Nissan set to reclaim King of the Vans position with NV350 Urvan

At the press preview of the all-new, fifth generation Nissan NV350 Urvan last Thursday, Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) president and managing director Antonio Zara projected its share in the commercial/passenger van market segment to increase from its present 35 percent.

But Zara stopped short of predicting just how much higher the new Urvan’s market share would rise. He declared, however, that NPI’s target is to regain pole position in sales in the commercial van segment which Nissan lost to “Brand T” before NPI took over the Nissan marketing, sales and dealer operations in April 2014 from Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. (NMPI) and Universal Motors Corporation (UMC).
Zara announced that Nissan sales surged 30 percent in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period last year, its best performance ever, and that before year-end, NPI  would have 39 dealerships nationwide to continue the marketing momentum. NPI’s current offerings are the Almera, Sylphy, Altima, X-Trail and Navara.
Inside the huge, brand-new ballroom of  the Marriot Hotel, the venue of the media launch, were parked four units of the NV350 Urvan exemplifying the following configurations and pricing: 15-seater at P1.183 million, 18-seater at P1.196 million, and three-seater cargo at P1.177 million.
The Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) enabled NPI to make the new Urvan more affordable, Zara said. Zara walked around the displayed Urvans to point out the new features that the competition, specifically Brand T, does not have.

In the Philippines, the Urvan was popular both for family use and public transportation. Zara claimed that shuttle operators preferred the Urvan for its proven reliability, passenger comfort and strong air-conditioning system, flexible loading, and seating capacity for both cargo and passengers.

The fifth generation Urvan’s design and key features were overhauled to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, shuttle operators and family users, Zara averred.
First of all, Nissan upgraded the powertrain with the new generation 2.5-liter DOHC in-line 4-cylinder Variable Geometry System diesel engine of the recently launched all-new NP300 Nissan Navara pickup truck. Drivers can now rely on the new Urvan’s powerful engine to effortlessly pull loads of cargo and passengers even on steep, uphill climbs, like on a family weekend trip to Tagaytay or Baguio, without having to switch off the air-con.
A shift indicator on the dashboard of the new Urvan gives visual cues to the driver when to shift, thus maximizing the power of the drivetrain without wasting a drop of fuel. The Urvan’s improved fuel efficiency makes the dream of long-distance travel to places like Ilocos or Sagada become real for families who want to explore more of the Philippines.
At the same time, the individual air-con vents mounted on 12 points off-center on the van’s ceiling ensure cool trips for all passengers, including those in the rear cabin.

The interior space of the new Urvan has been redesigned to provide extra legroom and elbow room for both the driver and passengers alike. The multi-faceted display on the dashboard clearly shows all the driving stats at a glance.
The shift selector has been moved to the instrument panel board to make it easier for the driver to reach when changing gears and also frees up the floor area to create more space for stowing bags.  The extent of the slide distance of the driver’s seat has been increased by 5 millimeters for maximum driving comfort and the steering wheel features a moveable range for tilt.
Standard safety features in the new NV350 Urvan are dual front airbags, body impact zones on the front and sides to absorb and dissipate the impact in case of a collision, a LED stop lamp that is mounted over the rear cargo door as additional visual warning, seatbelts, a load-sensing valve that provides reliable braking power whether the van is full or empty and child-safety door locks.
With the removal of the side roof drip channel of the previous model, the all-new NV350 sports an aerodynamic side view.  The other  visual enhancements include a shortened overhang, an angled strut front grille with sharply angled halogen headlights that lead to a leaner look, flush side windows, chrome rear emblem and 15-inch wheel covers.  The squared rear design emphasizes the roomy impression of the Urvan’s cargo space.

Zara announced that those who use the NV350 Urvan for utility purposes and register it as a public utility vehicle (PUV) will get to enjoy three years’ manufacturer’s warranty with no additional cost. “We’re proud to announce that this is a first in the local automotive industry, to provide warranty coverage for vans used for UV purposes,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Nissan Customer Assistance Center offers a wide array of services and privileges to owners of the all-new NV350 Urvan.  In addition, with the Alagang Nissan Program, owners can avail of affordable parts and servicing at dedicated NPI dealerships nationwide.  Zara reminded those present that Nissan ranked the highest in customer satisfaction with after-sales service among new vehicle owners, according to the J.D. Power Asia-Pacific 2014 Philippines Customer Service Index Study.

Summing up, Zara promised that with all these changes, the all-new Nissan Urvan NV350 promises a better riding and driving experience for the driver and passengers alike.  And with the new Urvan available starting June 15 at NPI dealerships, Nissan serves notice that a strong contender for the title of King of the Vans has arrived.