“Nissan is back in the Philippines!”
Antonio Zara’s proud proclamation boomed out across the Marriott’s Grand Ballroom as he unveiled the all-new NV350 Urvan. The president and managing director of Nissan Philippines Inc. boasted an almost completed revamp of their vehicle lineup. Nissan started the year by opening the first salvo in an all-out truck war with the all-new Nissan NP300 Navara. More than half a year later, the Navara is still setting standards all across the board. Now, Nissan has set its sights on another conquest: the King of the Vans.
The Urvan’s fifth generation is the result of both an exterior and interior overhaul. Designed for family use, public transport, and business ventures, the NV350 Urvan sports Nissan’s edgier and more modern redesigns of the recent lineup revamp. The front end shines with more chrome, a tougher bumper, sharper halogen headlights, and a distinctly angled honeycomb grille. The side drip channels have been done away with, giving it a more modern profile.
On the inside, the Urvan is fitted with a brand new 2.5L engine, based on the same engine platform used in the all-new NP300 Navara. That, in itself, tips us on the raw power hiding underneath the Urvan’s hood. It churns out 129ps at 3,200rpm and 356Nm of torque. Nissan promises speed, power, and reliability when traversing steep slopes even while carrying heavy loads and passengers. It runs on a five-speed manual transmission system, which is aided by a unique shift indicator located on the dashboard. The indicator gives the driver visual cue as to when it is economic to shift gears, thereby increasing its fuel efficiency. In fact, Nissan boasts a 20% increase in fuel economy compared to previous models.
A redesigned interior space gives the driver and the front passengers much more room to breathe. The gear stick is located in the instrument panel board, freeing the floor for more legroom. The driver has the customization options to make sure his or her drive is a pleasant one. The seat’s distance, angle, and depth can be adjusted manually.
The rear cabin passengers’ comfort is largely helped by Nissan’s focus on the van’s rear vents. They made the air conditioning even better. The rear cabin features twelve individual vents on the van’s ceiling, cooling off all areas of the cabin. Safety is also a concern for the Urvan’s drive to provide a good family experience. The van’s front and sides are protected with zone body impact zones, which absorbs an impact’s energy to reduce the effects on the van’s passengers.
The Urvan’s aftersales program has also been improved with an extended warranty of three years or 100,000 kilometers for those who will use the Urvan for utility purposes and will be registered as PUVs. With the Alagang Nissan program, Urvan owners can avail of affordable parts and services in dedicated dealerships nationwide.
The all-new Nissan NV350 Urvan is now available in Brilliant Silver and Alpine White. It is also available in special colors such as Precision Grey, Black Obsidian, and Tiger Eye Brown, which can be arranged for delivery with a three month lead time. Its configuration and pricing scheme is attractive for users of all kinds:
| 15-seater | P1,183,000 |
| 18-seater | P1,196,000 |
| 3-seater cargo | P1,177,000 |
With a massive overhaul coupled with affordable pricing, Nissan presents its strong contender for the King of the Vans. In the future, Nissan says that we can expect a higher and more luxurious trim for executive van users. As for other models, Nissan says we can expect two more launches before the year ends.
