2020 Nissan NV Cargo

Right from the base price of $29,340 the Nissan NV Cargo harbors a 4.0L V6 engine mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. There is an option for extended length but no high roof option for the cargo variant. The engine can muster up to 261 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. Nissan NV might have affected Ford and GMC’s sales but the impact is not that hard.

The Nissan NV is not the most good looking van in the segment but that doesn't mean its not great. Vans are beautiful in their own way and when is that? The moment they get the job done. The NV Cargo is offered in two trim levels, the S and SV. A 4.0L V6 engine is the only powertrain option on the NV, though the 2500 and 35000 feature their own unique powertrain. There is no high roof option on the NV Cargo. The 1500S a basic van at its core with minimal features at its bay. The 1500SV further add some sugar and spice to the S's basic feature list with convenience and driver assist features.

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The base S' trim offers all the necessary features and is a good cargo van for commercial use.

Engine and Transmission

Though there is a V8 engine the NV Cargo only gets the 4.0L V6 engine mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. The engine drills out 261 horsepower and 281 pound feet of torque which is sent to the rear wheels of the van. Compared to other vans in the lot the NV Cargo delivers more power without a big price tag. Your heart might be on the bigger engine but the V6 won't leave you wanting. The V6 is adequate to handle a boxy van's chores. The NV cargo feels more lucrative when you see the underpowered competition charging such high prices.

The Nissan delivers a niche package of low price and high power. Other brands manage to deliver but don't catch up to the Nissan on this. The Mercedes Sprinter has changed a lot this year but that doesn't make up for the low power. Ford and GMC however, are still a little more powerful than the Nissan.

Acceleration

There is no mechanical change in the NV cargo for 2020. So the engine remains the same and so does its power and acceleration. Being a ginormous van the Nissan NV Cargo makes the 60 mph test a little under 10 seconds. As for the quarter mile it takes a long 17.4 seconds to catch the quarter mile light. It's not the best but it isn't the worst either.

While GMC and Ford battle it out with each other the Nissan NV takes a step back and let them beat the hell out of each other. The Ford Transit is the fastest and GMC follows its lead, the NV cargo comes third with its 261 horses.

Ride and Handling

Nissan NV's handling is fair for full-fledged van standards. The steering might be hydraulic but it's hard to modulate. The long wheelbase gives it a higher turning radius and the hard steering doesn't help either. It's not the best van to zip around in city but on the highway, it's a completely different ride. The NV feel planted and composed throughout the highway journey. This type of ride is highly appreciated on cargo van. Cabin noise is surprisingly low and cabin is better insulated than its passenger variant.

Braking

Nissan built this titanic feet with one thing in mind- to deliver a decent ride and comfortable ride. Now there are a lot of things to be considered to deliver the same and braking is one of the most important aspects of it. The front brakes are rated at 14.2 inches while the rear feature a 14.4 inches. It's the heaviest player in the boxy van segment with its mind boggling 5819 pounds of weight.

Seating and Comfort

Utility over performance and substance over style, the Nissan NV Cargo delivers just the minimum. The two people boarding the Nissan will have a fair van level comfort. The interior design is no work of art and even if it were not much emphasis would have been given. The controls are easy to use and clearly visible. Though the germ of hard plastic still plagues the 2020 NV cargo.

The interior is spacious and feature two options for interior, a standard Gray cloth seats and Gray Vinyl seats. The big dimension at least happen to deliver a spacious cabin. The headroom is rated at 42.8 inches and the legroom at 42 inches. You will also enjoy ample of shoulder and elbow room with 65.7 inches of shoulder room.

Cargo volume

Despite of the big dimensions the Nissan NV Cargo is not the biggest cargo van. You get a 235 cubic feet of cargo volume. Its decent and customizable to you needs, You get options to add racks, shelves and other equipment. The cargo van lacks the option for extended roof so the 234 cubic feet is all you get on the NV cargo. The cabin utility is decent too with large door pockets.

The Nissan NV Cargo has a spacious and customizable cargo bay but that doesn't make it the biggest utilitarian. The Sprinter features the biggest cargo volume followed by the Transit and the GMC Savana. Nissan might be impressive but not capable enough to challenger the leaders.

Infotainment

You get an 5-inch infotainment system on the base 1500 S, but going for the SV and further adding the Tech pack will give you a 5.6 inch infotainment touchscreen. You get Bluetooth, a USB port, 2 speaker and NissanConnect mobile apps, and voice recognition.

Design and Styling

Nissan NV is like any other cargo van, a boxy on wheels. There is no aesthetic value to the NV cargo and its not particularly good looking either. The normal height option looks like any other boxy van. The 1500 cargo has got a side sling door for and a tailgate of 243-dree opening. Loading and unloading the cargo. The one thing which keeps discourages the van buyer is the lack of extended wheelbase option.

Dimensions and Weight

The Nissan NV might not be the most good looking van in the class but it's the biggest. Out of all the boxes in the van segment it delivers the largest with its 240.6 inches of length, 99.5 inches of width, and 83.9 inches of height. The 146 inches wheelbase is rather long giving it a wider turning radius and may create a problem on the city's packed roads. The fact that it weighs a little less than 6000 pounds makes it the heaviest van. The 1500 cargo strictly means business as it offers only two color options.

The cargo van is yet to undergo any third party crash testing, so making a statement on safety is not the right thing. However, as a buyer you would need something to play with, well it turn out safety is not the most important thing in the NV Cargo. You just get the basic safety suit which adds features like Anti-locks, alarm and system immobilizer and more.
Remote Anti-Theft Alarm System

• Front And Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes
• 2 Front Headrests
• 4-Wheel ABS
• Daytime Running Lights
• Front Head Airbags
• Tire Pressure Monitoring
• Traction Control
• Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags
• Stability Control
• Emergency Braking Assist

Mercedes Benz Sprinter

The Sprinter is all set to take the American van markets by the storm. This year the Sprinter is completely redesigned with new infotainment, engine, and interior styling elements. Even without the changes Sprinter was a great choice. With its above average interior, bigger cargo bay, and a number configurations the Sprinter is a lucrative choice. Though it's still hounded by low powered engine and a higher price tag. NV cargo on the other hand has better acceleration and price.

If you consider value for money than the Sprinter is what you get the deal at.

Ford Transit Cargo

Ford is the master magician when it comes to commercial vehicles and its biggest spell is the Transit Cargo. The Transit's threshold on the Full-fledged vans market is what Nissan or any other brand wishes to achieve. Ford delivers a bigger cargo bay and a high powered engine, plus Ford's reliability is where its true USP lies. Nissan on the other hand, stays just a tad behind in every aspect and compensates it with the price.

The Nissan is a decent van which delivers average specs for everything. If you are running tight on budget then Nissan is a life savior, otherwise Ford is a far better option.

GMC Savana 1500 Cargo

GMC Savana is a strong offering from the house of boxy vans. It has power better than the Nissan NV and a similar cargo bay but GMC is a better option. You know why? Because of its class leading towing capacity. Nissan is nowhere near to the GMC. Other aspects like the acceleration and configuration are similar so the thing boils down to the price.

The GMC Savana's price is competitive to that of the Sprinter and Savana, Nissan compromises price. So if you are low on budget then the Nissan is probably the right van for you. However, if you are in constant need to trailer heavy things the GMC would be the better.

The Nissan NV cargo is what you call an average boxy van in the segment. Its above average cargo volume and low price makes is its biggest selling price. The ride quality is decent form minivan standards but the hard steering may create some problems in city driving. The V8 engine on the 2500 NV might feel more desirable but this one works just fine.

When we say cargo vans we think boxy design, big cargo compartment, and affordable price and the Nissan delivers everything but lesser than its rivals.