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NISSAN PRIMASTAR

13th March 2003, Page 56
13th March 2003
Page 56
Page 57
Page 56, 13th March 2003 — NISSAN PRIMASTAR
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IPRICE AS TESTED: £15,675 (ex-VAT)*. ENGINE: 1.9-litre, 99hp (74kW). GVW: 2,700kg. PAYLOAD: 948kg. AVERAGE FUEL CONSUMPTION (laden): 37.3mpg (7.61it/100km).

* Includes basic vehicle. £13210; technology pack. £745; air-con/heat reflective screen. £650; ABS, £400; metallic paint. £300; passenger airbag, £220; upgrade to radio/CD, £75; front fog lamps, /75. All option prices are ex-VAT.

VWhat's a Nissan Primastar, we hear you ask, some kind of camping stove? Not at all—in fact, it's the latest addition to the badgeengineered world of the Renault Trafic and Vauxhall Vivaro.

Time for a quick history recap. The link between Vauxhall and Renault you probably know of: their long-standing joint ventures which initially saw numerous Renaults quite simply rebadged as Vauxhalls. However, with the demise of the last Trafic—which even its friends would say was long overdue—came an even closer cooperation and joint involvement.

The deal, grossly over-simplified, was that Renault would provide the design and components. while Vauxhall built the result in the UK. To do this, Vauxhall recommissioned the under-utilised IBC plant at Dunstable. And Nissan's part?

Only that as part of the expanding Renault empire, a bit more badge engineering exposes the existing product to a wider audience as well as giving Nissan a ready-made CV product line. As Nissan's last van was the dreadful Vanette, the help must have been welcome. The I nterstar, based on the Movano/Master range was the first fruit of the current policy. and a Nissan version of the Renault Kangoo high-cube van will follow the Primastar sometime next year.

PRODUCT PROFILE

The Primastar comes with a choice of drivelines. The basic level is an 8rhp, r9oNm common-rail engine and five-speed gearbox, the alternative producing 99hp and 24oNm and driving through six ratios. Both engines come with a GVW of 2,700kg, while the 99hp can also be rated at 2,900kg. The full range of bodies including long wheelbase and high roof will eventually be offered by Nissan, but for now it's short wheelbase/standard roof only.

Unlike the Renault and Vauxhall versions, which only come in one trim level, the Primastar comes in three, The basic E model, only available with the 81hp engine, is specced roughly on a par with the other two marques, with unglazed rear doors, tubular onethird bulkhead, driver's airbag, central locking, power steering and RDS radio/cassette as standard. The SE adds ultrasonic reverse parking sensors, full steel bulkhead, alarm, electric windows and mirrors, and a dual passenger seat. The third model, the Access, is an equal (and equally priced) alternative to the SE, rather than a further upgrade. It differs by adding a top-hinged tailgate with rear wash/wipe and losing the full bulkhead and dual seat. We sam

pled an SE with the high output engine and six-speeder, fitted with a generous helping from the options list.

PRODUCTIVITY

There are no worries in this department. It delivered 37.3mpg with a whisker under one tonne in the back—cost-effective transportation by any standard. The Renault-designed 5.9-litre common rail turbo-diesel is close to being the best van engine available, allowing the use of the long-legged six-speed box to give lazy high-speed cruising without sacrificing low-speed, around-town flexibility.

If the payload potential of the 5.0m3 load space isn't enough for your needs. L400 buys you the extra 193kg that comes with the uprated chassis of the 2900 version. As well as the bulkhead options, the cargo area features one side-loading door as standard, with the option of a second. Loading doors are normally solid but can be glazed. Unusually for this type of vehicle, a power take-off is included in the options list.

Besides the low fuel costs, running expenses are further held in check by the twoyear or 18,000-mile service intervals and a three-year, Go,000-mile manufacturer's warranty. To back up its renewed assault on the CV market, Nissan has appointed a network of business centres with specialist staff, overnight servicing and courtesy vans.

ON THE ROAD

The one word that continues to come to mind when driving any of the Travarosbr' family is 'civilised', and if anything our Nissan was even more so, thanks to its high toy count. The interior comes with its own unique seat trim material, a restrained blue-grey cloth, and four-spoke steering wheel with standard airbag—the passenger's is optional. The rest of the furnishings are familiar, although some of the equipment isn't.

Dominating the dash on our example was a full-colour satellite navigation screen. The display is the familiar VDO Siemens system, controlled in this installation by a DIN-sized panel mounted above the radio. The system incorporated the latest TMC (Traffic Message Channel) facility, but unfortunately we didn't have the latest software to try out the full range of features. The satellite navigation, along with telephone pre-installation, is part of the Technology Pack at a reasonably priced L745. The ultrasonic reverse parking sensors alone are worth a sizeable chunk of the SE's £530 cost premium if they prevent the otherwise inevitable bumps and scrapes.

On the move, the Primastar displays all of the considerable dynamic virtues experienced in our recently-departed long-term Vivaro. Effortless performance and sure-footed handling combine with high levels of comfort and refinement to produce a serious working van that can be safely and easily driven by the most timid of car drivers. To say that the Primastar does the same excel lent job as the sources of its cloning is i obv.ou but why bother? After all it is, to all intents the same product. A cynic might suggest tha it is just another small but firmly planted foc in a new door. True, if a relative handful of vai buyers choose the Primastar because they liv near a Nissan dealership, it still won't den Vauxhall or Renault.

But what Nissan really brings to the mat ketplace is a new degree of personalisatior aimed at the buyer who's also the driver. Th three different trim 'levels, a dozen differen colours and the consumer-oriented option list mean you are unlikely to see anothe Primastar the same as yours.

• by Coln Barnett

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