Nissan Townstar EV Review 2024

The Nissan Townstar EV is one of the best-looking electric vans on the market, but does it have the ability to match its handsome proportions? Read our full Nissan Townstar EV review to find out.

With a handsome profile and sharp, futuristic front-end styling, the Nissan Townstar has genuine presence. But it won’t suit everyone, as it’s smaller and has a lower payload than other vans in its class.

It all depends on your requirements, because for many urban users doing light-duty work, the 608kg payload on the smallest model may be more than enough. On the other hand, it is almost 200kg behind the likes of the Citroen e-Berlingo, closely related Peugeot e-Partner and their sister vans the Vauxhall Combo Electric and Fiat e-Doblo.

The upside is it offer great dynamics for a van, helped by it being low and wide and using the chassis from the Renault Clio hatchback to deliver brilliant handling.

There are two load lengths on offer, L1 and L2, and a crew cab option on the longer model, although this is quite a bit more expensive than the panel van derivative.

All Nissan Townstar EVs are powered by a 90kW/122PS electric motor, with a 45kWh battery pack and a claimed combined WLTP range of 186 miles.

It’s worth noting that this is some 20 miles behind major rivals, so make sure you factor this in, as in real-world terms and when not driven in Eco mode, the actual range may well be a bit lower.

Of particular appeal, though, will be the built-in fast-charging function, which will accept a supply of up to 80kW.

With a DC charger, you can take the battery from 20-80 per cent in just 40 minutes, while 22kW AC charging takes an hour and 21 minutes to replenish to a similar level.

Overnight charging via a domestic supply will take around 13 hours.

Three trim levels are on offer – Acenta, Tekna and Tekna+ – and unusually, the longer and heavier L2 model actually has the greater payload, thanks to a heavier-duty rear axle.

The entry-level Acenta is targeted mostly at fleet users. Sole traders and small businesses will prefer the Tekna or Tekna +, which are better equipped and offer comparable value to most rivals in the class, but have a lower payload and functionality.

The Nissan Townstar EV Crew Van is only offered in Tekna trim and commands a £2,800 premium over the equivalent panel van, while there is a £3,200 walk-up between L1 and L2 models.

All Nissan Townstar EVs have a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty, with an eight-year battery warranty.

Although it lacks the payload and cargo volume of some rivals, the Nissan Townstar EV still has a flexible model line-up, with two body lengths available – a 4.5-metre L1 and a larger L2 model measuring 4.9 metres.

Both versions come with twin rear doors, split asymmetrically in a 60:40 layout, which will make loading boxes and bulkier items from the kerbside easier, while the L2 has twin side doors as standard.

The L1 only has a sliding door on the nearside. The L2 model will also take two Euro pallets.

In addition, the L2 is offered as a crew cab, with neat flat-folding seats that disappear into the floor to minimise impact on the load capacity when not in use. There are eight separate lashing points for securing loads.

Both the L1 and L2 have modest payloads, although unusually the larger and heavier van will actually carry a greater weight – 764kg versus just 609kg in the L1.

This is due to a heavy-duty rear axle allowing more weight in the back of the van.

There’s a total of 1806mm of load length in the shorter model and 2230mm on offer in the bigger one, with a maximum load width of 1570mm and 1248mm between the wheelarches.

The maximum loading height, meanwhile, is 1115mm through the door aperture and 1215mm in total.

There’s only one battery and motor combination offered on the Nissan Townstar EV, but it’s smooth and feels quite lively, despite a modest power output.

There are three driving modes – Eco, Normal and Power – with the maximum range of 186 miles only attainable in slower Eco guise, and Normal reducing it by as much as 20 per cent.

Regenerative braking is controlled via the gear lever, with three settings, the strongest of which will bring the van to a near standstill, although you’ll still need to put your foot on the brake pedal to stop it completely.

All come with a standard heat pump, which takes a substantial load off the battery to warm the cabin.

We particularly like the Nissan Townstar EV’s sharp handling and great ride quality. It’s one of the best vans in its class to drive, with excellent refinement and minimal road noise.

The cabin is smart and well finished, with all models getting an eight-inch touchscreen, DAB and smartphone integration.

The Tekna also gets a double passenger seat and automatic air-conditioning, along with a more comprehensive suite of driver assistance systems for added safety.

Cabin storage is impressive, with a huge glovebox and extra cubbies including an overhead shelf, dashtop tray and a useful storage tray above the instruments.

If you only carry lighter loads and want a good-looking van that’s rewarding to drive and extremely comfortable, then the Nissan Townstar EV is a great choice.

Just bear in mind it’s not as sturdy or suited to heavy-duty work as some of its rivals.