Used 2019 Nissan NV200

The 2019 Nissan NV200 is a compact van with a small footprint and an ability to carry lots of cargo. In other words, an ideal work vehicle for the scads of companies that need an affordable and fuel-efficient delivery van that’s easy to drive in the city and economical to operate. This compact Nissan cargo van may not be as large or as sophisticated as the newer Ford Transit Connect or Ram ProMaster City, but it can still haul 122 cubic feet of goods. Moreover, its large cargo area can be tailored by specialized upfitters to better serve the needs of your business — be it flower delivery, A/C repair or plumbing. Whatever your business, the NV200 is at home in the city, and it fits with ease in a typical residential garage. Its price of just over $23,000 (destination fee of $885 included) undercuts the Ford and Ram by about $1,000. Also, the Nissan has the best commercial-van powertrain warranty, good for five years and/or 100,000 miles.

Nissan also sells an NV200 Taxi, a bright-yellow model that seats up to four passengers (three across the vinyl rear bench, one in front) and has a spacious rear cargo area with a low load floor. The NV200 Taxi, with EPA Combined fuel economy of 24 mpg and a standard navigation system, starts at $30,550.

It’s a van that drives like a compact car — that’s the best way to characterize the NV200, which really is remarkably easy to drive. The car-like suspension, small overall size and tight 36.7-foot turning radius allow Nissan’s compact cargo van to access spaces that larger vans and SUVs can’t even consider. U-turns are a cinch, and the standard rearview monitor makes parallel parking much easier. A large windshield provides an excellent forward view, and big side mirrors do their best to compensate for the large blind spots created by the solid side panels. A window in the sliding passenger-side door is optional. While the 2.0-liter engine, which produces 131 horsepower, is fine for low-speed cruising around town, it doesn’t make the NV200 a powerhouse. The 4-cylinder mates to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), helping fuel economy, but a loaded NV200 works hard to reach highway speeds.

In a cargo van, of all things, function can take precedence over style. There’s 122.7 cubic feet of cargo volume in the NV200, whose cargo bay boasts a low and flat floor that makes loading the van a breeze. Impressively, the cargo bay can accept a standard 40 x 48-inch pallet. Also, 20 reinforced cargo-mounting points allow the installation of racks and shelves without drilling into the NV200’s side walls (six exterior roof-rack mounting points are also standard). The NV200 interior also features two bucket seats; the driver’s fitted with a right armrest. Of note, the passenger seat folds flat to create a quasi-workbench, thanks in part to a 15 x 13-inch tray built into the seatback.

The NV Taxi, it’s worth noting, boasts exceptional rear legroom, and its rear-seat passengers also benefit from two USB ports, side-curtain airbags, a panoramic glass moonroof, and their own air conditioning controls.

As a box on wheels, the NV200’s styling — or lack thereof — isn’t a big concern. Function again trumps form. Accessibility is easy thanks to dual sliding side doors and 60/40-split rear doors that open 90 or 180 degrees. At just over 21 inches, the cargo load floor is about two inches lower than that of the Ford Transit Connect and slightly lower than that of the Ram ProMaster City. At 186.3 inches, the NV200 is just a few inches longer than a Nissan Sentra sedan. Unlike the Transit Connect, however, the NV200 does not offer a choice of lengths. While the NV200 Taxi is available only in yellow, it can be ordered with or without black graphics.

LONG WARRANTY
The 2019 Nissan NV200 offers an excellent 5-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, besting the coverage plans from Ford, Ram and even Mercedes (with its considerably pricier Metris). The NV200 Taxi has an even better powertrain warranty, good for 5 years or 150,000 miles.

NIFTY REAR CARGO DOORS
The NV200’s 60/40-split rear doors are a clever design. The offset allows a handier, larger opening closer to the curb, and the shorter door intrudes less into traffic when it’s open. Both doors, by the way, have open positions of 90 and 180 degrees.

Nissan’s 2019 NV200 remains available in two trims: S and SV. The S model has air conditioning, a cargo-bay floor protector, cargo-area work light, manually adjustable front seats with vinyl wear patches, power windows, power door locks, Bluetooth, a rearview camera and an AM/FM/CD audio system with a USB and rearview monitor. For an extra $1,000, the higher-level SV model adds cruise control, a 12-volt power outlet in the rear, six D-rings mounted to the cargo floor, power heated exterior mirrors, satellite radio and wheel covers.

Both trims of the Nissan NV200 can be had with a window in the sliding passenger-side door, something we recommend for better outward vision and safety. Rear sonar sensors are optional, while both the S and SV models offer Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity. SV trims can be further upgraded with the NissanConnect navigation and mobile app system that includes a 5.8-inch touch screen, voice recognition and USB input.

The 2019 Nissan NV200 is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 131 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque. A gearless CVT sends power to the front wheels. As such, the NV200 returns impressive EPA fuel economy of up to 26 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg combined. It’s a thrifty powertrain, for sure, but not quite as strong as the engines in the Ford Transit Connect and Ram ProMaster City. If you need more power — and up to 5,000-pound towing capacity — check out the larger (and more expensive) Mercedes-Benz Metris.

2.0-liter inline-4
131 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
139 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/26 mpg, 23/26 mpg (Taxi)