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2020 NV passenger van on a dirt road

The 2020 Nissan NV Is the Cheapest Van you can Buy

The most popular vans on the market have their strengths and weaknesses. The Nissan NV is one of the four most mainstream choices. Obviously, some people like it enough to buy it. It’s the cheapest van you can buy. Yet other than its class-leading maximum tow capacity, it has surprisingly little to offer. It loses …

The most popular vans on the market have their strengths and weaknesses. The Nissan NV is one of the four most mainstream choices. Obviously, some people like it enough to buy it. It’s the cheapest van you can buy. Yet other than its class-leading maximum tow capacity, it has surprisingly little to offer.

a gray Nissan NV in the city
Nissan NV Cargo | Nissan Media/CarBuzz

It loses to the Ram ProMaster, the Ford Transit, and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans in nearly every area. But it is still one of the primary options for a work van, overland van, and a passenger van. Interestingly, it’s a body on frame van built on the Nissan Titan platform. Let’s take a look at the 2020 Nissan NV features and specs to see what it is about this van that makes it compelling enough to buy.

Nissan NV price

The 2020 Nissan NV starts for $29,890, according to CarBuzz. That makes the NV the cheapest work van you can buy. It’s the only one of the four that starts under $30 grand. However, although this is a cheap starting price point, some might say the pickings are slim.

The cheapest van you can buy if you want a cargo van doesn’t bring a whole lot to the table. But its low price makes it a great buy for those who don’t prioritize luxury or modern tech. For this price you’ll get an entry level model with few amenities.

slightly dated, but still nice enough considering the Nissan NV is the cheapest van you can buy
Nissan NV interior | Nissan Media/CarBuzz

Though Far Out Ride said it’s so ugly that it isn’t even worthy of a review, some people like the “rugged” boxy look. Standard features for the 2020 Nissan NV include a tilt-only steering wheel, power windows and door locks, a rear-view camera, air conditioning, one USB port, 2-speaker sound system, and a 7-inch display with Bluetooth. The more powerful 2500 S adds cargo lights and some extra storage bins under the driver’s seat. Plus, some extra cargo space in the rear door.

It’s a towing beast

The writers for Edmunds report that the 2020 Nissan NV is a towing beast that’s part of a generation of vans which started with the 2012 model. If you opt for the heavy duty hauling NV with a V8, the max tow rating is a massive 9,400 pounds. However, this option is no longer available on the base trim. Still, the V6 pats plenty of punch if you’re on a budget and just want to buy the cheapest van.

A pic of the front passenger side of a black van that received anoverlanding conversion
An overlanding conversion of a Nissan NV 3500 van | TFLTruck

“It’s basically a big box on wheels supported by a pair of strong engines and body-on-frame construction borrowed from the last-gen Nissan Titan pickup that helps it achieve some hefty towing numbers.”

Edmunds

The Nissan NV Passenger

The cheapest van if you’re looking for a passenger van is still the Nissan NV. For a base level 2020 NV Passenger the price point starts at $36,110. That’s just a few hundred shy of the second cheapest passenger van, the Ram ProMaster Window Van. The 2020 Nissan NV Passenger van seats 12 and comes in the S, SV, and SL trims just like its cargo van counterpart.

a dark red Nissan NV driving off road in the forest with recreational gear loaded up top
Nissan NV passenger | Nissan Media/CarBuzz

Dated and falling behind

Though the Nissan NV is called ugly by multiple sources including CarBuzz, it’s still a leading choice. Though it is last place for cargo space, payload, and fuel economy, the 2020 Nissan NV boasts class-leading towing capability. Its’s dated and falls short of other vans like the Transit or the Sprinter, but it’s the cheapest van you can buy.

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