New Nissan Primastar and Interstar panel vans unveiled

Nissan has given its van range a boost, launching updated versions of the medium-sized NV300 and large NV400 panel vans. The two new models are now known as the Primastar and Interstar respectively and feature a host of styling and technology tweaks.

These two new vans join Nissan’s all-new compact van, called the Townstar, in the Japanese brand’s refreshed commercial vehicle line-up. Nissan’s new Peugeot Partner rival is available with a choice of either petrol or pure-electric power, and features styling inspired by the firm’s new flagship EV, the Ariya.

Compared with the NV400, styling tweaks for the Interstar are few and far between, although Nissan has introduced more driver assistance systems. Upgrades include blind-spot monitoring and an automatic high-beam function for the headlamps.

Nissan will offer a variety of chassis configurations on the Interstar, including panel van, chassis cab and platform cab variants, along with a range of factory conversions, such as a crew cab, dropside pick-up and tipper truck variants.

The Interstar’s engine range is familiar too, with the engine line-up centred around a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder diesel unit - although Nissan has increased the number of power outputs from six to seven with a new, 108bhp entry-level variant. The most powerful engine in the Interstar line-up has 178bhp.

We expect Nissan will also soon launch an electric version of the Interstar as, underneath, the van is identical to the Renault Master, which is already available with a pure-electric E-Tech option. Its powertrain comprises a 33kWh battery and a 75bhp electric motor, although Nissan could swap those for the 44kWh battery and 108bhp from the all-new Townstar van in an effort to improve the the van’s maximum payload and claimed range.

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Updates to the new Primastar are more noticeable when compared with its NV300 predecessor. The van features the same styling tweaks as the recently updated NV300 people carrier, with a new front bumper, slimmer LED headlights and a new radiator grille to match the unit fitted to the larger Interstar; 17-inch alloy wheels are also available as an optional extra.

Inside, there’s a new steering wheel and a fresh “floating” eight-inch infotainment system to replace the old van’s seven-inch flush-fit dash-mounted unit. Nissan has also added more safety equipment, such as lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control and intelligent emergency braking.

Nissan hasn’t explicitly told us how the Primastar’s powertrain range will look, confirming only that the line-up will feature a “suite of Euro 6d-compliant engines.” However, we expect it’ll be based around the same 2.0-litre diesel unit as the facelifted NV300 people carrier.

If so, buyers should be offered a choice of 108bhp, 148bhp and 168bhp outputs. All versions will be front-wheel drive, with the two lower-power engines coming fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. The most powerful version will likely only be offered with an automatic gearbox, although the same transmission will be optionally available on the 148bhp variant.

Now click here to read a review of the pure-electric Renault Master E-Tech on our EV-focussed sister site, Driving Electric…