineered, and the NV and Titan platforms now have little in common.
Joe Castelli, Nissan's vice president of commercial vehicles and fleet, said "commercial van owners are among the least satisfied" of any auto buyers. He said they complain about "aging designs and little innovation."
"The last thing a plumber needs is to feel more cramped on his drive back to the shop," Castelli said.
Inside Line says: Nissan aims to please some van owners who have been largely ignored by other manufacturers. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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mnmaster1 says:
08:15 PM, 05/17/2011
I visited a Nissan dealer with good intention of purchasing the 3500 high roof model.
Rides nice, has more options than any other truck in it's price point. Feels like a good truck.
But, you can't fit a 10' length of pipe inside the cargo area. They could have a made it a foot longer
and everything would be fine. I don't know how they missed the mark, with their supposed 5 year
research and development, you would think the would have picked up on this detail.
A diesel option would nice too.
"Designed To Please Plumbers"......I think I'll pass.
niss2 says:
09:09 PM, 03/11/2010
Nissan just didn't market their Titan or Armada right. They are both very good vehicles and attractive looking. Kind of like the quest. They have the right vehicle line up in place. Just market them right.
kevin118 says:
05:10 PM, 03/11/2010
The full-size Ford Transit, Volkswagen Crafter (why don't they sell it in the US?), the small Ford Transit Connect, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are all good looking trucks (proving a box on wheels can be reasonably good looking). But this trucks is ugly from every direction. The proportions are all wrong and the styling is horrible (especially for the U.S. market). The side looks like a Japanese market micro-van, blown up to full size. The front hood is too tall: the front hood, grille and fenders just don't blend together. The front windshield appears "sunken in" in the overall frontal appearance.
icecubefosho says:
03:15 PM, 03/11/2010
Its a good alternative to the Dodge Sprinter and the TransitConnect. (The tall version that is)
racerx1320 says:
09:48 AM, 03/11/2010
I like it, i mean its hard to make anything thats narrow and tall look good in the first place. Look at Yao Ming.
delraylocal says:
09:31 AM, 03/11/2010
debbaranko says:
12:30 AM, 03/11/2010
This will end up as a DUD like the Nissan Titan and Armada. I wouldnt want to see a plumber put this ugly truck in my driveway. I would live with a backed up toilet before that would happen.
That was one of the most idiotic statements I have ever read on here, not to mention snobby!
markmdz says:
08:26 AM, 03/11/2010
I have to agree with Kevin. Although I like that Nissan is looking to fill a gap of satisfaction (or lack there-of) with the current "Big 3" offerings, I do think they missed the boat a little.
Aside from strange proportions, the functionality standpoint of this is the real issue. The current Big3 vans have a very short front end and 'cab over motor' type layout (not completely but you get the point), which lends itself to a shorter overall length while still having lots of cargo space (specifically length). The height clearance on the pop-top is nice, and the regular height is actually a pretty good looking truck/van thing, but I question its actual utility.
debbaranko says:
12:30 AM, 03/11/2010
This will end up as a DUD like the Nissan Titan and Armada. I wouldnt want to see a plumber put this ugly truck in my driveway. I would live with a backed up toilet before that would happen.
tim140 says:
09:07 PM, 03/10/2010
I hope if Nissan will offer a 3/4 and 1 ton van, they will offer a one ton Titan.
hr_sea says:
07:06 PM, 03/10/2010
If this is platform sharing, this must mean we should be expecting 2500HD and 3500HD versions of the Titan.