2007 Nissan Urvan Review

Mike Solowiow
by Mike Solowiow

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.]

Mike Solowiow
Mike Solowiow

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  • K_graham K_graham on Mar 07, 2008

    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

  • Problemchild Problemchild on Aug 18, 2009

    HEY I ONCE OWNED ONE AM FROM THE CARIBBEAN AND THESE ACT AS YOUR EVERYDAY VEHICLE ITS VERY ECONOMICAL AND THE PERFORMANCE IS TOP RATED DRIFTING IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES BUT FOR THE SHEER THRILL TAKE IT UP TO 120MPH WHICH IS MAX SPEED I MISS THIS VAN HANDLES JUST LIKE A CAR

  • Jpolicke In a communist dictatorship, there isn't much export activity that the government isn't aware of. That being the case, if the PRC wanted to, they could cut the flow of fentanyl down to a trickle. Since that isn't happening, I therefore assume Xi Jinping doesn't want it cut. China needs to feel the consequences for knowingly poisoning other countries' citizens.
  • El scotto Oh, ye nattering nabobs of negativism! Think of countries like restaurants. Our neighbors to the north and south are almost as good and the service is fantastic. They're awfully close to being as good as the US. Oh the Europeans are interesting and quaint but you really only go there a few times a year. Gents, the US is simply the hottest restaurant in town. Have to stand in line to get in? Of course. Can you hand out bribes to get in quicker? Of course. Suppliers and employees? Only the best on a constant basis.Did I mention there is a dress code? We strictly enforce it. Don't like it? Suck it.
  • 1995 SC At least you can still get one. There isn't much for Ford folks to be happy about nowadays, but the existence of the Mustang and the fact that the lessons from back in the 90s when Ford tried to kill it and replace it with the then flavor of the day seem to have been learned (the only lessons they seem to remember) are a win not only for Ford folks but for car people in general. One day my Super Coupe will pop its headgaskets (I know it will...I read it on the Internet). I hope I will still be physically up to dropping the supercharged Terminator Cobra motor into it. in all seriousness, The Mustang is a.win for car guys.
  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
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