Townstar picks up the

The successor to Nissan’s hugely successful e-NV200, the Townstar, is primed to futureproof business operations and accelerate the transition towards electrification.

Key to its appeal, however, will be the fact that it offers two highly advanced powertrain solutions – one petrol and one fully electric, in combination with the latest driving technologies.

For customers looking towards zero emission motoring, prices will start from £29,945* for a short-wheelbase Townstar equipped with a 45kWh battery, with a range of up to 183 miles WLTP combined or up to 269 miles in city cycle.

Alternatively, a refined 1.3-litre TCe petrol unit is also available and is fully compliant with the latest Euro 6d-Full emissions regulations, delivering 130HP of power and 240Nm of torque, offering power and efficiency in equal measure. Petrol versions of Townstar start from £19,475.

Townstar brings a suite of 20+ technologies to the compact van segment and will feature a broad range of safety technologies and advanced driver assistance features such as Intelligent Emergency Braking, Hands-Free Parking, Intelligent Cruise Control and Around View Monitor (AVM), exclusive to Nissan, putting it at the forefront of its category.

The exciting line-up comprises four generously-specified trim levels: Visia – well equipped and ready to work; Acenta – featuring enhanced facilities to accommodate most professional needs; Tekna, incorporating additional driver convenience and exterior styling; and Tekna+, combining the very latest technology with enhanced driver assistance.

When it comes to carrying capabilities, Townstar provides a generous payload of up to 600kg (SWB) or 800kg (LWB). In addition, the maximum braked towing capacity is 1,500kg.

Allan Newman, LCV product manager at Nissan GB, said: “We’re delighted to be providing more information about all-new Townstar as its arrival in the UK approaches. Offering two efficient powertrain solutions, practical design and unique Nissan

Electric versions

Electric versions of the all-new Townstar are priced from £29,945 and will come with an 11kW (Visia grade) or 22kW AC (Acenta grade on) on-board charging system which will be class-leading in its segment. As with its e-NV200 predecessor, there will also be a DC rapid charging connector standard from Acenta grade, which can recharge the battery from 0% to 80% in a little over 40 minutes.

Prices for all-electric short-wheelbase examples range upwards to £34,845 for a Tekna+ model. Long-wheelbase all-electric Townstar varies in price from £31,245 (Visia) to £35,845 (Tekna+).

Petrol versions:

On petrol versions, the aforementioned £19,475 price tag applies to a SWB Visia trim-level vehicle, powered by Nissan’s 1.3-litre TCe petrol engine and with a six-speed manual transmission.

The most expensive short-wheelbase petrol-powered Townstar, in top-of-the-range Tekna+ specification, comes in at just £23,125.

technologies, it is comprehensively equipped to meet customers’ ever-changing needs.

“With tougher emissions standards, urban access restrictions, and ever-increasing demand for last-mile delivery, businesses large and small need to find effective and sustainable solutions to remain competitive and optimise their operations.

“We’re confident Townstar will meet their every need.”

Turning to long-wheelbase petrol options, prices range from £20,775 (Visia) to £24,425 (Tekna+).

Furthermore, this is backed by a panEuropean five-year or 100,000-mile warranty, in addition to the eight-year or 100,000 miles battery warranty for the EV version. This includes bumper-to-bumper protection, genuine parts and accessories and roadside assistance – providing comprehensive cover for extra peace of mind.

The ID.Buzz Cargo is the first all-electric van from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. It’s built on the MEB Platform that also features on the company’s ID. car range, but what makes it really stand out is that it has been designed with more than a nod to the classic Type 1 VW panel van from 1949, meaning it has a truly retro look. There are two models to choose from, the Commerce and the Commerce Plus, with prices starting at £46,621 including VAT

Exterior

In a world of bland vans the Buzz Cargo is refreshingly different. At the front it has high LED headlights, with a slim lateral bar joining these with the large VW logo in the middle. Beneath this sits a honeycomb grille. The sides are smooth and flat, while the rear double doors also feature a mid-height light bar and narrow corner LED rear lights.

Interior

As standard it has three seats in the cab: driver’s seat plus double bench seat, though you can option a single seat for the front passenger. There’s a fixed bulkhead and this can be personalised with a window or a hatch.

The dashboard layout, fixtures and fittings will be familiar to existing VW customers. All are well made, look good and feel durable. The main colour options are dark grey, black and chrome. The centrally located 10” infotainment touchscreen sits neatly in the centre on what is a very uncluttered dashboard.

The cockpit in front of the driver has a 5.3” ID. Cockpit display, and steering wheel controls can be used to access the Adaptive Cruise Control and other safety features.

Practicality

The ID.Buzz Cargo is fitted with hard-wearing basket cloth seat upholstery and a heated driver’s seat. You also get a cabin width storage area on top of the dash, a decent glove box, a cubby hole on the dash and space above the glove box and double door storage.

The rear load space features LED lighting, four floor load lashing rings and lashing rails on the side walls. Cargo load space is 3.9 m3 with room for two Euro pallets. The load space measures 1,217 mm wide x 2,208mm long. GVW is 3,000 kg. Maximum payload is 607 kg, with a 1,000 kg braked towing capacity. Cargo also comes with twin sliding side doors and a wide opening tailgate. There’s a space under the right-hand side load floor for your charging cable and handily, the charging sockets are located on the rear right side of the van.

Battery, range and charging

The $64,000 question with all EVs is how far will it go and how long does it take to charge? With a 77kWh battery the Cargo has range of 256 miles. On an 11 kW AC charger, the battery can go from 0 to 100 % in seven hours 30 minutes. On a 7kW home charging wall box, such as our own Rolec, (https://www.rolecserv. com/ev-charging) a full charge will take around