Nissan Primastar Van Range Car Review

Facts At A Glance VAN: Nissan Primastar Range ENGINES: 1.9-Litre dCi diesel. (81bhp or 99bhp) / 2.5-litre dCi diesel (135bhp) FUEL
Economy: [1.9] Urban – 31.7mpg / Extra Urban – 43.5mpg / Combined – 38.2mpg GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT: 2,700kg – 2,900kg

A VAN THAT CAN FROM NISSAN

Our Rating: 7.3 / 10

You Might Experience A Nagging Sense Of Déjà Vu When You First Clap Eyes On The Nissan Primastar Panel Van. Mind You, Sharing Much With Equivalent Renault and Vauxhall Offerings Means That It’s Right Up There At The Top Of The Class. Steve Walker Reports On The Latest Versions…

Getting to grips with the various options in the small panel van market is not an easy task. Many mainstream manufacturers have a distinct fondness for grouping together and indulging in the kind of platform-sharing antics that would bamboozle even the most seasoned van buyer. The result is that CV customers are often left pondering the relative merits of alternatively badged versions of the same van.

Nissan are past masters at this tactic and the story behind their Primastar panel van is a case in point. As with their larger Interstar van, the Japanese firm took an established product, tinkered with the equipment, slapped on their own badging and have taken a short-cut to something approaching class leadership. Can it really be that simple?

Apparently so. It was already hard to ignore the Primastar’s contemporaries, the Vauxhall Vivaro and the Renault Trafic, which have jointly picked-up numerous accolades since their launch. Taking the same product, liberally sprinkling it with Nissan badges, then offering it at a comparable price seemed very sensible indeed and so it has proved.

So much so in fact that to keep sales buoyant, more recent Primastar models have featured a whole series of improvements focused on upgrading the engine Range, equipment levels and gearbox. Let’s start with the oily bits. There’s a fresh 2.0-litre dCi engine now on offer (borrowed of course from Renault), offering outputs of either 90 or 115bhp. The rest of the engine Range includes an upgraded 2.5-litre dCi developing 150bhp. All diesels are now Euro 4-compliant and emission levels have been cut significantly (50% for NOx) while maintaining the same level of refinement, consumption and performance.

In addition, a diesel particle filter – which eliminates 99.9% of diesel engine emissions – is a standard fitment on the 2.5-litre dCi 150bp engine. In order to cope with the torque increase of the new diesel engine line up, the Primastar is now available with a 6-speed gearbox Range of manual and robotised transmissions offering improved reliability and performance.

Following feedback from users, the updated Primastar models offer the option of intelligent windscreen wipers, as well as auto lighting in order to improve convenience, driving comfort and safety in inclement conditions. This evolution has been made possible thanks to a new Electronic Control Unit operating through multiplex wiring technology. There’s also an optional 3-button key selective opening system, as well as stronger, higher mounted hooks in the loading area. Fleet customers can also specify a unique third factory key option, particularly relevant for a vehicle used by more than two operators. Other features to improve the day-to-day convenience of Primastar include the fitment of car derived parking sensors and increased electrical capacity, up to 850A, bringing added convenience of use. Special attention has also been paid to improve Primastar’s passenger safety. A vast array of equipment such as Emergency Brake Assist, auto door lock, passenger airbag disconnect, a speed limiter, thorax side and windows airbags help position Primastar as one of the safest vehicles in its class.

Visual changes? Well there aren’t too many. The front and rear headlamps, front grille and turning indicators have been redesigned while the colour Range has been extended. Front and rear bumpers have been reinforced to improve the shock resistance and there is now a clear distinction between van and minibus versions. On the inside, improvements at the manufacturing process have contributed to higher levels of fit and finish. The only thing users will really notice however, will probably be the revised padded dashbo