Nissan NV3500 Full-Size Passenger Van
At a time when Chrysler has gotten out of the full-size American van business and Ford is getting out, with plans to replace the Econoline with the mid-sized European Transit, who should jump into the full-size market with both feet? Nissan.
Their new NV full-size van comes in V6 or 5.6L V8, low-and-high roof versions, cargo and passenger configurations, and in 1500, 2500 and 3500 models. Sound familiar?
Except for a much longer hood to minimize engine intrusion into the passenger compartment, it's no different than the 6 and V8, body-on-frame Chevy, Ford, and Dodge vans of old.
I asked the rep at the Ford commercial vehicle display about this seemingly suicidal move by Ford to abandon a market that Nissan is entering. He seemed annoyed by this impertinent line of questioning, but assured me that the upcoming Transit is, indeed, "full-size", and as large as the outgoing Econoline.
I'll believe it when I see it.
UPDATE, October 2023: WELL! Egg on MY face. The Transit, already Europe's longtime best-selling van, was a hit from its 2015 introduction in America, without a V8 option but with 45% of the full-size American van market. Yes, that's 55% for the Chevy Express, GMC Savana, Dodge Ram Promaster and Mercedes and Freightliner Sprinters to squeeze into. Nissan, on the other hand, exited the full-size van market here in 2021.
Nissan NV3500 Full-Size Passenger Van
At a time when Chrysler has gotten out of the full-size American van business and Ford is getting out, with plans to replace the Econoline with the mid-sized European Transit, who should jump into the full-size market with both feet? Nissan.
Their new NV full-size van comes in V6 or 5.6L V8, low-and-high roof versions, cargo and passenger configurations, and in 1500, 2500 and 3500 models. Sound familiar?
Except for a much longer hood to minimize engine intrusion into the passenger compartment, it's no different than the 6 and V8, body-on-frame Chevy, Ford, and Dodge vans of old.
I asked the rep at the Ford commercial vehicle display about this seemingly suicidal move by Ford to abandon a market that Nissan is entering. He seemed annoyed by this impertinent line of questioning, but assured me that the upcoming Transit is, indeed, "full-size", and as large as the outgoing Econoline.
I'll believe it when I see it.
UPDATE, October 2023: WELL! Egg on MY face. The Transit, already Europe's longtime best-selling van, was a hit from its 2015 introduction in America, without a V8 option but with 45% of the full-size American van market. Yes, that's 55% for the Chevy Express, GMC Savana, Dodge Ram Promaster and Mercedes and Freightliner Sprinters to squeeze into. Nissan, on the other hand, exited the full-size van market here in 2021.