The 2021 Nissan NV1500 is available in two trims namely the S and SV. The price for the S trims starts at $30,640 and goes up to $31,630 for the SV trim. Being a commercial cargo can it is moderately specced and you won’t have much to complain about considering its price point. Both the trims offer good payload capacity, are known to be durable and reliable as well. Both the trims come with the same drivetrain and offer the same driving experience. Nissan claims that the NV cargo van had been tested for 800,000 miles and 7,000 stringent quality tests were done to check its commercial ability.

Which trim should you buy? 

As the difference in the MSRP of both the trims is less, it is quite sensible to go for the SV trim. It is equipped with all the standard features of the S trim like water repellent cloth seats, prewiring for electrical upfitting, ten exterior roof rack mounting points, power windows and door locks, 7-inch touchscreen display, etc and adds hardboard interior cargo panels, dual outside power mirrors, rear sonar system, cruise control, rear cargo floor protector, etc making it a more value for money option. 

The 2021 Nissan NV1500 cargo van is equipped with a 4.0L DOHC V6 engine producing about 261 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission that works just as intended with no surprises whatsoever. All the power is transferred to the rear wheels only via the automatic transmission. The power output is just enough for light to medium-duty commercial tasks and won’t disappoint you. However, if you need more power you need to opt for the 2500 and 3500 series of NV vans that are equipped with bigger V-8 engines. 

Overall we can’t complain about the drivetrain much but expected that Nissan would have given more gear ratios at least as an option for better usage scenarios, fuel economy, and a higher top speed as well. The NV1500 cargo van does a 0-60 mph sprint in about 9.6 seconds and a quarter-mile drag is done under 17.4 seconds. The claimed top speed of the NV1500 is about 100mph which is just about okay for a commercial cargo van. It can carry about 2000 pounds of cargo which is good for a cargo van of its segment. 

The Nissan NV1500 is equipped with the largest engine of the lot but is not the most powerful. The RAM ProMaster cargo van is the most powerful in comparison and performs much better than the NV1500. However, it can’t beat the Ford Transit in outright acceleration. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cargo van is the slowest and is equipped with the smallest engine of the lot. Overall, the Ford Transit is a better cargo van in terms of performance. 

How does the 2021 Nissan NV1500 cargo van handle?

Usually, commercial cargo vans are not expected to be corner carvers and the Nissan NV1500 cargo van surely isn’t. It is a taller cargo van and comes with a boxy profile which leads to a higher center of gravity. A center of gravity often leads to body roll in aggressive driving conditions and it's sensible to not drive this cargo van aggressively. 

The front independent double-wishbone suspension offers good comfort for its passengers and the multi-leaf rear suspension system helps with higher payload capacity. The engine speed-sensitive hydraulic recirculating ball steering offers a lighter steering feel and makes the van easily maneuverable in the city. 

2021 Nissan NV1500 Cargo Van Braking Performance 

The Nissan NV1500 cargo van is a bulky van in its segment and with higher weight comes higher momentum. However, it is equipped with much larger 14.2-inch rotors at the front end and 14.4-inch rotors at the rear end. Also, all four wheels come with an anti-lock braking system to prevent skidding of tires under heavy loads and harsh braking conditions. With additional braking assistance features like brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, we expect the Nissan NV1500 cargo van to provide safe and good braking performance. 

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cargo van is the lightest van in the segment, thanks to its smaller engine. It is equipped with much smaller rotors at both ends but it seems okay owing to less curb weight of just 4554 pounds. It is followed by the RAM ProMaster with 4696 pounds of curb weight, the Ford Transit cargo van with 4985 pounds of curb weight, and larger brake rotors at both ends. The NV1500 gets the largest rotors at both ends, thanks to its higher curb weight of 5817 pounds.

The 2021 Nissan NV1500 cargo van is equipped with a 4.0L V6 engine and does hard work. So it cannot be expected to deliver very good fuel efficiency. However, it is expected to deliver about 17.6 mpg in mixed driving conditions. So with a fuel tank capacity of 28 gallons, it is expected to deliver about 493 miles in mixed driving conditions. Overall, the fuel efficiency can be considered as acceptable. 

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cargo van is equipped with a smaller engine and is the most fuel-efficient cargo van in comparison. It offers about 22 mpg in combined driving conditions. With a 22-gallon fuel tank, it can offer about 484 miles, slightly less than the NV1500. The RAM ProMaster cargo van is the least fuel-efficient van and offers just 15 mpg, offering a combined range of 360 miles only. The Ford Transit offers similar fuel efficiency as that of the NV1500 but loses out, owing to a smaller fuel tank. 

The interior of the 2021 Nissan NV1500 cargo van is as minimalistic as it can get. You should not expect any fancy bits here and there. The dashboard is ergonomic and all the functions are easily reachable. However, there are not many functions to look out for except for your climate control functions, multimedia control, and some other functions. The seats are more comfortable than some other commercial vans in the segment but one should not expect any magic here. Both the front seats are 4-way manually adjustable and the passenger seat is foldable with a seat back tray table. The seats get a bit uncomfortable after prolonged sitting. 

The seats are covered in gray cloth upholstery. The steering gets mounted controls for multimedia and call functions. Nissan has extensively used plastic throughout the cabin and there is no remote feel of luxury inside the cabin. Even the center armrests are made of plastic and comfort is limited. The outward visibility is good but the rear visibility is limited. However, both the trims get rearview cameras to ease the reverse drive. The two doors on the backside of the van help with the easy loading and unloading of cargo. It offers a cargo capacity of 234 cu-ft which must be sufficient for light to medium-duty commercial usage. 

All the commercial vans offer a seating capacity for two passengers. The Nissan NV1500 clearly excels at headroom and legroom as compared to its competition. The RAM ProMaster cargo van offers the maximum cargo capacity of 420 cu-ft followed by the Ford Transit cargo van with 315.2 cu-ft, Nissan NV1500 cargo van with 234 cu-ft, and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cargo van offers 222.5 cu-ft of cargo space. Some of the standout interior features are: 

• 4-way manual driver and passenger seat 
• Water repellant seating surfaces
• Cargo area work light
• Hardboard interior cargo panels 9SV)
• Remote keyless entry
• Pre-wiring for electrical upfitting
• Tilt steering column
• One 12-volt DC power outlet

 What’s there in the 2021 Nissan NV1500 Cargo Van to keep you entertained?

The 2021 Nissan NV1500 is well-equipped considering the segment it is competing in. It gets a 7-inch touchscreen display from the base trim S itself. It gets basic features like Bluetooth connectivity, hands-free text messaging assistant, AM/FM audio system, AUX input jack, USB port, steering mounted controls, dual speaker audio system setup as standard. The SV trims get the same features and add a radio data system and quad-speaker audio system. The SV trim can also be upgraded with the Navigation package which adds features like Nissan mobile partner, voice recognition, Nissan navigation system, SiriusXM services, and NissanConnect 5.8" color touch-screen display. Some of the standard infotainment features are: 

• 7-inch touchscreen display 
• AM/FM audio system
• AUX input jack
• Steering mounted controls
• Radio Data System (RDS) (SV)
• Two-speakers (S)
• Four speakers (SV)

The 2021 Nissan NV1500 retains the same exterior styling as the previous year’s model. The NV1500 cargo can is based on the Titan pickup truck platform and hence looks similar to it. However, the NV1500 looks quite solid from any angle you look at it and assures you to take on any task. The front fascia gets a blacked-out grille with the Nissan logo on it and two squarish halogen headlamps. Even the front bumper is blackened out and looks chunky on a cargo van. 

The side profile is not interesting as expected of a cargo van and gets only two windows on both sides. It gets 17-inch steel rim wheels which just serves the purpose well of taking all the load rather than being fancy. Even the side mirrors are in black color. The rear profile gets two side doors for easy loading and unloading. The two vertical tail lamps and side-mounted exhaust outlet blend with the overall boxy design of the cargo van. 

The Nissan NV1500 is the heaviest cargo van in the comparison. It is also the longest one in the comparison. It offers a decent ground clearance of 8.1 inches. The Sprinter cargo van is the widest and tallest in the comparison. The RAM ProMaster sits on a longer wheelbase which is good for better stability on high speeds and better interior space as well. Some of the standout exterior features are: 

• Halogen headlights
• Black grille, bumpers, and door handles
• Dual power outside mirrors (SV) 
• 50/50-split rear cargo doors
• Optional rear window defroster 
• Optional rear privacy glass 

Like many other commercial cargo vans, the 2021 Nissan NV1500 is sparsely loaded with safety features The NHTSA and IIHS have not tested the NV1500 and we don’t expect it to get tested ever. It gets many basic safety features like airbags, crumple zones in the front and rear, stability control system, anti-lock braking system, traction control system, etc. Overall, one must not expect any advanced safety features that you find on any modern-day vehicle. Some of the standout safety features of the Nissan NV1500 are: 

• Zone body construction with front and rear crumple zones 
• Tire pressure monitoring system 
• Seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters
• Brake assist 
• Vehicle dynamic control 

2021 Nissan NV1500 Cargo Van vs 2021 Ford Transit Cargo Van

The Ford Transit cargo van is one of the arch-rivals of the NV1500 and is definitely better than it on many fronts. It offers better cargo capacity than the NV1500. It also offers a better cabin and a long list of advanced features. Also, on the reliability and maintenance fronts, it scores pretty well. It is lighter and provides better performance than the NV1500. It is also one of the primary reasons for the NV cargo series to be discontinued in the upcoming year. We would pick the Ford Transit cargo van over the NV1500 cargo van.

2021 Nissan NV1500 Cargo Van vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo Van

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is surely the most luxurious cargo van in its segment. It offers a much better and comfortable interior as compared to the NV1500. It comes very close to the NV1500 in terms of exterior dimensions. The NV1500 is more powerful than the Sprinter cargo van and offers better cargo capacity as well. However, the Sprinter cargo van is more fuel-efficient than the NV1500, leading to lower running costs it. However, if you need better payload capacity you need to opt for the NV1500. 

2021 Nissan NV1500 Cargo Van vs 2021 RAM ProMaster Cargo Van

The RAM ProMaster cargo van is surely a cargo van you need to consider when planning to buy one. It offers much better performance and cargo capacity than the NV1500. The interior features, handling, and comfort are somewhat better than NV1500. The NV1500 offers better fuel efficiency than the RAM ProMaster. The RAM ProMaster cargo van is lighter than the NV1500 and looks better than the NV1500. Between the two, the ProMaster definitely makes more sense owing to its higher cargo capacity and better performance.

The 2021 Nissan NV1500 cargo van is a decent offering from Nissan in the much-competed segment. However, its magic has started to fade in front of more modern and capable cargo vans. The NV1500 cargo vans offer decent fuel efficiency and cargo capacity as well but fall short on the interior features and styling as compared to its competition. The availability of safety features is limited and the NV series of cargo vans are gonna be discontinued in the next year. So, the NV1500 is a good cargo van and quite reliable as well but has no future and it’s better to consider some other vans in the segment.