When I collected the URVAN from Nissan I concluded that this is a vehicle generally driven by couriers and delivery drivers, and that I had better put myself in their shoes whilst driving and using the vehicle. The first thing I noticed was the huge load space – 2720 x 1545 mm and a height of 1350 mm.

If you are constantly getting in and out of the vehicle to pick up and deliver, the URVAN has some great features, including a large sliding door on each side of the vehicle and a large rear door which was surprisingly easy to open. The low floor height makes for easy loading of heavy and awkward items.

The URVAN has a 3 litre common rail turbo diesel which produced plenty of grunt when it was needed. I was impressed with the URVAN’s tight turning circle which made moving in and out of confined areas relatively easy.

I used the URVAN for a week and thought about what it would be like to be in the vehicle doing my job day in and day out – how good would it be for long-term comfort? The URVAN has ergonomically designed seating for comfort and the air-conditioning, power windows and mirrors are easy to operate and reach.

Additional touches like the drinks cooler, pen holder and CD audio system create an environment of comfort and convenience.

The URVAN has a larger cab than most other vehicles in its class, and provides excellent all-round visibility. I had no problem fitting my long legs into the leg space.

This vehicle has been carefully designed to provide good carrying space and road handling whilst ensuring that driver comfort and safety are not compromised. Safety features include a load sensing valve that adjusts the braking ratio of the front and back brakes depending on the load, and of course driver and passenger airbags.

Nissan is offering the URVAN at under $34,000 – a steal if you are looking for a tough, well-designed delivery vehicle.

email this article to a friend

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

you may also be interested in the following article:

The Kia K2900 – the power to surprise b
by Helen James

FTD is proud to bring you a round-up of some of the best light commercial trucks available to the freight and distribution sector within New Zealand. We wish to thank all the dealers who have supported this special feature and made vehicles available for us to test-drive.

The Kia K2900 claims to make the work of driving easier and more enjoyable, so as the driver of a small car, it was good to put Kia’s market positioning to the test plus put the truck to good use to complete my Labour Weekend building project.

The modern and rounded aerodynamic cab design that Kia has adopted for the K2900 gives the vehicle a distinctive look and immediate aesthetic appeal.

As standard, the K2900’s cabin comes with air-conditioning, cloth trim, power windows, stereo and central locking, which surprised me as they resembled features I’d have expected from a quality passenger car. I immediately felt comfortable in it.
The K2900’s 2.9 litre turbo diesel engine with front and rear suspension is designed for big cargo hauling, and will comfortably manage a heavy payload of 1740 kg. The easy-to-use drop-down sides on the cargo deck enable it to be utilised for a wide range of loading applications.

read more