Nissan e-NV200 Review 2023

The quality of the Nissan e-NV200's interior plastics aren't great – they're all hard wearing, unwielding and scratchy, but they should at least resist large impacts and be easy to keep clean, both handy characteristics for a working van. Shiny black plastics borrowed from the Leaf electric car lift the cabin, but not significantly. 

Tekna versions of the Nissan e-NV200 come with Nissan's Connect infotainment screen fitted as standard (it's a £1200 option on all other models), which includes handsfree calling and Bluetooth music streaming, you also get 12V and USB plugs. The Connect system can track the van's movements as well as alert you when it's fully charged and allow you to stop and start the climate control system remotely. Sadly, you don't get either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. 

The conversion from conventional to electric power hasn't harmed the Nissan e-NV200's cargo-lugging capacity – it can carry the same 4.2 cubic metre load as any other NV200. Its 701kg payload limit, meanwhile, is about 50kg less than a diesel can lug. 

The cargo bay's dimensions sit at 2040mm long, 1500mm wide and 1358mm tall. Need to carry something longer? No problem – for £240 you can have a mesh partition wall that means you can feed items up to 2.8m in length up to the windscreen. 

Access to the load bay is brilliant, you get a low floor 524mm off the ground and rear doors that open 180 degrees, you also get two side doors that leave an 1171mm opening and make it easy to get things out the front of the load bay when the van is fully loaded. 

The Nissan e-NV200 dimensions are 4650mm long, 2011mm wide and 1860mm tall. 

The drivetrain is, not surprisingly, pretty much lifted straight out of the Leaf, although Nissan’s van department has made the battery pack 7.5kg lighter still. The electric motor generates 109PS, though that’s a far less relevant number than the 254Nm of torque, which is a better indicator of the e-NV200’s stuff-carrying ability.  

The main in-town benefit of the e-NV200 is the electric vehicle’s trademark torque curve – or plateau, rather, with the maximum figure available from zero rpm, making for an extremely responsive throttle in the van's main mode. In Eco mode the right pedal needs a lot more shove, which lessens the effect but improves battery life. 

Most importantly, in the world of heavy load bearing, this instant torque delivery gives the e-NV200 a massive advantage over anything with a conventional engine.

The Nissan e-NV200 is as quiet as a luxurious Mercedes S-Class through town, it's motor makes no noise and the artificial sound the van produces (to warn pedestrians that it is approaching) is soothing rather than annoying. 

The downside of the silent powertrain is that wind and road noise aren't masked by the hum of an engine at higher speeds. On the bright side, the Nissan's short cruising range means you'll not be driving on the motorway for very long. 

The Nissan e-NV200 was tested for safety by Euro NCAP in 2014, when it scored three stars – which isn't great. In fact, testing has changed so much since then, NCAP actually classifies that result as 'expired' and it would score even less if it was tested under the latest procedures.

On the upside, a drivers airbag and anti-lock brakes come fitted as standard, Acenta models add a passenger and side airbags. 

Basic e-NV200 Visia models don't come with a rapid charge facility, so getting a full charge will take around 7.5 hours. 

The rest of the range has a rapid charge facility, so the Nissan can juice its battery from 20 to 80 per in 40 minutes – although it'll cost you double the price of charging at home. 

Which brings us neatly to the the good old home socket, of course, which is where most will find their power, overnight, depending on the amp rating of the supply, charging can take between four and 12 hours, but it will cost you less than a tenner. 

The Nissan e-NV200 should be very reliable. Its electric motor is simpler and requires less maintenance than a diesel engine and you also don't have to worry about replacing engine oil, spark plugs or an exhaust. Its regenerative brakes also mean brake pad and disc wear will be greatly reduced versus a diesel model. 

The Nissan comes with a five-year warranty for its mechanical parts and eight-year cover for the battery. 

The Nissan e-NV200 hasn't got published insurance groups, but the old model sat in group 8 and we would expect the current car to stay in a similar position – that would make it about to same to insure as rivals such as the Renault Kangoo E-Tech Electric. 

Because it is electric, the e-NV200 doesn't pay any road tax and it's also exempt from paying either the London Congestion Charge or the ULEZ, meaning it is ideal if you deliver in central London.

A decent list of standard equipment makes the Nissan e-NV200 a comfortable van to spend a lot of time in – you can choose from Visia, Acenta and Tekna models.

Visia is the entry-level model and it comes with 15-inch steel wheels and halogen headlights to prove it. Creature comforts are limited to electric windows and a two-speaker stereo with AM/FM radio and Bluetooth, plus you get a passenger seat that folds flat so you can use its backrest as a table. 

Acenta models can be spotted by their front fog lights, although the most significant upgrade is their ability to be charged using a rapid charger. They also get handy accessories such as air-conditioning, a reversing camera and cruise – features that make Acenta the pick of the range.

Haul yourself to the giddy heights of a Tekna model and you'll get nifty 15-inch alloy wheels, as well as automatic lights and wipers. The inside looks smart too, because you get a colourful infotainment screen with built-in sat-nav.