Nissan NV200 Combi MPV (2010 – ) expert review

1. Exterior

There is no denying the NV200 Combi’s commercial vehicle origins, with upright sides and high roof. It does however possess very compact dimensions, making it easy to thread through city traffic and simple to park. Sliding side doors provide easy entry to the second and third rows of seats and there’s a choice of a tailgate or twin rear doors to suit individual’s needs.

Our rating: 2

2. Interior

It may look small on the outside, but the high roof and low floor provides plenty of space inside, with seat adjustment for even the tallest driver. The steering column only adjusts for height, though it can block the view of the speedo for taller drivers. A simple dash includes clear dials, though the digital display screen can be obscured in bright sunlight. There is plenty of storage space up front, while the cab is made of sturdy wipe-clean hard plastics.

Our rating: 3

3. Practicality

Five-seat and seven-seat versions of the Combi are available, although the base S model only comes with five seats. There’s the possibility to fold second and third row seats to create more loadspace, but they don’t remove entirely, simply folding forward in the case of row two and to the sides in row three. Despite compact external dimensions the Combi offers 2,900 litres of loadspace. Few seven-seat people carriers have such a small footprint in town, though rear passengers might not want to go too far.

Our rating: 4

4. Ride and handling

Around town the NV200 Combi is quick off the mark and remarkably agile. The steering is very light, while the simple rear suspension copes reasonably well with Britain’s lumpy roads. As with all vehicles that share their running gear with a van though, things get smoother with a load in the back.

Our rating: 3

5. Performance

With Renault’s proven 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine under that sloping bonnet the NV200 has a relatively useful 85bhp on tap, providing rapid acceleration around town. A healthy 147lb/ft of pulling power will see the Combi pull strongly even when fully laden, but with only a five-speed gearbox it’s not the most relaxing long distance cruiser.

Our rating: 3

6. Running costs

Nissan promises a combined fuel figure of 54.3mpg, but expect figures in the mid-40s which is still pretty good for a seven-seat vehicle. CO2 emissions of just 137g/km will keep the road tax bill down and visits to the dealer are every 12,500 miles or once a year for servicing. A three year/100,000 mile warranty offers peace of mind.

Our rating: 4

7. Reliability

It is doubtful that too many Nissan dealers make much of a living out of breakdown repairs, as the firm’s vehicles are known for reliability and sturdy build quality. The 1.5-litre dCi engine is well proven and should provide faithful service too.

Our rating: 4

8. Safety

While all three trim levels come with anti-lock brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution as standard, only the SE Plus specification gets Electronic Stability Programme (ESP). Driver and passenger airbags are standard too, with side airbags on the SE Plus. Remote central locking and a Thatcham-approved immobiliser are included on all models but a reversing camera is only available on SE or SE Plus, which uses a small screen in the dash.

Our rating: 3

9. Equipment

Unlike the Nissan Navara pick-up, which also crosses over from commercial to personal use, the NV200 Combi is not exactly full of goodies. All models come with a CD/radio, with MP3 compatibility and two speakers, while manual air-con is standard on the two higher trim levels.

Our rating: 2

10. Why buy?

If a low-cost, compact people carrier that is easy to use in town, fits the bill, the NV200 Combi has much to recommend it. No doubt minicab firms are going to find its practical interior and low running costs a very attractive proposition on the second-hand market.

Our rating: 2