Due to go on sale this autumn, it’s able to handle a payload of up to 771kg and boasts a 4.1m3 cargo area. That means it will compete directly with, among other models, the bigger of the two Ford Transit Connect vans.

Power comes courtesy of Renault’s familiar 1.5-litre dCi diesel with 86hp on tap and married to a five-speed manual gearbox. Also married to the five-speeder is a 108hp 1.6-litre petrol engine used in the Micra, Note and Qashqai cars, but it will not be offered in the UK.

Independent suspension is fitted at the front while leaf springs help provide support at the back.

Available with sliding side door access, the newcomer is built with twin rear doors. The load bed is 2,040mm long with a 520mm loading height.

Nissan is to produce the front-wheel drive NV200 as a Combi as well as a van, with a second row of seats that can be folded down plus a cargo area at the back.

ABS comes as standard across the range along with Brake Assist and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution. Driver and passenger airbags are fitted and the gearshift is mounted on the dashboard. Items set to figure on the options list include a rear-view parking camera, side airbags and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP).

NV200s destined for the UK will be assembled in Nissan’s Barcelona plant. The newcomer is also being produced by several other Nissan factories worldwide.

 

The all-new van made its public debut at the recent Geneva Motor Show in passenger car MPV guise. Ford chose the same event to unveil a restyled Ranger pick-up with a large three-bar front grille, large headlamps that wrap around each corner and bigger door mirrors.