With revised EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval regulations fast approaching, van manufacturers are increasingly looking at ways in which they can offer ready-bodied vehicles, providing the essential one-stop-shop that their customers want. Nissan has offered a wide range of conversions under its Good To Go banner for some time, adding a number of NV400 bodies at last year’s CV Show and more this year.
One of those conversions is the Dropside, popular with builders and contractors as well as with some delivery companies. Buyers are not restricted to a single Dropside model with the NV400. You can have the vehicle in both this L2 chassis length, or an L3 length with front-wheel drive. Alternatively you can order a rear drive Dropside on both the L3 and L4 chassis. The L3 and L4 models can be had with a choice of single or double cabs from the factory, while all but the L2 model can be ordered with either the 125hp or 150hp versions of the 2.3-litre four cylinder diesel engine. This L2 model can only be had with the 125hp motor, though that is more than adequate to pull the 3,500kg truck along at a fair pace.
As the NV400s basic E trim level is only available with the 100hp engine, this means that all Dropside models come in the higher SE spec. That means auto door locking, ESP, Bluetooth connectivity, power mirrors and windows, cruise control, a basic trip computer and a driver’s armrest. The excellent NV400 cab already comes with numerous storage pockets, cubbies and boxes, but the SE trim adds further to this with additional door bins.
Though the shortest model in the line-up, this Dropside is still a fairly large vehicle, with a high-riding driving position that gives a good view of the road ahead. As mentioned, 125hp will be plenty for the majority of customers, as the Nissan pulls well and can keep pace with traffic on all types of road.
Cruise control is a welcome addition for longer journeys, making the Dropside a comfortable companion when you have a few miles to cover. That said, the majority of small trucks like this will be used on local trips, carrying people, materials and tools to and from site.
The Dropside does this well too. The Scattolini body can be opened on three sides, providing an easily accessed base for fork lift loading and unloading. The totally flat floor has 6.5m2 of loadspace, which will be plenty for most. With almost 1,500kg of payload available and the ability to tow up to 2,500kg, building firms should find the Dropside a handy addition to the fleet.
The big Nissan shouldn’t break the bank either, easily bettering 30mpg in combined use and only having to see the dealer once every 25,000 miles or two years.
Of course you can have the same truck with a variety of badges on the front, as both alliance partner Renault and Vauxhall have access to the same model as a Master or a Movano. Which one you opt for will almost certainly come down to dealer choice, as prices should be similar.
The ace up Nissan’s sleeve however is that it can also offer customers a second choice of Dropside, with the cab-over-engine Cabstar. The recently announced news that the firm is to concentrate further on its specialist Business Centre sales outlets, to improve service to fleets and business users, could also sway the undecided. Whatever the reasons, the Nissan NV400 Dropside puts up a strong sales argument.
Verdict
Nissan is determined to increase its share of the light commercial market and the Good To Go scheme offers potential customers a wide choice of vehicles, even more so in the light of WVTA.
MODEL Nissan NV400 Dropside L2 SE
BASIC PRICE £23,795
ENGINE 4-cyl/2,298cc
FUEL INJECTION Common-rail
POWER 125hp @ 3,500rpm
TORQUE 310Nm @ 1,250-2,500rpm
KERB WEIGHT (kg) 2,038
PAYLOAD (kg) 1,462
MAX TRAILER WEIGHT (kg) 2,500
LOAD SPACE LENGTH (mm) 3,230
LOAD SPACE WIDTH (mm) 2,100
LOAD SPACE HEIGHT (mm) 400
LOAD VOLUME 6.52m3
Cost considerations
FUEL TANK CAPACITY 105 litres
COMBINED MPG 34.45mpg
CO2 EMISSIONS 218g/km
OIL CHANGE 2 yr/25,000 miles
WARRANTY 3 yr/100,000 miles