Review: Nissan NV200 (2009 – 2019)

Rating:

Good quality small van, very car-like to drive, good turning circle, impressive 1.5 litre dCi engine is also economical, rides much better than most vans.

Fairly utilitarian cabin.

Recently Added To This Review

22 April 2019 Nissan NV200 production ends July 2019

1 April 2019

Further complaint of excessive tyre wear on the rear nearside tyre of a Nissan NV200. The outside (kerbside) wears very quickly. Read more

6 October 2018

Another report of wear on outside edges of rear tyres of a 2015 Nissan NV200 Acenta van. Owner took to Nissan dealership which charged £100 for four wheel tracking. Read more

Nissan NV200 (2009 – 2019): At A Glance

Unlike the larger NV400 and Primstar, the NV200 is Nissan's own work and a van designed to set new standards for interior space, comfort and practicality. It's certainly an impressive vehicle and its light steering and tight turning circle mean that it's well suited to town driving, making ideal for courier drops. It's not out of its depth on the motorway, either.

Most models are powered by an efficient 1.5-litre dCi turbo diesel developing 90PS with a five-speed manual gearbox. It's a refined and flexible engine with 200Nm of torque available at just 2000rpm. If you need more power there's the 110PS version of the same dCi engine that also gets a six-speed gearbox.

Despite its small exterior dimensions it's surprisingly practical with a cargo floor that's 1.22m wide at its narrowest point - between the wheel arches - and an impressive 2.04m long. This can be extended with the optional Versatility Pack which adds a swivelling bulkhead to complement the standard front passenger seat which can be folded flat to allow a load of up to 2.8 metres in length to be carried inside the vehicle. The NV200 also has the lowest loading height in its class, just 524mm from ground level. 

As well as the standard panel van there are also five and seven-seat Combi versions available which again are impressively spacious. Even with all seven seats in use there's still space for two large suitcases in the luggage area. Fold the two rear seats away and there's enough room for five suitcases.

One of the few criticisms of the NV200 is there isn’t any choice in the body style: it’s a panel van or nothing. There are combi and refrigerated versions available as conversions, but they are essentially the same in size and footprint as the panel van model.

 

Used Buying Guide - Nissan NV200

The Nissan NV200 is easy to drive and packs lots of practicality into its compact size, with 4.2 cubic metres of load space and a maximum payload of 795kg. We tell you what to look out for when buying second hand.

Read the buying guide here >>

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What does a Nissan NV200 (2009 – 2019) cost?

Nissan NV200 (2009 – 2019): What's It Like Inside?

It’s hard not to be impressed by how much space Nissan has found inside the footprint of the NV200. Where some of its rivals manage to just about offer enough useful load capacity to get by, the NV200 can muster 4.2 cubic metres of load volume and easily accommodate two Euro pallets. It means the Nissan is one of the most useful, spacious vans in its class when it comes to carrying goods and equipment.

The asymmetric rear doors open out to a maximum of 180-degrees to leave a clean and unhindered load entrance, while the twin sliding side doors that are standard on all NV200 models only go to highlight the thought and consideration that have gone into the van’s design.

Further evidence of Nissan’s attention to detail in the design of the NV200 is its low load sill height and a load area length of just more than two metres. A little intrusion from the rear wheel arches is evident but it won’t stop you from packing the Nissan to the gunwales with kit, helped by a taller roof height than much of the competition. It has a maximum payload of 750kg, so filling the NV200 with bulkier loads is not a concern.

You won’t have to worry about filling up the cab with gear either as it has 13 different storage points dotted around to keep folders, invoices and mobile phones all safely in their place. There is even a storage space under the driver’s seat that is accessed by lifting up the seat base and this is ideal for keeping valuables out of sight when you’re out of eye shot of the van.

On the passenger’s side, the single seat can be tipped forward to create a flat work table. The passenger can be treated to a dedicated airbags as part of an options pack that also includes curtain airbags. Further safety can be added to the NV200 with optional ESP available. The driver has an airbag as standard in all models and the entry-level E model comes with a tubular bulkhead between the passenger and load compartments. The SE and n-tec models have a full steel bulkhead included.

Also standard with every NV200 is Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone connection, remote central locking, alarm and a drive computer. The SE and n-tec models also have a rear view camera, while the n-tec is further treated to cruise control with a speed limiter.

The high set driving position is comfortable and gives a good view of the road ahead and to the side. Plenty of support is provided by the well padded and shaped seats and there’s good room for the driver’s shoulders, elbows and knees, which is not always the case in vans of this size. As for the dash, it’s well made, looks good and presents all of its information in a quick-read style, again showing Nissan’s dedication to making the NV200 as user-friendly as possible.

What's the Nissan NV200 (2009 – 2019) like to drive?

Nissan has answered calls for more power and variety in the NV200 range with the 110PS version of the 1.5-litre, Renault-sourced turbodiesel engine. This motor makes the NV200 into something of a hot hatch among vans thanks to its low down shove and spirited acceleration. It also makes it ideal for city delivery driving as it has plenty of urge for nipping out of side streets and on to busy roads when you don’t want to be left trundling. The six-speed manual gearbox is a pleasure to use with its light, precise action and, combined with light foot pedals, it makes the NV200 a very easy van to get on with in heavy traffic conditions.

Away from congested city roads, the NV200 is just as happy in 110PS form on the motorway thanks to its added power. Take things in your stride and the claimed 53.3mpg average economy is attainable to make the Nissan decently easy on the pocket. 

Another fact the NV200 has in its favour is refinement. It is one of the quietest vans we have encountered in any class, with little engine, wind or road noise present or audible in the cab. This makes a real difference on long drives or at the end of a busy day when you want to get home with minimum stress.

The 90PS 1.5 diesel is a keen performer and still endows the NV200 with a nippy turn of speed in town, working through its five-speed transmission cleanly and quickly to keep pace with faster traffic. On more open roads, there is some engine noise to be heard as the 90PS engine has to be worked harder than the 110PS version.

Still, the 1.5 dCi doesn’t seem to mind being pushed quite hard and it suits the NV200’s nature, which is underlined by its zesty handling. There’s little body lean in corners and the Nissan’s steering is quick and faithful in its responses to the driver’s inputs. It makes it a fun van to pilot on twisting roads, while a driving position that is higher than a Ford Transit Connect’s also means you can see further up the road to make full use of the Nissan’s impressive grip and balance.

The minimal body lean does, however, come at some expense and the suspension is not the most gifted when it comes to dealing with rowdy stretches of tarmac. It’s far from being uncomfortable, but some ridges and dents in the road’s surface make themselves felt where a Citroen Berlingo glides on undisturbed.

Real MPG average for a Nissan NV200 (2009 – 2019)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their vehicles could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

82%

Real MPG

33–56 mpg

MPGs submitted

75

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

What do owners think?

Our view gives your our opinion, based on driving hundreds of cars every year, but you can't beat the views of someone who lives with a car day-in, day out.

  • 5 star 33%
  • 4 star 33%
  • 3 star 17%
  • 2 star
  • 1 star 17%

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