Used 2020 Nissan NV2500 HD Cargo

In the world of full-size cargo and passenger vans, the 2020 Nissan NV falls squarely between the ancient Chevy Express Van and the radically new Ford Transit, Dodge ProMaster and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Like the Express, the NV rides on a truck platform powered by a choice of V6 or V8 gas engines and pushed by its rear wheels.

Like the Ford, Ram and MB vans, the NV offers a choice of trims and roof heights that make it a versatile work truck for on-site projects. In passenger form, the 2020 Nissan NV can carry up to 12 people, and thanks to its rugged architecture, the NV can tow up to 9,400 pounds, second only to GM’s Chevy Express and GMC Savana twins.

If you’re on a tight budget and don’t need to test the NV’s max payload limits, the standard 4.0-liter V6 is respectably capable with its 261 horsepower/281 lb-ft of torque. While the NV’s V6 is fine for light-to-medium jobs, it’s hard to go wrong with the big 5.6-liter V8. That upgraded engine’s 375 horsepower and 387 lb-ft of torque make quick work of the kind of work for which this van is made: hauling loads of stuff and lots of people.

As for this van’s driving characteristics, well, it’s a big box on wheels, so don’t get too excited. Its truck-like, body-on-frame construction can feel even stiffer than unibody rivals such as the Ford Transit and Ram ProMaster, but it also allows the NV to tow more than those two.

And as with the Transit, the NV is rear-wheel drive. You’ll want to be extra careful in corners if you go with the high-roof option, as that also means a higher center of gravity. The NV doesn’t have the more advanced safety features offered in the Ford Transit and even fresher Sprinter, but it has you and your workers covered with the basics like traction control and vehicle-stability control.

Lots of room in a secure package. That’s the reason you buy a big van like the NV, and the Nissan delivers. Unlike the Ford Transit, the 2020 Nissan NV is available in only one length, but it does offer two roof heights, at least in cargo form. In its most spacious high-roof setup, a Nissan NV boasts 323.1 cubic feet of cargo space, about 90 more than a standard-roof model. At 76.9 inches in height, a high-roof Nissan NV will allow even taller individuals to stand up inside, ideal for those who plan conversions to make this van into a work-mobile.

Passenger versions of the NV are available only with the standard roof, but it still boasts plenty of room. It can accommodate 12 people in four rows, and the rear three rows can be removed or slid to create space. Cargo variants simply have two seats up front for driver and a passenger.

Form follows function in the Nissan NV, with the big van’s slab-sided nature and overall girth giving it the ability to accommodate almost anything you want. It’s hard to call just about any cargo van “pretty,” and the 2020 NV is no exception.

It’s designed, literally, for work. As with its commercial van competitors and unlike, say a modern minivan, the NV does not offer dual-sliding side doors, but just a manually operated door on the right side. In back are two doors that can swing out 243 degrees to completely open the rear for easy loading and access. Passenger models include side windows to improve visibility, and the cargo variant offers glass windows in back. The Nissan NV comes only in one length: 240.6 inches.

CLASS-LEADING WARRANTY
Work vans usually get put through the ringer, which is why the 2020 Nissan NV Cargo and Passenger vans both come with a 5-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.

INTERIOR FLEXIBILITY
Thanks to its numerous configurations, the 2020 Nissan NV Cargo and Passenger vans hold wide appeal to all manner of businesses, from construction to catering. The NV’s massive cargo bay is pretty much a blank slate, capable of storing loads of goods or being upfitted to suit its owner’s needs. Passenger versions offer 324 different seating configurations.

The 2020 Nissan NV comes in three trim levels: S, SV and SL. The Passenger vans are pretty similar but the cargo vans get broken into three variations similar to pickup trucks: 1500, 2500 HD and 3500 HD.

Even the most basic NV includes such comforts as power window and door locks, 4-way manually adjustable front seats, air conditioning, 17-inch steel wheels, tilt steering wheel, a fold-flat front-passenger seat, remote keyless entry, a rearview monitor and 7-inch display audio with four speakers, AM/FM/USB/Aux input plus Bluetooth streaming and a hands-free text-messaging assistant. The Passenger van adds 12-passenger seating, cruise control and power mirrors.

Stepping up to the SV model adds upgraded wheels, cruise control and power-adjust mirrors in cargo variants, while SV passenger vans get an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a 6-speaker audio system and rear parking sensors.

Top-line SL models come with chrome wheels and grille, center console with sliding table and lockable storage, and in passenger models leather upholstery, heated front seats, fog lights and dual-zone climate control. A navigation system is available, via a smaller 5.8-inch touch screen.

The V8 is optional on cargo and passenger variants of the NV, but the high-roof option is limited to the cargo van. As is the case with other cargo vans, the Nissan NV can be upfitted for the particular needs of a business or commercial fleet.

Standard on the base S and SV 2020 Nissan NV Cargo and NV Passenger vans is the tried-and-true 4.0-liter V6. This engine is good for 261 horsepower and for most mild-duty-level chores is more than adequate. Optional on other models and standard on the top SL trims is Nissan’s 5.6-liter V8 that develops 375 horsepower and a stump-pulling 387 lb-ft of torque.

The V6 engine relies on a 5-speed automatic to route power to the rear wheels, while the V8 gets a more robust 7-speed automatic. Maximum towing capacity for the V6 is 6,900 pounds (6,200 for passenger models), while the V8 tops out at 9,400 pounds (8,700 for passenger models). The EPA does not supply fuel-economy ratings for vehicles over 8,500 GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating).

4.0-liter V6
261 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
281 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

5.6-liter V8
375 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
387 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A