Friday 3rd of February 2012
Behind the wheelThere can be no doubt that the NV200 is a hugely practical vehicle but I must say I am rather put off by its rather curious outer appearance – the wheels don’t seem to be the right size for the body.
Luckily, buyers tend to weigh practicality heavier than looks when choosing a van so fleets may not be deterred by this fact.
In the cab, the seats are nice and comfortable with lots of side support and there are plenty of nooks and crannies for bits and pieces, plus two coffee cup holders.
In the rear, the two side-loading doors are unique as standard in the sector and proved pretty handy too, although I was annoyed that the rubber floor mat didn’t fit properly and kept rucking up when I tried to push cargo into the load area.
Against some of the opposition, however, those side doors appeared a trifle tinny too.
The Renault diesel powerplant is a delight, firing up quietly and smoothly. Under way, the NV200 cuts along at a pace but, despite a slick gear-change, the power steering is much too light for me, leaving little ‘feel’ for what’s going on between steering wheel and road.
Verdict
There’s plenty to recommend this perky performer – and if its space you need, this is the cheapest van you can get with more than 4.0 cubic metres.
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