Chicago Auto Show: 2014 Nissan NV200

Friday, February 8, 2013

Chicago Auto Show: 2014 Nissan NV200

If the Transit Connect isn't your bag but you're looking for a small cargo carrier (or a New York Taxi), Nissan is finally bringing their NV200 to the USA. The small cargo hauler has been on sale in Japan and Europe since 2009 but due to the success of the Transit Connect Nissan has decided to bring it our way. What do you need to know? Click past the jump to find out.

The NV200 is based on the same platform as the Cube and Versa but stretched for American cargo duty. This means the vehicle has car-like ride aspirations, a 2.0L gasoline engine and, you guessed it, a continuously variable transmission. Nissan kept the MacPherson struts up front but swapped the torsion beam setup in the rear for commercial-style leaf springs to bring the payload capacity up to 1,500lbs. Note that an official cargo carrying capacity has yet to be announced.

Nissan tells us that a standard 40×48 inch pallet can be accommodated in the rear, and thanks to doors that fold flat with the sides of the van you shouldn't have too much trouble getting a forklift in there to do the lifting. Just make sure it's not a heavy pallet. Cargo carrying is helped by a load floor that is flat all the way to the front, a notable change from the Transit Connect that has a load floor higher than the passenger floor. This means it will be more practical to remove the front passenger seat in the NV for more hauling room.

Interior bits come from a variety of Nissan products with a unique dashboard and Nissan's low cost nav system can be added as an option. The last, and perhaps most important thing to keep in mind is the engine. The 2.0L four is borrowed from the Sentra but Nissan hasn't released power numbers yet. Some are suggesting that we should expect it to be detuned for cargo duty to around 135HP, but I hope they are wrong. Also not clear is whether the NV200 will be getting the newer CVT with 2-speed gearset which broadens the ratio spread of the CVT.