Say hello to…
…the new Nissan Townstar, in size-terms, rivals the VW Caddy and Ford Transit Connect. While the Townstar is available with a 1.3-litre petrol engine, it’s the fully electric version on test here. Powered by a 122hp motor coupled to a 45kWh battery. This combination is good for an official range of 183 miles unladen.
In terms of load space, the L1 version can carry 3.3m3 (two Euro-pallets) and the L2 is up to 4.3m3.
Businesses can also option the van in two or three seat layouts.
Nissan’s Townstar is available in both regular and long wheelbase form.
The Townstar is available in four trim levels.
- Visia
- Acenta
- Tekna
- Tekna+
Standard equipment on the Visia includes 16-inch steel wheels, powered and heated door mirrors, single side door (twin on L2), powered windows, height adjustable driver’s seat, DAB audio with Bluetooth, 11kW AC charging, manual aircon, 4.2-inch colour display and 12 volt power point in load area.
Acenta adds front fog lights, power fold door mirrors, second side door on L1, climate control, cruise control, 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear parking sensors and 22kW AC charging.
Tekna adds body colour front and rear bumpers, smartphone holder, keyless entry and go, satnav, reversing camera, front & side parking sensors.
Tekna+ further adds heated leather steering wheel, 16-inch alloys, park assist, surround view, blind spot detection, auto high beam, adaptive cruise with lane keeping and a 10-inch infotainment screen.
Is The Nissan Townstar Suitable For My Fleet
The Townstar EV ble to carry up to 574kg load in the L2 version and 465kg in the L1, which is more than 100kg less than the liquid fuelled versions.
The downside is that for those outright purchasing, the EV version is approximately £10,000 more than the petrol equivalent. However, for many this will be off-set against reduced fuel costs and minimal zero emission zone costs.
Leasing A Nissan Townstar
Intelligent Car Leasing is offering the top specification L2 Tekna+ for £635 a month on a 3+36 contract with 20,000 miles a year.
Using A Nissan Townstar
Nissan’s early entry into the electric car and van sector has given the latest Townstar a significant push forward. Replacing the eNV200, the Townstar does exactly what you need and expect in an electric van.
The Townstar is significantly better all round than the eNV200. While there’s not a lot to set the load bay apart; it’ll take two Euro-pallets in L1 form, the cabin is now much improved and the steps through the trim levels are well-judged and make useful differences against cost.
In the top-specification Tekna+ version the seats and dash are up with car interiors for functionality and the addition of a phone holder is a great plus.
While the seats themselves are comfortable and the van rides well too, for taller drivers, the bulkhead means the seat doesn’t go back quite far enough for the best driving position, something that’s only really an issue for the EV version because in any automatic vehicle you sit slightly further back than in a manual (because you don’t need to depress a clutch pedal).
Efficiency, at least unladen, is good in the real world with our testing recording 3.3 miles per kWh with a high proportion of motorway work, this would equate to a near 150 mile range. While the Townstar is perfectly at home on the motorway, it’s around town where electric power is most useful. Having instant shove from the motor is particularly useful in a van where you have to exit junctions decisively which wouldn’t be an issue in a car with greater visibility.
The instant shove would also be an advantage when carrying a load.
Overall, if you can get past the higher price, or offset it price against lower running costs, going electric for those with overnight charging and daily routes of less than 150 miles (higher if you’re in town) makes a huge amount of sense and the Townstar is an appealing van on top of these reasons.
FleetandLeasing.com Verdict On The Nissan Townstar
If your daily routes means you need an EV and can offset the higher list price, the Townstar is a great alternative to the market leaders.
Nissan Townstar EV
- Model: Townstar EV L1 Tekna+
- Power: 122hp
- Torque: 245Nm
- Max speed: 84mph
- 0-62mph: 14s
- Official range: 183 miles
- Test range: 149 miles
- CO2 emissions: 0g/km
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