Nissan’s marketing team might struggle to make up its mind, with the old Nissan Primastar becoming the NV300 in 2016, only to be renamed the Primastar again in 2021, but underneath it’s been a rebadged Renault Trafic the whole time.
That’s no bad thing, as the Trafic is a competitive van which majors on refinement and comfort, and since the new model arrived, which coincided with the latest Primastar, it’s also got a larger load area than before so is more usable than ever. They’re beginning to filter onto the used market now too, so there are good savings to be found.
Not that you don’t have plenty of choice elsewhere, as this is one of the busiest van segments on the market. Alternatives to the Primastar include the Ford Transit Custom, Volkswagen Transporter, Mercedes-Benz Vito, and the numerous Stellantis group vans, including the Vauxhall Vivaro, Citroen Dispatch, and Peugeot Expert.
Historically the Nissan Primastar (and Nissan NV300) has always been a little more expensive to buy than its Renault Trafic counterpart, but as a used buy there’s typically a little more wiggle room on price. And while the Primastar is of course based on its French counterpart, small equipment and specification differences may sway you in one direction or the other.
Fundamentally it’s a good van, with the latest Renault Trafic making big strides over its predecessor and Nissan benefitting from these too. The Nissan’s certainly got a distinctive look, with a big grille similar to that of its old Navara pickup, while there’s a good selection of variants: four trim levels, four engines, manual and automatic gearbox options, panel vans, crew vans, two lengths, two heights, various door and tailgate options, and platform van variants too.
For simplicity we’re focusing on the panel vans here, and if you’ve previously driven a Primastar then you’ll welcome not just the more modern and better-equipped cabin but also the small improvements to the load area, which has grown in size over its predecessor. Acenta models and up get a useful hatch to load longer items through the bulkhead, too.
To drive the Primastar is of course much like the Trafic. Renault’s 2-litre engines are punchy and refined and they’re frugal too. The Primastar handles and rides well too, while the automatic gearbox is a good example of its type, if you happen to be looking at one of those - changes are smooth and fast.
Van buyers really are spoiled for choice in this segment. As well as the same van with a different look, in the Renault Trafic, this is also the class that includes the venerable Ford Transit Custom, and the Volkswagen Transporter. The Vauxhall Vivaro, which used to be a platform-mate of the Primastar and Trafic, is another option and now based on the Citroen Dispatch, which has in turn spawned the Peugeot Expert and Toyota Proace.
A Nissan Primastar not for you? We've got 1000s of used vans for sale to suit all budgets and needs
As with all vans the best model will primarily come down to your own needs as an operator, but the Nissan Primastar makes a strong case for itself with this latest variant. The 2-litre turbodiesel is offered in four outputs but it’s a refined and capable engine in any output - though the extra power of the 150 and 170 will be welcome for drivers spending more time on the motorway.
If you’re spending good time behind the wheel then Acenta spec and above is appealing for its air conditioning and extra storage solutions (such as a load-through bulkhead and under-seat storage), but if the price is right we’d look for a Tekna, whose parking camera and infotainment touchscreen should make life even easier.
If you’re familiar with Nissan’s previous vans, or indeed its car range, then you’ll recognise the maker’s trim level offerings for the Primastar, with Visia spec kicking off the range and Tekna towards the top. Air conditioning is available from the Acenta and if you want a parking camera or touchscreen infotainment then that starts with the Tekna.
The Nissan Primastar’s dimensions are:
The Nissan Primastar’s load capacity is:
Like all vans, the Nissan Primastar attracts a flat rate of VED or ‘road tax’, which for the 2023-2024 tax year is set at £320 per year. This may well have risen by the time you read this, however.
Van insurance tends to vary significantly depending on not just the type of van you’re buying but also what the van will be used for, so we recommend speaking to a broker to find a competitive insurance quote for the Primastar, and comparing one or two similar vans when you do so.
Read our Nissan reviews