Nissan NV350 Urvan

Nissan has kept the appeal pretty simple and functional on the inside. The NV350 Urvan lacks many comfort and convenience features in the cabin.

The three-spoke steering wheel has an awkward looking huge centre boss, and the instrument console looks very basic as well. Same can be said about the rest of the dashboard layout too. The centre console feels basic and cluttered with a 2-DIN music system on the upper portion and AC controls and gear lever on the lower one.

The interior layout and limited features might make the NV350 Urvan’s cabin look utilitarian, however, one area where the vehicle clearly overshadows its shortcomings is the huge amount of space. The NV350 Urvan comes with a seating capacity of 12 passengers, all of them getting enough space to sit comfortably. Apart from this, the NV350 Urvan comes with a number of small storage spaces, taking the practicality of the cabin one level up.

On the outside, the Nissan NV350 Urvan looks quite big with stretched dimensions mimicking that of a minibus, which certainly gives it a notable road presence. However, given its major focus on function over form, the NV350 Urvan looks quite boring and tad too clinical.

The NV350 Urvan gets a van-like front fascia with large trapezoidal front grille with another trapezoidal chrome element. This overall layout gives some sort of aggression to the otherwise boring profile of the vehicle. The overuse of trapezoidal layout is extended to the headlamp design as well, which are large and provide good throw.

The raked windshield extends to the high roofline till the rear, giving the NV350 Urvan a raised stance. The side windows are fairly large and give an airy feel on the inside. However, the small 15-inch wheels make the NV350 Urvan utilitarian.

At the rear, the basic appeal of the NV350 Urvan is carried forward with a simply styled tailgate with a vertical tail lamp assembly and large rear windshield. The NV350 Urvan lacks many premium bits usually associated with a modern passenger vehicle. Adding to it, the absence of alloy wheels, as well as blackened rear view mirrors as well as door handles, add to the basic appeal of this people mover.

With the sole focus on practicality and comfort, the Nissan NV350 Urvan impresses with its seating layout and comfortable ride quality. The suspension setup of independent double wishbone at the front and rigid axle with semi-elliptical leaf spring at the rear is set on a softer side, giving the NV350 Urvan a comfortable ride quality. However, the boxy design of the vehicle does translate into a considerable amount of body roll, thus hampering its high-speed driving manners.

Powering this huge van is a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine, which is good enough to produce a maximum power output of 129 PS and a peak torque of 356 Nm. All this power produced is channeled to the front wheels though a 5-speed gearbox. The engine has a noticeable amount of punch in lower revs, and is quite clinical in terms of power delivery with a linear feel to it.

Apart from the basic requirements of dual front airbags and ABS, the NV350 Urvan is quite lacking in the aspect of safety. However, considering the basic appeal of the vehicle, it was pretty much expected.

The Nissan NV350 Urvan might be a boring vehicle to look at and is lacking in the interior cabin feel and design. However, the one area where the NV350 Urvan really shines out is the seating comfort and capacity. This people mover impresses with the amount of space and supple ride quality. And is the vehicle to pick if you just want a people mover with no visual drama.