0
0
Minivan; Built in
  • 4-door van
  • transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $12,200 – $20,600*


2013 Nissan NV200


2013 Nissan NV200


2013 Nissan NV200


2013 Nissan NV200

Pros:
  • Cargo room and versatility
  • Fuel economy
  • Maneuverability
Cons:
  • High-speed merging and passing power
  • Visibility

In most regards, the NV200 matches or beats the 2010-2013 Ford Transit Connect, and costs a bit less as well. However, buyers may pick one or the other based on cargo-area dimensions more than anything else, in which case either of these vehicles represents a strong value in terms of cargo capacity and fuel economy for the money.

Overview

The NV200 was a front-wheel-drive compact cargo van intended for commercial use. It had seats for two passengers and dual sliding side doors and center opening rear doors that are split 60/40. Nissan started selling the NV200 in several markets worldwide in 2009, but 2013 marked its debut in North America. The NV200 was built in Mexico and competed with the Ford Transit Connect and Ram C/V. Nissan also produced a taxicab version of the NV200 that was deemed the “Taxi of Tomorrow” for New York City.

The NV200 came in two trim levels: S and SV. S models included air conditioning, power windows, height-adjustable driver seat with lumbar adjustment, and AM/FM/CD stereo with auxiliary jack. The SV added features such as power mirrors, power door locks, remote keyless entry, and cruise control. Options included a navigation system, traffic information, hands-free text messaging, satellite radio, Bluetooth wireless cellphone link, a rearview camera, and rear-door windows. Payload capacity was 1,500 pounds.

The NV200’s lone powertrain was a 131-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that behaved much like an automatic. All NV200s were front-wheel drive.

The EPA fuel-economy rating for the NV200 was 24 city/25 highway. Regular-grade gas was recommended.

All the expected safety features, including front side airbags and curtain side airbags, were standard. A rearview camera was optional.

This evaluation is based on preview test drives.

Yearly Updates

2013 NV200
There were no significant changes for 2014.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

The NV200’s lone powertrain was a 131-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that behaved much like an automatic. All NV200s were front-wheel drive.

dohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.0/122
Engine HP 131
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 139
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
CVT automatic

 24/25

Road Test

Considering its small engine and CVT transmission, stabbing NV200’s throttle from a stop results in a snappy launch–at least without a load of cargo. The combination also delivers decently responsive acceleration at around-town speeds, thanks in part to the transmission’s quick kickdowns. However, the NV200 lacks the power to feel as eager at higher speeds, such as when merging onto a freeway or passing at highway speeds.

No opportunity to measure, though the EPA estimates are 24 city/25 highway. Nissan recommends regular-grade gas.

At least unladen, the NV200 exhibits a relatively car-like ride, with good bump absorption and little in the way of float or wallow.

Handling is also quite car-like, at least without a load, as there’s only moderate body lean in turns. Steering is light and the turning radius tight, which makes for good maneuverability in tight quarters. Crosswinds can cause a bit of wander at highway speeds.

For a commercial van, the NV200 is impressively quiet inside. There’s only moderate road, wind, and bump noise despite a lack of sound insulation in the cargo area. The engine makes a loud ruckus only when under heavy acceleration.

Interior materials can most charitably be described as “business-like.” Hard, shiny plastic is the order of the day, and neither the door armrests or door tops (either of which might host an elbow) are padded. There is no trim at all in the cargo area.

Ride height is low enough to make ingress and egress fairly easy. The driver seat is comfortable, thanks in part to the standard lumbar adjustment. It’s also height adjustable, which not only allows for a commanding view of the road, but compensates for the fact that the steering wheel does not adjust. The passenger seat back folds flat to make a table, and both cloth seats have vinyl outside edges to reduce wear. There’s ample headroom and legroom for most folks. The door top slopes sharply toward the front, and though there’s a flat ledge for your elbow, it’s not padded. Visibility is a sore spot. The front pillars are rather wide, and the door windows stop at your shoulder (and the sunvisor doesn’t come close to covering them when moved to the side). There are no rear side windows–not even as an option (at least, yet)–and though windows are available for the rear cargo doors, they’re separated by a wide expanse of metal that completely blocks cars driving 100 feet behind the truck. Side mirrors are rather small, though they include wide-angle insert mirrors. The only way to get the optional rearview camera is in a $950 option package only offered on the higher-line SL. It “sees” only about 160 degrees–not 180 degrees (a half circle) as do the best ones–and thus there’s still quite a big blind spot when backing out of a parking space.

The NV200 is a cargo van, so there is no rear seating.

Not only is the NV200’s cargo space large, it’s well thought out. Dimensionally, it’s 82.8 inches long, 54.8 inches wide (48.0 between the wheelwells), and 53.0 inches high; as such, it’s longer but lower than that of the 2010-2013 Ford Transit Connect. Dual sliding side doors are standard. The SV comes with six floor tie-down hooks, and the sidewall supports include mounting points for shelves. The rear cargo doors are split 60/40, offer optional windows, and open a full 180 degrees, with a stop at 90 degrees. Interior storage consists of a dashtop bin, a medium-size glovebox, two cupholders and three small bins in the console, map pockets in the doors, and a tray underneath the passenger seat.

Ratings

Model Tested: NV200 SV with Technology Package

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 4
40%
Fuel Economy - 6
60%
Ride Quality - 6
60%
Steering/Handling - 5
50%
Quietness - 4
40%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 5
50%
Room/Comfort Front - 5
50%
Room/Comfort Rear - 0
00%
Cargo Room - 10
100%

Other

Value - 9
90%

Total: 54

Specifications

4-door van
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
115.2 186.3 68.1 73.7
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
122.7 1500 14.5 2
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
41.7 — 42.6 —
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2013 Not tested 4-door van

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Front Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

None
Description:

Recall History

2013 NV200
Description: Certain 2013 model Nissan NV200 vehicles may have an occupant classification system (OCS) control unit that can fail to recognize the front seat is occupied. This can result in the air bag failing to deploy during a collision.
2013 NV200
Description: Certain 2013 model Nissan NV200 vehicles may have had their steering columns disassembled for inspection after assembly and not correctly reassembled. As a result, the pieces of the column can separate and the driver can lose steering control.
2013 NV200
Description: Certain 2013 model Nissan NV200 vehicles made between February 6, 2013 and August 2, 2013 may have a wiring harness that was routed incorrectly and may become damaged and short circuit.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on April 20, 2016.
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