Before I stumbled across the van that is now my part-time home, I hadn’t considered Nissan cargo vans for van life. In fact, I didn’t even know they existed until a week before I bought mine.
I started my van hunt focusing only on well-known van life vehicles and quickly found out I couldn’t afford the ones in my area. I didn’t want to settle for a low roof or extremely old van, so I started looking at all high-roof vans I could find.
After a few solid months of searching, I found my Nissan NV 2500 at a used car dealership. Now that I’ve owned it for a year and a half, let’s talk about Nissan cargo vans and whether they are a good option for van life.
In this post, I cover:
- Overview of Nissan Cargo Vans
- High Roof Options
- Van Dimensions
- Build Considerations
- Cost of a Nissan Cargo Van
- Maintenance and Parts
- Final Thoughts: Are Nissan cargo vans an option for van life?
This post was written in 2020 and posted on my Van Life blog. I am no longer traveling regularly, so I am shutting down that website and moving all my old posts here. Please enjoy!
Overview of Nissan Cargo Vans
Nissan first released their version of the cargo van in 2012. These vans now come in several options, including passenger vans, NV2500 standard and high roof vans, and NV3500 standard and high roof vans. They also come with different engine options, which I’ll get into next.
Rear wheel drive comes standard with these vans.
A note on van height: I highly recommend getting a high roof van if you plan to live in it for an extended time. Crouching when you cook or do the dishes is not ideal. One of the benefits of purchasing a Nissan van is the high roof. If you’re comfortable with a low roof van, you might find a cheaper option elsewhere.
High-Roof Options
High roof Nissan cargo vans come in NV2500 or NV3500 options with either a V6 or a V8 engine. In layman’s terms, a NV2500 has a lower load capability (weight capacity) than a NV3500. A V6 engine has less power and uses less gas. A V8 has more power and uses more gas.
An NV2500 with a V8 engine has more power but can’t handle as much weight. An NV3500 with a V6 engine can handle more weight but doesn’t have as much power behind it.
I went with an NV2500 with the V6 engine because it was available in my price range and big enough (engine and load-wise) to handle what I need it for.
Van Dimensions
The Nissan cargo van has a very distinct front end that is longer and more boxy than most cargo vans. Unfortunalty, that does not translate to more space in the van.
Unlike Sprinter and Transit cargo vans, Nissan vans do not come in an extended wheelbase option. They only come in one size and have one of the shortest wheelbases compared to similar high-roof cargo vans. The following dimensions apply to all NV high roof cargo vans, regardless of year or model:
- Wheelbase = 146.1 inches (12.18 feet)
- Overall length = 240.6 inches (20 feet)
- Overall height = 105 inches (8.75 feet)
- Interior standing height = 76.9 inches (6.41 feet)
- Interior cargo length = 121.9 inches (10.16 feet)
- Interior width (at belt line) = 70.2 inches (5.85 feet)
If you want to learn more about a specific year or model, check out this website.
If you are tall or planning to travel with a partner, a Nissan cargo van will be a tight squeeze. Unlike other vans with extended wheelbase options, Nissans don’t have room for things like showers and stoves.
A smaller cargo area works great for me since I am 5’2″ and a solo traveler (with a small dog). Keep in mind the dimensions above shrink as you add in insulation, flooring, and walls.
Van Build Considerations
The cargo area of these vans is not very square, making a DIY van build a little tricky (but not impossible). Halfway through my build, I decided to lower my bed six inches and discovered the interior width was 3/4 inch wider at the lower bed position. The higher up you go, the more narrow the cargo width. The van also gets more narrow as you move from the back towards the front of the van. The ceiling is slightly sloped towards the front and gently rounded throughout the entire cargo area.
Other high-roof cargo vans are not very square either, so don’t let this deter you from building in a Nissan. It’s entirely possible; just don’t go into the build thinking it will come together as easy as it would in a traditional house. Regardless of the type of van you buy, anything you build will have to be custom-fit to the van.
Another build consideration is whether or not you want windows in the cargo area of your van. Nissan cargo vans come both with and without windows. If windows are something you feel you need, you might have to look a little longer (if buying used), but you should be able to find an option that works for you. I thought I had to have cargo area windows, but it turns out I am perfectly happy without them. If you are willing to install after-market windows, the possibilities are endless for you.
Cost of a Nissan Cargo Van
Nissan NV cargo vans are one of the most cost-effective high roof vans on the market. New ones range from $31,000 to $39,000.
If that is out of your price range, I recommend buying used, like I did. Kelly Blue Book evaluates a 2012 Nissan NV cargo van with 130,000 miles (like mine) at $15,500. Since my van only had one prior owner* and was used as a commercial** vehicle, I was comfortable purchasing a van with higher miles.
(*Technically, it had two prior owners. The first was a dealership that put less than 1,000 miles on it, so I don’t count it. **Commercial vehicles – especially fleet and rental vehicles – are usually really well maintained. Look for those when purchasing used.)
Maintenance & Parts
Nissans are also cost-effective when it comes to maintenance and parts. Nissan-certified mechanics are located in all major cities in the U.S., so you will have many options on the road. Parts are also fairly cheap, which keeps your repair costs lower than if you were to purchase a Mercedes Sprinter. Even if you can’t find a Nissan-certified mechanic, a local mechanic will work in a pinch.
When I purchased my N2500, the dealership told me that a Nissan van’s mechanical elements are the same as a standard Nissan truck. This means any mechanic that can work on a Nissan truck can work on my van.
Final Thoughts: Are Nissan cargo vans an option for van life?
While Nissans aren’t as well-known as other cargo vans, I wholeheartedly believe they are a great option for van life. They are more affordable, easy to maintain, and you will almost always have access to mechanics and parts in case of breakdown.
Both the high roof NV2500 and NV3500 with V6 and V8 engines work fine for van life. If you plan on spending a lot of time in the mountains, a V8 engine will have an easier time handling elevation changes (with lower fuel economy). If you’re concerned about fuel cost and are okay with a slower trek up a mountain, I recommend a V6 engine.
If you’re a little nervous about buying a Nissan cargo van for van life, it might help to know that Car and Driver ranked Nissan cargo vans as the third-best van after Ford Transits and Mercedes Sprinters.
On a more personal note, I love the way my van drives. Although my Nissan is bigger than I’m used to, it isn’t bulky or difficult to handle like some large vehicles. My van drives better than my 2004 Ford Escape, and I’ve driven trucks that are much harder to turn than my Nissan. Even at 5’2″, I can easily see out of the van, which is something I struggle with in other vehicles.
My Nissan cargo van was a smart purchase for my situation. It checked off all my had-to-haves, was available to me locally, and the smaller space works well with my desired layout.
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