Would the 2022 Nissan Townstar make sense in PH?

Meet Nissan's sleek new compact van, the 2022 Townstar

Nissan has just revealed an all-new van, and it's quite the looker. But unlike most vans which are bulky and large, Nissan's latest people (and cargo) mover is quite different.

Meet the 2022 Townstar, Nissan's new compact van that combines practicality with style. Launched as part of the company's European market light commercial vehicle (LCV) strategy, the Townstar replaces the brand's NV200/NV250 and e-NV200 models in Europe.

Since the Townstar is essentially a rebadged Renault Kangoo, it's not surprising to see some design similarities from its French counterpart. After all, Nissan and Renault are members of the same alliance. Still, that didn't stop Nissan from giving the Townstar its own unique features.

The new Townstar gets its own grille, wide headlights, and a sporty front bumper. It also gets vertical taillights, black roof rails, and stylish alloy wheels for the passenger version.

Inside, the Townstar offers a comfortable and refined interior. It comes with automatic climate control, a freestanding touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, neat touches of black and gray accents, and a dual gauge cluster. At the back, there is space for three passengers, all of which come with individual backrests.

Prefer something that could carry more luggage? The Townstar is also available as a dedicated cargo van that features up to 3.9 square meters of cargo space and even includes a swiveling partition. It can haul up to 800 kg worth of cargo with ease and has a 1,500 kg towing capacity.

Powering the Townstar is a 1.3-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that makes 130 PS with 240 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to a six-speed manual gearbox that drives the front wheels. There's also an all-electric version of the Townstar that uses a 44 kWh battery pack. It puts out 122 PS and 245 Nm of torque with a range of 285 km.

For extra peace of mind while on the road, the Nissan Townstar comes with a wide array of smart safety systems. These include intelligent emergency braking (IEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, ProPilot Parking assist, and intelligent cruise control (ICC), which serves as the vehicle's adaptive cruise control. Only available for the electric Townstar is ProPilot advanced driver assistance system. It helps the driver keep the vehicle centered in the lane while on the highway, and even in sweeping corners.

With the Townstar only being offered in Europe, there is little to no chance of the all-new van becoming available in the Philippines. Still, it would be nice to see the stylish people carrier/cargo hauler going around local roads. It could even be a great replacement for the Serena.