2021 Nissan NV2500

The 2021 Nissan NV2500 is available in two trim options: the base level S trim and the higher-end SV trim. Both trims are available in a standard roof as well as a high-roof variant and both trims come in an RWD configuration. Both trims are powered by a 4.0 L V6 engine as standard while the SV trim also gets an optional 5.5 L V8 engine. There are also some packages on offer with the NV2500 including the Navigation Package that adds the Nissan Navigation System, consisting of NissanConnect 5.8" color touchscreen display, Nissan Mobile Partner, Voice Recognition, SiriusXM Traffic, and Travel Link, and SiriusXM Radio. The available Rear Door Glass Package comes with Rear door windows with privacy glass, an interior rearview mirror, and a rear window defroster while the Vinyl Seat Package, as the name suggests, adds vinyl seats of a gray shade. The following table shows the detailed list of features included in each trim of the 2021 Nissan NV2500-

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The SV trim of the Nissan NV2500 in the standard roof configuration would be the ideal choice as it offers a more powerful engine coupled with a better set of features over the base trim. The base S trim is offered with a stronger engine and that makes it less capable. The SV trim, however, is much more capable and even if you go for the high-roof variant with the V8 engine, it is much cheaper than some of the competitors with a standard roof and V6 engine.

The 2021 Nissan NV2500 cargo van is offered with two engine options. Both the S and SV trims come equipped with a 4.0 L DOHC 24-valve V6 engine as standard mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission producing 261 hp and 281 lb-ft of maximum power and torque while there is also a stronger 5.6 L DOHC 32-valve V8 engine available as an option with the SV. This engine comes paired to a 7-speed automatic transmission and puts out a stronger 375 hp and 387 lb-ft of maximum power and torque. 

The base V6 could carry a payload of up to 3,270 lbs while it weirdly goes down to 2,970 lbs when equipped with the V8 engine in the SV trim. The NV2500 cargo van could also tow up to 2,000 in the standard setup whereas if equipped with a tow hitch receiver, it could tow up to 6,900 lbs with the V6 engine and up to 9,400 lbs with the beefier V8 under the hood. The NV2500 Cargo with the V6 engine takes less than seconds to achieve a speed of 60mph and even though it is not the most powerful in the

The RAM Promaster is the most powerful option here while the Chevy Express offers the best performance for the lowest price while also being the torquiest. The Promaster is the only van with a front-wheel drivetrain while all others come in an RWD configuration. The Nissan despite being powerful and lower-priced, is the slowest and least powerful option here. The Chevy Express Cargo is the overall best performer in terms of performance.

How well does the 2021 Nissan NV2500 Cargo Van Drive and Handle?

The 2021 Nissan NV2500 Cargo Van has a full-length, fully-boxed ladder frame underneath it and this as expected from a cargo van is not tuned for comfort, but for carrying huge loads. In that regard, the NV2500 is capable and handles the weight and load impressively. The suspension setup of the NV2500 Cargo Van consists of a front-independent double-wishbone suspension and a multi-leaf suspension with a solid axle in the rear. This setup is strong and enables the van to handle weights while also providing a reasonable amount of comfort for the driver and front passenger. 

The NV2500 also features front and rear stabilizer bars that help to keep the van more stable and composed. However, handling is as expected from a huge, technically outdated van and it is definitely not a joy-to-drive machine. The NV2500 gets an engine-speed-sensitive hydraulic recirculating ball steering that is not very much responsive as the name suggests. Overall, it is a cargo van and it does that job pretty well, but don’t expect any engagement on the handling and driving dynamics front. 

How efficient is the braking performance of the 2021 Nissan NV2500 Cargo? 

The 2021 Nissan NV2500 comes equipped with a large set of brakes. It gets 14.2-inch rotors in the front and slightly larger 14.4-inch ones in the rear. Considering the larger weight of the vehicle, these larger brakes are required to bring the NV2500 to a stop effectively. The NV2500 comes to a halt from 70mph in around 210ft which is a good distance for a huge van like this one. Overall the braking performance of the 2021 Nissan NV2500 is satisfactory.

None of the vans here are outstanding performers here in terms of braking capabilities. However, the Nissan NV2500 comes equipped with the strongest and largest set of brakes. The Ram Promaster on the other hand comes with the smallest set of brakes. The braking distance figures are not available but based on the available brakes, we can say that the Nissan NV2500 would perform well. 

Fuel efficiency is not one of the strong points of the NV2500 or cargo van with a gasoline engine for that matter, But the Nissan actually offers some of the least fuel-efficiency numbers in the segment. The NV2500 Cargo Van delivers a fuel economy of 11mpg in the city, 15 on the highway, and combined fuel efficiency of 13 mpg. The NV2500 has a comparatively larger fuel capacity of 28.0 gallons and delivers a range of more than 350 miles in combined road and driving conditions. Overall the Nissan doesn’t perform well in the fuel economy department. 

The Ford Transit is the standout performer in terms of fuel efficiency as it provides a combined range of 16mpg. The Nissan however is the least efficient machine here and also delivers the least range. The Chevy Express comes with lower efficiency figures compared to the Transit 250, but it holds up with a longer range as it comes with a class-leading fuel capacity of 31.0 gallons. The Nissan is an overall disappointment

The 2021 Nissan NV2500 is a cargo van and that too, not a very much updated one doesn’t have a much premium or luxurious interior. The front seats are covered in water-repellent cloth while they could be covered in vinyl in the S trim if you opt for the S Vinyl Seats Package. The cabin is spacious and also comes with manual air conditioning to keep the occupants somewhat comfortable. The cargo area of the van gets integrated reinforced cargo-mounting points for custom shelving, 11 integrated reinforced cargo-mounting points for bulkhead partition, and ten of them in the ceiling for interior ladder rack installation. 

The cargo area features a vertical sidewall design with hardboard interior cargo panels and a rear cargo floor protector. There are Five assist grips in the cabin and the rear door also has a storage compartment. Further, there are six floor-mounted D-rings in the cargo area and the NV2500 also comes with pre-wiring for electrical upfitting. There are also two 12-volt DC power outlets inside the van along with three cargo area work lights. Overall the NV2500 comes with a spacious cabin that features a functional cargo area with enough assistance features. 

The Ford Transit gets the most updated interior and it looks stylish and feature-rich. The Transit is the newest one among these while the Chevy Express was introduced back in 1996 which makes it look like a historical monument inside out. The NV2500 is also around a decade old and the interior looks and feels dated. In the standard configuration, the Ford and the Ram offer the most space on the inside while the Nissan and Chevy are smaller. The following are some of the standout interior features of the 2021 Nissan NV2500 Cargo Van-

• Gray cloth seats with reinforced side bolster wear 
• patches on inner and outer bolsters
• Water-repellent seating surfaces
• Seat armrests
• 4-way manual seats
• Multi-functional trip computer with maintenance intervals
• Air conditioning
• Power windows with driver’s one-touch auto-down with auto-reverse

How intuitive is the 2021 Nissan NV2500 Cargo’s infotainment unit?

The 2021 NV2500 Cargo Van features a 7-inch color touch-screen display as the infotainment unit and it is weirdly upgradable to a smaller NissanConnect 5.8" color touch-screen display that is more feature-rich and comes with navigation and Nissan Mobile Partner support. The standard audio unit in the base trim consists of two speakers while the top-end SV trim gets four. All trims come with steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and Bluetooth connectivity. The following are the main infotainment features inside the 2021 Nissan NV2500 Cargo Van-

• 7-inch color touch-screen display
• Nissan Navigation System
• SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link with 3-month trial access
• Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System
• Hands-free Text Messaging Assistant9
• AM/FM/CD audio system 
• Radio Data System (RDS)
• Auxiliary audio input jack
• USB port

Well, it’s not beautiful at all. There are not many cargo vans in the segment that could be called beautiful. The NV2500 has a boxy design unlike some of the sleeker, updated ones in the segment. The front-end has an SUV-like appearance that some people might find appealing while it might be off-putting for some. The sides are pretty much plain and there is nothing much here to accentuate the design except for the 17-inch ‘styled’ steel wheels. 

The NV2500 is available in various configurations. The standard configuration comes with a standard roof while you could also opt for a high-roof variant that would also cost extra. The NV2500 is available in five shades while there are not many available exterior options. However, there is a Rear Door Glass Package available that comes with rear door windows with privacy glass. The van weighs quite a lot considering the segment standards and that also affects the fuel efficiency. 

The 2021 Ford Transit 250 is the best-looking machine here as all others are very much outdated and just look old. The Transit on the other hand has a sleeker design language and is overall a better van to look at. The Ram Promaster is the lightest one here while the Nissan is the heaviest and by a huge margin. The Chevy and the Nissan offer a higher ground clearance that makes them more practical. The following are the standout exterior features of the 2021 Nissan NV2500 Cargo-

• Halogen headlights
• Black grille, bumpers, and door handles
• Dual power outside mirrors
• Ten roof rack-mounting points
• Sliding side door on the passenger side
• 50/50-split rear cargo doors with opening locking feature
• Magnetic door locks (to secure open rear doors)
• 243° Maximum opening range for rear cargo doors

Although the NV2500 has not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, it comes with a host of safety features integrated into it. The NV2500 comes equipped with a 2-wheel Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS) along with 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD). There are also some more advanced safety features in the van that ensure better safety for the van as well as the occupants. The following are the standout safety features in the NV2500 Cargo-

• Cruise control
• RearView Monitor
• Rear Sonar System
• Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction 
• Control (TCS)
• Brake Assist

2021 Nissan NV2500 Cargo Van vs 2021 Ford Transit 250 Cargo Van

The 2021 Ford Transit Cargo absolutely trumps the Nissan with its overall better capabilities. The Ford is much more updated and offers many more features inside out. The Transit is more powerful as well as fuel-efficient and features a high-tech cabin with better infotainment features. The Transit is also the better-looking one inside out making it the overall better choice. 

2021 Nissan NV2500 Cargo Van vs 2021 Ram Promaster 2500 Cargo Van 

The RAM Promaster cargo is the most powerful cargo van among these and it is also the fastest. However, the Promaster looks very much weird and ugly from the outside. It also comes with disappointing ride quality and an uncomfortable driving position. The Promaster does offer more space for carrying stuff in the standard variant. However overall the Nissan is the better choice among these. 

2021 Nissan NV2500 Cargo Van vs 2021 Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van 

The 2021 Chevy Express Cargo Van is one of the oldest vans among these vehicles, making it a bad choice. The Nissan is much more updated and offers better features inside out. The Chevy, however, is slightly more efficient and offers a higher range. But still, Nissan is the overall better choice. 

The 2021 Nissan NV2500 is a value for money option among cargo vans in the segment. It is available with two different engines and roof options. However, it is not powerful or fuel-efficient enough to qualify as a capable cargo van. The interior is also outdated and it is not very good to look at. Overall this is not the cargo van you want, and we advise you to go for the Ford Transit that is much more updated.