The new Nissan van vs the Mercedes Sprinter

[haven]

Nissan started shipping its new commercial van earlier in 2011. The vehicle looks more like a 1950s panel truck than a modern van. But it does offer a high roof model that has potential for camper conversion.

Here are a few numbers that help compare the Nissan high roof van with the similar sized Mercedes Sprinter.

Nissan Commercial Van NV2500 High Roof
http://www.nissancommercialvehicles.com/
Drive train: 4.0L V6, 5 speed automatic, 281 ft lbs of torque
A V8 with 385 ft-lbs of torque is a $900 option
Interior height ...77 inches
Cargo volume ... 323 cubic feet.
Wheelbase ... 146 inches
Overall length ... 241 inches
Turning circle ... 45 feet, curb to curb
Payload ... ~ 2900 lbs
MSRP ... about $29K with V6 gas

The Mercedes Sprinter with similar wheelbase and interior height
http://www.mbsprinterusa.com/
Drive train: 3.0L V6 diesel, 5 speed automatic, 325 ft-lbs of torque
Interior height ... 78 inches
Cargo volume ... 371 cubic feet.
Wheelbase ... 144 inches
Overall length ... 233 inches
Turning circle ... 47 feet, wall to wall
Payload ... 3385 lbs
MSRP ... about $36K with V6 diesel

Both Nissan and Mercedes offer models in a standard height. These vans' cargo area has an interior height of about 48 inches, the same as the driver's area. A pop-up roof could be attached over the cargo area to provide more headroom and space for sleeping, in the manner of the old VW Westfalia conversions. Chief advantage of the pop-up van would be better aerodynamics = better fuel economy.

For comparison, the Ford E-Series long wheelbase van with standard roof has about 275 cu ft of cargo space. Ford will replace the E-Series with the Transit, a full size van developed in Europe to compete with Sprinter.

 

[camperman]

Mb

For me, Sprinter is better. Mercedes it's Mercedes. :safari-rig: That's it

 

[Lajning]

If I were to acquire a VAN for camper conversion, I would look into the one with best ground clearance and possibly awd.

A sprinter with awd and some nice at's would be kickass!

 

[Christian P.]

Haven,

you forgot one criteria....sex appeal....Sprinter wins by a long shot...

 

[mhiscox]

If I were to acquire a VAN for camper conversion, I would look into the one with best ground clearance and possibly awd.

A sprinter with awd and some nice at's would be kickass!

Like this one?

Sadly, this is one of fewer than two dozen North American 4WD Sprinters and there is no current source to get more. It'll be interesting to see if the Nissans or, for that matter, the Ford Transits that will soon replace the E-series van, will be more practical to convert to 4WD than the Sprinter turned out to be.

 

[Desert Dan]

Bring on a Nissan 4x4 Van please!!!

 

[GlobalMonkey]

Haven,

you forgot one criteria....sex appeal....Sprinter wins by a long shot...

Could you tell us more about the Sprinter in the picture?
Thanks, Tomas

 

[doby]

Could you tell us more about the Sprinter in the picture?
Thanks, Tomas

Here you go... http://www.outsidevan.com/mothership.php

 

[snorkel54]

Quigley is looking at a Nissan Van 4x4. Good thing, or else they would be out of business soon. http://www.quigley4x4.com/Products/Nissannv.aspx

 

[GlobalMonkey]

Here you go... http://www.outsidevan.com/mothership.php

Thank you Doby

Tomas

 

[haven]

The Quigley 4x4 conversion is promising. Nissan lifted the frame and drivetrain for the commercial van from the Titan pickup, so with luck it won't be too difficult to bolt up the 4x4 pickup's transfer case and front drive axle.

Then Sprinter fans will be faced with a difficult choice: Choose a better-looking van that depends on electronic traction aids for the rear wheels only, or buy a panel truck that has true 4x4 as an option.

Nissan worked with Cummins for a while on a small diesel option for the commercial van, but chose to introduce the van with the gas V6 and V8 engines. In a couple of years, I think we'll see a diesel powered van from Nissan.

 

[haven]

Truck Trend has a review of the Nissan van with high roof, V8 and 3600 lb cargo capacity. This truck has single rear wheels, and costs about $35K. A similar Sprinter costs about $9K more.

The editors were generally pleased with the van's performance, but cautioned that it's a handful to drive in windy conditions and to drive fast on twisty roads. The 5.6L V8 enabled them to cruise at more than 100 mph on the highway, in order to keep up with the sports cars the editors were testing.

http://www.trucktrend.com/roadtests/van/163_1112_2012_nissan_nv3500_v8_sv_test/index.html

I read another article that said Nissan is having difficulty finding customers for the van. This means dealers will be eager to sell at a discount. No discounts for the Sprinter right now!

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/30/nissan-nv-van-stumbling-out-of-the-gate/

 

[turbolab]

the company i work for has 2 2008 sprinters and they are the biggest pos, both have left us stranded and are rusting form the inside out (body shop say they were never primed), dont start at all in the winter (no block heaters), they get stuck in 2inches of snow with snow tires due to the type of traction control they use. the only thing that is very nice is the room and the great mpg

both trucks have been parked for 3 months and we are driving chevy cargo vans one has a blow rear diff and the other the ignition dosn't work any more

my boss is looking into the nissans but wants to give it a modle year or two

Ryan

 

[Mr.Audi]

Now the passenger version for the Nissan was released.
http://ca.autoblog.com/2011/11/08/nissan-unveils-new-nv3500-hd-passenger-van/