NISSAN has a long history of creating vans made to work. The new Nissan Urvan is no exception. The first generation of the Urvan dates all the way back to 1973, and has been available in various incarnations ever since.

This is testament to Nissan’s hard work. They have been refining and updating the Urvan’s features and abilities for the past 30 plus years. Ultimately resulting in the reliable multitasking vehicle we are presented with today.

Solely imported and distributed by Tan Chong Motor, the latest model of the Urvan is part of the fifth generation of the vehicle. This model is aimed at more commercial and business use, as opposed to recreational. This does nothing to dampen the Urvan’s credentials as a popular ‘people mover’.

Traditionally the Urvan has been known for the ample space given to the occupants of the vehicle with a generous interior; of course the current incarnation is no exception. Replete with a spacious cabin, Nissan also aims to provide owners of the Urvan with worry free ownership. An Urvan is reliable and can complete most tasks assigned to it. The Urvan really is ‘the reliable multitasker’ as Nissan proudly exclaims.

Nissan has worked hard with this model of the Urvan to provide the reliability, connectivity, and safety that their customers in 2019 see as crucially non negotiable. In addition Nissan has given the Urvan a new look.

There are also aesthetic changes to give a minor refresh to the cosmetic value of the vehicle. Some of the revisions on the externals of the Urvan include, new V-motion signature front grill, larger multi-reflector halogen headlamps, as well as re-styled body colours and front and rear bumpers.

While something like larger halogen headlamps serve an aesthetic purpose, for Nissan safety is always a major concern. The fresh new design of the headlamps also has the added benefit of making those dark national roads much easier to navigate during night time driving.

The interior of the Urvan has also undergone a rethink by the designers and engineers at Nissan. The fifth row seats can now be folded up for increased cargo space.

When using the Urvan as a commercial vehicle, this is a boon for Nissan and its customers. Fully loaded minivans, carrying passengers, luggage, produce, and the odd motorbike are not an uncommon site on Cambodian roads.

Often with a ‘jimmy rig’ protruding out the back of vehicles in a dangerous manner, this can be rectified in the new Urvan. Space for 15 passengers, and a strong 2.5-litre diesel VGS turbo intercooler engine, means that the Urvan is a difficult vehicle to overload! The Urvan driver can reliably carry large loads and negotiate steep uphill climbs with the five speed manual that delivers seamless shifting, smooth response and the added bonus of fuel efficiency.

Passengers are not forgotten in the Urvan, a huge sliding door allows ease of access to passengers. Once inside, passengers can relax in style with personal air conditioning vents, high back reclining seats with cloth upholstery, and for safety all passengers are provided with lap belts.

The high roofline on the interior of the Urvan provides ample head room as well as the cabin seating arrangement giving passengers spacious foot wells allowing for ample leg room. Handrails, cup holders, seat pockets all add to passenger comfort, particularly on a longer journey.

For the driver of the Urvan, things have never been easier. A 3.5 inch multi-functional display provides the driver with real-time information. Fuel efficiency information is displayed and a shift up indicator means the Urvan gear box is never overworked.

Finally we look to the safety measures in the Urvan.

This is an area where Nissan has put in a lot of effort. De-fogging technology ensures that windscreens are always clear and the road in front and behind, is clearly visible no matter the conditions.

Dual SRS front airbags with pre-tensioner and load limiter also help to give peace of mind to owners and passengers in an Urvan. The safest, most sylish Urvan so far continues to be the reliable multitasker.