Small bakkie with big future

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Nissan launched the rather utilitarian base model NP200 towards the end of last year as the successor to its legendary 1400 bakkie.

Small bakkies are slaves to small business and, to a lesser extent, budget transport for younger first-time buyers motivated mainly by purchase price, running costs and reliability.

And as such the first base model NP200 1.6-litre 64kW/128Nm fitted the bill perfectly, in spite of its unimaginative name and looks which are more donkey than race-horse.

What's more, it cost less than R100,000 and for all practical purposes it was a worthy successor to the seemingly indestructible 1400.

But even entry-level little econo-boxes these days come with fancy features and peace-of-mind safety protection so Nissan stepped up the pace and this week launched new NP200 models in mid-level S and higher-level SE trim.

The two upgraded trim level bakkies have more powerful 16-valve petrol engines that produce 77kW and 148Nm and some time in June they will be joined by a base-model and an SE version of a new1.5-litre turbodiesel capable of 63kW and a load-lugging 200Nm.

Nissan says the bigger petrol engines without load should give fuel consumption of 8.1l/100km and the diesel 5.3l/100km.

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I drove the top of the range SE model during the media launch in Cape Town and was charmed by its improvement in make-up. Like a dab of lipstick and eye-shadow, it's amazing what colour-coded bumpers and side mirrors, black extended wheel arches and door mouldings, a darkened B-pillar, nifty15-inch alloys, bee-sting aerial and roll bar behind the cabin can do.

In fact, should there ever be a half-ton beauty contest I reckon the NP200 might get the trophy and champagne ahead of the main opposition Opel Corsa and Ford Bantam bakkies.

Inside the cabin the quality of life has also improved dramatically with the flashiest model now bragging with a Blaupunkt MP3 friendly radio/CD player, aircon, electric mirrors and door windows, height adjustable driver's seat, matching sporty seats, stubby gear lever and neat silver trim to unbland the black plastic dash.

Unfortunately drivers still have to adjust their driving position to suit the vehicle, not the other way around, because the steering column is not fully adjustable, nor is the driver's seat.

In terms of safety, only the top of the range SE model has ABS with EBD, plus airbags for driver and passenger. The mid-range only has a driver airbag and the entry model still comes sans any airbag protection - a situation which Nissan really should seriously review.

Out on the road, the NP200 handles quite well. I drove it for about 60 kilometers, unfortunately without a load on the back, and the ride is quite smooth and quiet and not too hippety-hop.

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The NP200 feels and handles very much the same as a Corsa or a Bantam and not unlike some entry-level budget cars.

The cabin is spacious, even for two weight-watcher candidates, and although the cubby-hole is small there is fair storage space behind the seats for a briefcase, files, documents and delivery notes which are usually regular co-travellers in a vehicle of this nature.

The five-speed shift is smooth, with the three lower gears short cogged for loaded take-offs, and fourth and fifth geared to cut down fuel usage.

The gap between 3rd and 4th is noticeable and even with an empty load box one needs to stir the soup-spoon to keep momentum on longer hills.

Nissan is particularly proud of the fact that the NP200 has the longest load box and the largest payload capacity of 800kg in its segment.

As a brand Nissan is on a roll and quite bullish about the local car market. They are working closely with Renault on the development and manufacturing side, and a number of exciting models are due to be launched in South Africa between now and the end of the year.

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The most exciting of them all is the million rand plus road-racer GTR, preceded by the upgraded Navara range, a completely new Murano and the 370Z successor to the 350Z two-door.

To quote Johan Kleynhans, Nissan SA Marketing, Sales and Aftersales Director: “There is no problem that good products can't fix.”

Certainly if the extended NP200 range is an example of what is to come, Nissan seems well equipped to survive the doldrums of the local new vehicle market.

NP200 models and prices:
1.6 base model - R99,800
1.6 16-valve (S level) - R129,800
1.6 16-valve (SE level) - R151,800
1.5 diesel base model - R139,800
1.5 diesel (SE level) - R169,800

All models come with a price-inclusive three-year/100,000km warranty.