Nissan isn't new to the commercial vehicle (CV) market. In 1937, Nissan produced its first commercial vehicle in Japan, and 2011 marks the automaker's 75th year in the commercial vehicle industry. Marking this anniversary is the sale of the all-new 2012 Nissan NV (Nissan Van).

Nissan CVs are currently sold in more than 75 percent of the world's markets, including Japan, China, Mexico, Russia, Europe, and the Middle East. According to the manufacturer, CVs represent 20 percent of Nissan's global volume. Nissan aims to have a 40-percent fleet registration mix on this new commercial van, and production began in January 2011 with sales expected in the spring.

"The new kid on the block, as it turns out, is also a long-time player in the global commercial vehicle market. As the first non-domestic nameplate to design, manufacture, and sell CVs in the U.S., we bring a more than seven-decade tradition of durability, quality, and reliability to our products," said Joe Castelli, vice president, Commercial Vehicles and Fleet, Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA). "At the same time, we've taken a fresh look at every aspect of the CV business - including styling, powertrain, interiors, cost of operation and ownership, dealership sales and service operations, and most importantly, real-world customer needs."

Multiple Configurations Available

The 2012 Nissan NV lineup will be available with a choice of 4.0L V-6 and 5.6L V-8 engines and in two body styles, Standard Roof (all models) and High Roof (NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD only).

The 4.0L V-6 engine is rated at 261 hp with 281 lb.-ft. of torque, while the 5.6L V-8 engine is rated at 317 hp and 385 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines will be mated to a standard 5-speed automatic.

Nissan also created an all-new commercial-duty chassis for the NV, which will be built at the Canton, Miss., plant. The Nissan NV was designed, engineered, and built in the United States. The rugged, industry-exclusive high roof body-on-frame construction was built for heavy-duty usage. The van also offers up to 9,500 lbs. towing capacity (when equipped with the V-8 engine).

Safety systems include dual-stage supplemental front airbags, three-point front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, available supplemental front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted supplemental curtain airbags.

Functional & Flexible

Inspired by customer needs, the Nissan NV offers an array of smart functionality features, including storage pockets, spaces, and compartments designed to provide secure access to typical commercial customers' everyday use objects. An under-seat drawer fits small tools or items typically stuck in a driver's pocket, such as wrenches, notebooks, etc. The deep door pockets fit flashlights, legal-size binders, and clipboards.

High Roof models offer an available overhead console designed to hold work gloves, legal size binders, safety glasses, and system books. The available lockable center console (removable) fits hanging files and laptop computers - and includes a computer or mobile phone charging point and a sliding lid that provides a usable work surface.

The van's rear doors open extra wide (280 degrees) with a simple click of the rear-door hinges. In addition to the wide door openings, the NV offers room between the wheelhouses to accommodate standard plywood or drywall sheets or pallets. There is also a range of cargo area tie-down rings.

The NV's nearly vertical sidewalls maximize the usable cargo space, accommodating common aftermarket storage systems, as well as a bulkhead behind the driver. Also, dedicated mounting points were pre-installed, negating the need to drill through the panels to install upfits, cabinetry, or storage solutions.

The Nissan NV was also designed to accommodate aftermarket customization and modifications. The dedicated roof mounting points are designed for the installation of various ladder or utility rack systems without piercing holes in the roof, which can lead to corrosion and water leaks. The available "upfitter pre-wiring" allows easy access to the electrical system.

The NV also offers multiple reinforced integrated attachment points for the installation of cargo customization equipment - again requiring no sheet metal drilling.

Package options include tow (V-8 only), rear-door glass, all-around window, sliding door window, technology package with rear camera, and a side and curtain air bag package.

Additionally, customers have the choice of an industry-exclusive no-charge graphics package through Original Wraps, which includes 70 square feet of free graphics or a no-charge upfit package from Adrian Steel.

Pickup Truck-Like Functionality

In developing the new Nissan NV, one of the goals was to combine pickup truck-like comfort, interior amenities, and drivability with a cargo van's capacity and security.

One major contributor to the pickup-like cab is the absence of the traditional van engine "doghouse" that intrudes into the cab due to the setback engine placement. The Nissan NV utilizes a conventional truck engine layout with an out-front engine design. This not only frees up space under the instrument panel and between the seats, it also provides easy under-hood access to the entire engine for routine service and maintenance.

The NV's cargo area provides a 120-inch cargo floor length and 70.2-inch maximum cargo floor width. NV Standard Roof models offer a maximum 55.8-inch cargo area height. The NV High Roof provides a maximum of 76.9 inches of cargo room height or enough room for a 6-foot 3-inch driver to move around the cargo area while standing upright.