2018 Nissan Urvan Premium Review: A Bulky Heavyweight that Boasts Comfort & Safety

Introduced to the market a couple of months ago, the Nissan Urvan Premium 2018 is the latest addition to the vastly popular Nissan van lineup in the Philippines, made popular by the Nissan escapade 2014 and the like.

Abstained from all frivolous details and unnecessary add-ons, Nissan Urvan brings back the basics of a people hauler: safety, comfort, and ample space. The 15-seater van promises to become your family’s best travel mate especially on long road trips because of its tremendous leg and headroom, which honestly would not be too far from the comfort of a four-wheeled motel room.

The Urvan Premium at first glance

The Urvan Premium comes in Black Obsidian, Alpine White, and Tiger Eye Brown (pictured)

Below is a quick summary of the Nissan Urvan specs to give you an overview of this vehicle before getting into the details of its exterior and interior design, features and engine performance.

The Urvan Premium focuses on function over form

It was only 4 years after the launch of the Nissan Urvan 2014 for sale, but it's safe to say the exterior design of the Urvan model sort changed completely, from the front to the back, including the side lines and even the polished surface. 

Without an ornate façade and fancy embellishment, every design cue of the Nissan Urvan 2018 is geared for function. Sophisticated nevertheless, it is a van in its purest form.

The model’s striking appearance is based off of the fact that it is significantly wider, taller, and just overall larger in comparison to its predecessors and many other competitors in the van market. The car is measured at 2,285mm in height and 5,230mm in length, which needless to say provides more than enough leg and headroom for a pleasant long-haul trip.

Making up the stylish front are the V-shaped angled chrome grille in honeycomb design, sharper halogen headlamps, as well as the dynamic character lines that flow to the sides and throughout the body to develop a modern frame. Both front and rear glass windshields are green tinted.

Despite the longer wheelbase and shortened overhang, the tires are only 15-inch with steel wheels, which can be considered small for a van of this size. Noticeably, the side roof drip channel featured in earlier versions of the Urvan has been removed.

Making up the stylish front is the V-shaped chrome grille in honeycomb design

>>> Related: Check out the Nissan NV350 Urvan 2015 for sale

The 15-seater Nissan Urvan interior is truly massive

The Nissan Urvan interior provides a premium comfort for both driver and passengers. Its seating configuration of four seat rows in the rear cabin allows comfortable space for 15 people as well as for luggage storage. The individually mounted seats are covered in suede-like, smooth tricot fabric, while the headlining fabric comes in gray, classy, suede-finished material. Pockets and cup-holders are arranged to be easily accessible in each rear seat.

The new Nissan NV350 Urvan features a redesigned two-tone dashboard panel, which gives off the impression of a more spacious front cabin. There are 14 individual air conditioning vents on board along the seat rows in the rear cabin, so you can count on the car to quickly keep you cool and comfortable.

Extra features are added not for aesthetic purposes but for enhanced convenience

The Nissan Urvan Premium 2018 features a 1,580mm-high extended sliding door opening and a Door Closure Assist which makes it easier for passengers to firmly close the door without having to use too much force. Inside the van, a plainly functional cockpit is equipped with a manual shifter mounted under the radio system.

Accompanying the responsive and precise steering wheel is a remarkably convenient dash-mounted gearstick - one that would render the automatic version of the model quite unnecessary. One drawback is that with the conspicuous lack of a modern infotainment system, your entertainment options are limited to CD, AUX, and the radio.

When the manual shifter is set to reverse gear, a part of the rear-view mirror will turn into a backing-up camera, which will come in handy especially considering the fact that the rear window is pretty far back from the driver’s seat. Other added features of the model include rear ingress/egress grips, a handrail when entering the car, and a rear step board.

It is also noteworthy to mention the safety enhancing add-ons of this car, such as dual front airbags and seatbelts, child safety lock, anti-lock brake system, load tensioning valve, front fog lamps, and brake assist.

>>> Related: Nissan Philippines price list

Nissan NV 350 vs. Toyota Hiace: 2.5-litre engine of the former could put out significantly more torque compared to the 3.0-liter that powers the latter

The model’s powerful drive is made possible by the same high-torque 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine that is used for the award-winning pickup, Nissan Navara. This VGS power-plant reaches 127 hp and a torque of 356 Nm, which explains its surprising power on tap as well as its faster, smoother take-off and acceleration. This is another case that proves that engine size isn’t all that matters, as the van’s 2.5-litre engine could put out significantly more torque compared to the 3.0-liter that powers the Toyota Hiace.

According to car reviews, the engine does not seem to overheat despite the heavy load and a 2,190kg curb weight. However, a bit more insulation from outside noise for the driver’s cabin would be much appreciated, as you will be able to hear almost all revs of the turbodiesel engine from the driver’s seat.

>>> Read our review for the Toyota Hiace to have a clearer Nissan NV 350 vs. Toyota Hiace comparison

Nissan Urvan Premium 2018 brings back the basics of a people hauler: safety, comfort, and ample space

Apart from the subtly sleeker design compared to its predecessor, the new Nissan Urvan Premium also scores on the cost of ownership front. Customers can get their hands on this monster with only P1,650,000 – and did we mention that free warranty coverage for the first 3 years or 100,000 km, whichever comes first, is also included in the package to sweeten the deal? The model comes in Black Obsidian, Alpine White, and Tiger Eye Brown, and is available in 5-speed manual transmission in all Nissan dealerships in the country.

This van delivers what it promises: comfort, space, cold A/C, safety, and ample torque to boot. If you are looking for these bare essentials at a below-P2 million price tag, the Urvan Premium will certainly not disappoint.

Hope that the Nissan Urvan Premium 2018 Review on Philkotse.com has provided you with useful information about this 15-seater van.

For Filipinos who are seeking for a practical van and are considering between the Nissan NV350 and Toyota Hiace, this head-to-head car comparison "Auto brawl 101: Nissan NV350 vs Toyota Hiace in the Philippines" will certainly be helpful.

>>> If you are in Metro Manila and desire to buy Nissan 350Z, please visit Nissan for sale in Metro Manila via Philkotse.com