By Mike Solowiow
February 18, 2008 - 45,954 views
I'm piloting a vehicle with a mid-mounted engine coupled to a close ratio transmission. The steering feel transmitted through the chunky helm is sublime, matching Bimmers of yore. Wearing a maniacal grin, I [hypothetically] pitch my whip into a corner at an [allegedly] injudicious speed, listening to the engine, passengers and tires scream. As I clip the apex, I punch the throttle. The powerplant howls as the chassis adopts hooligan-induced oversteer. I saw at the wheel, maintaining a sideways slide. Audi RS4? Chevrolet Corvette? Nope. I'm driving a tall, skinny, eight-passenger Nissan Urvan.
I recently spent some quality time with the Urvan as part of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Normally, the United States Air Force (USAF) favors Ford E-Series vans. In this theater, though, they purchased a fleet of Urvans for USAF flight crews, aircraft maintainers, security forces and anyone else in the service needing a cheap, reliable carryall.
Despite resembling a rolling refrigerator (especially in heat-resistant white), the Urvan (a.k.a. Homy I kid you not) sports a Spartan yet elegant, almost European look. The blacked-out window surrounds set the pace. Nissan offers several options to spruce-up its workhorse (e.g. a brush bar with large spotlights and alloy wheels). Of course, the Air Force favors the basic box.
Inside, hard, GI-resistant plastic abounds. Heavy-duty blue and black-striped cloth covers the seats. And yet the emphasis on durability and utility doesn't detract from Urvan cabin's ambiance, well-thought-out ergonomics and welcome details. For example, the driver's and front passenger's seats feature 350Z-style thigh bolsters; perfect for eight hour treks across parched sand dunes. The Urvan's pedal placement lends itself to easy combat boot heel-and-toeing, despite requiring a vertical movement more suited to stomping on camel spiders.
While raked at a very un-Porsche-like angle, the Urvan's steering wheel falls readily to hand. The cupholders don't interfere with the operation of the very effective air-conditioning nor the gearshift lever.
In short, Chrysler should take notes from the Urvan on how to create an inexpensive, easy-to-use plastic interior that conveys durability without screaming "cheap!"
While European and Far Eastern Urvans tend towards a 3.0-liter oil burner, Uncle Sam's desert-plying Urvan's sport a 2.4-liter 148hp, twin-cam four-cylinder mill. The gas engine is life-or-death reliable while delivering acceptable power and reasonable fuel efficiency. Coupled to a precise yet long-throw five-speed shifter, the Urvan ambles to 100kmh in about 12.5 seconds. (Bonus! An 80's Toyota Supra exhaust note.) Terminal velocity arrives at 180kmh (112mph); a daunting prospect considering the 190mm of airbag-free crumple zone immediately ahead of the driver.
The Urvan lacks a tachometer in all but the highest trim levels, but the a/c belt squeal lets you know when to shift. Engine access is via a hatch beneath the driver's seat, shading desert drivers who might, say, repair the shift linkage with a coat hanger or patch the water pump with window sealant.
The Urvan's handling displays true genius. Drivers can use the standard rack-and-pinion power steering to thread through Abu Dhabi traffic like a local, albeit without Range Rover cachet. The Urvan's body leans like an Oklahoma fencepost in the wind, yet the chassis' stability– featuring independent double-wishbones (front) and semi-elliptical leaf springs (rear)– could serve as a model for the Arabian Peninsula. The body bobs on bumps but never feels out of control. The Urvan's skinny tires are able to cope with all but the most extreme maneuvers.
Despite the Roman chariot-style rear leaf springs, the Urvan's ride presents an excellent compromise between durability, comfort and handling. Stomp on the brakes, and the Urvan nosedives like Britney Spears' career, yet manages to stop in an amazingly short distance.
And there's drifting. Yes, drifting. It is entirely possible (if highly improbable) to treat an Urvan's passengers to a view of the road ahead coming at them through the side window. Just get up a lick of speed, tap the brakes, flick the steering wheel and voila! Tokyo drift, for a LOT longer than you'd ever imagine. While I would never, ever recommend this behavior for anyone charged with the safety of U.S. government property, it is, in theory, a hoot.
The Urvan has an unpretentious connection with the mechanicals very few vehicles possess any more. While the Urvan hardly rivals the Mazda3 for cheap thrills, the Nissan lives up to the design requirements of its demographic perfectly, while providing sufficient dynamic pleasures to keep a sports car driver entertained. To drive an Urvan, nay, to FLOG an Urvan stirs feelings of hooliganism in all but the most cold-hearted Marine sergeant.
The Urvan is a van that refuses to die, runs on pennies, puts a grin on a pistonhead's face and boasts a distinguished U.S. Armed Forces combat history. Will Nissan bring the Urvan stateside to tussle with the Econoline? Probably not. For that, Ford should be thankful.
[Captain Mike Solowiow is an Air Weapons Officer on an E-3 Sentry AWACS jet. The opinions expressed here are his and not those of the U.S. Air Force, nor do they constitute a product endorsement by the USAF.]
4 / 5 Stars | 2007 Nissan Urvan rating summary and performance review
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POWERED
February 18th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Captain Solowiow ain't kidding about the Urvan's drifting potential.
Check out this short YouTube clip!
February 18th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Thank you for your service, as well as the great review!
Seems like the Nissan is the most dangerous (on its own) conveyance in the theatre — be CAREFUL out there (And keep the curtains drawn!).
February 18th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Mr. Farago your funny. I didn’t know you like drifting.
The Van looks like the old VW Van in the 60’s and 70’s. I think the Nissan Van is more popular in Asia,Africa and middle east than in the United States. I’m afraid it will tip over with high winds.
February 18th, 2008 at 9:04 am
This is the most gawd awful things I’ve seen the ‘Gunny’ vans that roamed the streets of Okinawa. If I had to choose between this, an Econoline, and a Sprinter, I think I’d put my money on the Sprinter.
February 18th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Yup. Drove one of those when I lived in Asia. There are a number of those out there. Toyota Hi-Aces, Mitsubishi L300’s, Kia Pregio’s, Hyundai Starex, etc… NOt sure that Honda builds any of those.
If you want indigestion, ride at the last row..
February 18th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Look at that cargo space! Wonder if could meet US crash regulations?
February 18th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Great article! Good question too. Utilitarian rarely looks cheap, no? It’s only when you put a skirt on the elephant that you get in trouble. Once again, thanks Captain for this very funny and wise piece.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:42 am
BEAT
I’m afraid it will tip over with high winds.
Are you kidding me? Did you see the video RF linked to? That thing doesn’t look like it’d tip over in anything short of a hurricane.
Excellent piece, love the tongue-in-cheek approach.
February 18th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Reminds me of the vans I rode in when I visited India. Fun, cute, but death traps compared to what we get in the States.
There’s a reason why the chairman of the IIHS immediately sold his mid-engine Toyota Previa when he saw the crash test results. (Dateline NBC made a big deal out of it)
That said, thank you Captain Solowiow for your service and taking the time to write us 800 words. If you’re ever in Texas, let’s grab a beer and talk third-world whips. :)
February 18th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Reminds me of the old Suzuki van that the Hamster bought for a Top Gear van test. “It’s mid-engined, so I’ll just give it the old Swedish flick…”
February 18th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
VW should have rebadged one of these instead of the Chrysler. What were were they thinking? They could have put microbus insprired sheet metal on this and had a serious hit.
February 18th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
“nor do they constitute a product endorsement by the USAF” … they do buy these things, that’s enough of a de facto product endorsement for me.
Brian E:
Not to seem pedantic, but that’s actually the Scandinavian flick, named after the nutty rally drivers of yore. :)
February 18th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I actually laughed at loud at this bit:
The Urvan lacks a tachometer in all but the highest trim levels, but the a/c belt squeal lets you know when to shift.
But now I’m wondering if I should be upset that my own car doesn’t do this. Any suggestions on what mods I can install to get this feature for myself?
February 18th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Megan you are absolutely right. that’s why you’re my type. can I buy you dinner at Morton’s?
I remembered the Hi-Lux was almost the same style and like what qa mentioned that you will have a bumpy ride when you sit on the “third row seat”.
February 18th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Yes, it’s more ugly than conscious of a politician but, as the former owner of an early 90s model, it’s more determined than a badger on steroids.
February 18th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
That engine looks AWFULLY similar to the 2.4s in my old 240sx and my dad’s old Nissan Hardbody, not to mention 90’s Altima (just turned sideways). Very close to the horsepower numbers too… I’m glad that underrated engine has life somewhere.
The van looks… neato.
February 18th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Thanks for the terrific and funny write-up. Its great to get the inside dope on vehicle we don’t see around here.
February 18th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Once did a snow/ice storm (circa 92-93) from Denver to Rochester MN in my brother’s Nissan van.
Should have a drift class for all the old ones and the Mitsu Wagons and Toyota “toasters”.
Bunter
February 18th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Ah, yes, Sajeev: you refer to the Maruti Omni microvan. Three cylinders producing 37 hp from 798cc normally aspirated displacement.
The thing barely weighed 1700 lbs, and it would get up to 35 miles an hour (”freeway” speeds in the then communist era India) quite quickly… but then top out at about 65.
It also returned a proper 35mpg… plus, with an open exhaust, it would sound like a Triumph triple :)
February 18th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Sajeev and Carzzi,
Believe it or not, the Air Force actually uses a very similar vehicle to the microvan here in the states. Smaller than a Suzuki Carry, you see them puttering all over base. They have a label on them certifying they are limited to 45mph, and side streets only. But they are Four-Wheel Drive!
February 18th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
drifting an airforce van…..
thats a use of taxpayer resources I can approve of.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Careful when drifting: http://youtube.com/watch?v=6mFoQtpsVQA
February 19th, 2008 at 8:24 am
reading those quality comments on the youtube page really makes me appreciate TTAC :)
February 19th, 2008 at 11:42 am
What a beautiful machine.
This of course, coming from an Ex-Vanagon owner, so take that as you may.
This and the Vanagon share one thing, quoting James may, in describing the Fiat 500 of yore,
“You rev it and rev it and rev it until the valves come out and dance around on the bonnet, and then you change gear”
February 21st, 2008 at 9:19 pm
I have only one question Solo…when do I get credit for the main photo for the review!? Glad to see you’ve been published! And I will vouch for this review. These vans were fun to drive since they were the only manual vehicles on the base!
March 7th, 2008 at 2:21 am
You don’t have to go Iraq to see these, simply hop the border to Mexico. you will see 10,000 running around as Combi’s.
These are the people movers of Mexico, running a route like a bus but much quicker. They come regular style like shown here and with raised roofs about 18″ higher as seen on this one from Mexico.
I’ve not been in one with air conditioning but I’m told they can be ordered that way. They have a passenger side sliding door with a modification of a rope and lever system to speed customer entry and exit. All I’ve seen have the seats on side and across back.
Modifications may include a Toyota rear axle as the Toyota carries a larger passenger load.
These units have no airbags, no sheet metal in front to take a crash. They do go a lot of miles.
Here is a unit with the raised top. Location South Western Mexico on Pacific Coast but beside Central Americas tallest Mountain.
http://picasaweb.google.ca/kgraham.printer/TapachulaToTacanaMexico