The Nissan Townstar Combi is, neither more nor less, a clone of the Kangoo. This MPV of course benefits from all the qualities of the Renault, with a little extra: considered as a utility vehicle at Nissan, it benefits from the 5-year and 160,000 km warranty.
Car tested: Nissan Townstar Combi 1.3 TCe 130 bhp Tekna
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From€33,240
€1,504 penalty
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With its Townstar Combi, Nissan is attacking a new market segment: that of MPVs. The manufacturer had so far remained absent, preferring to focus on the 100% utility versions of its vans. This late arrival nevertheless takes on its full meaning at a time when large families and leisure enthusiasts are looking for an alternative to minivans, which have almost all disappeared, and when Stellantis utility derivatives (Citroën Berlingo, Opel Combo Life and Peugeot Rifter) are now only available in 100% electric.
The Nissan Townstar isn’t a huge novelty insofar as it is, no more and no less, a clone of the Renault Kangoo latest generation. The reference could have been worse… From its very close cousin, the Japanese retains the look and the imposing size. Only the slightly different front side allows it to be recognized at a glance. The most discerning will notice the presence, for the first time, of the brand’s new logo.
If not elegant, the Townstar imposes its presence with lines that inspire solidity and robustness. Launched a year after the Renault Kangoo, Nissan’s MPV skips diesel. Too bad, because this engine is perfectly suited to these imposing vehicles, which are rather heavy and have a large frontal area. Offered with the excellent 1.3 TCe 130 hp of Renault origin, the thermal model should be joined, by the end of the year, by a 100% electric version.
Nissan Townstar Combi price
For the moment, the Nissan MPV is available in three trim levels: Acenta, N-Connecta and Tekna. It will be necessary to wait until the end of the year to be able to have the long version with five or seven places. Note also Nissan’s effort regarding standard equipment, much more complete than that offered by Renault on its Kangoo (whose revamped range now only has two liveries: Equilibre and Techno).
If the N-Connecta finish has a very attractive price-equipment ratio, that of our test model, Tekna, benefits from a very complete endowment (see the list of equipment on page 2). Our vehicle is displayed at €33,240, or €4,740 more than a Kangoo Techno fitted with the same engine. But, with equivalent equipment, the difference is reduced to just under €2,000, justified by the 5 year and 160,000 km warranty Nissan (for an equivalent guarantee at Renault, you have to take out an extension contract at €2,100).
Driving
The Nissan Townstar Combi incorporates all the interior elements of the Kangoo. The set is flattering and makes it easy to forget the utilitarian origin of the vehicle. The driver has a good driving position thanks to the many adjustments of the seat and the steering wheel, adjustable in height as in depth. The wide armrest is also welcome. Forward vision is satisfying, even if the large windshield pillars can prove awkward at certain intersections or during manoeuvres.
The gear lever is placed a little high, but the selection of box 6 operates easily. On the other hand, with a fairly short first and then much longer gears, the gears are calibrated to favor consumption. This is around 7 l/100 km in peaceful driving with the “Eco” mode engaged and a little below 8 l/100 km in more sustained driving. Fortunately, the 1.3 TCe is a successful engine, perfectly suited to the size of the Townstar. The high torque available from the lowest revs, well relayed by the power above 3,000 rpm, offers very convincing accelerations in good quality operating silence.
Something to surprise some road users with the liveliness of this rolling “big box”. The suspensions, a little flexible, make it possible to erase the irregularities of the road effectively, at the cost of a body roll in support. Without being as agile as the competitors from Stellantis, the Townstar Combi has excellent handling. The lane keeping aid corrects, sometimes a little too authoritatively, the trajectory once the lines have been reached.
On board
Competetion
The Nissan Townstar Combi must fight, first of all, with the Renault Kangoo. Offering exactly the same road services and identical performance, the latter nevertheless has less rich standard equipment than that of the Japanese. The competition from Stellantis MPVs (Citroën Berlingo, Opel Combo and Peugeot Rifter) no longer exists in a thermal version since these models are no longer offered, since the start of 2022, except with a 100% electric motorization. Only the Toyota Proace City Verso, a clone of these models, remains marketed with the 1.2 VVT-i petrol engine with 110 hp. As for the Volkswagen Caddy 5, which provides high performance, the 1.5 TSI 114 hp version can be combined with the excellent DSG gearbox. A unique offer on the market today. By the end of the year, the Townstar will also find on its way the new Ford Tourneo Connect, a clone of the Caddy 5.
Find the results of the test, the technical sheet and the equipment on the next page.
