Nissan Hopes Extended Warranty Sets It Apart
In the full-size van segment, the world is changing at a rapid rate. Not only are some automakers being selective about what models they keep in production, but others are also trying to offer as many variations as possible.
With two new players in the marketplace — the 2014 Ram ProMaster and 2015 Ford Transit — getting the majority of the attention nowadays, that's left Nissan (a player in the market for several years) with a chance to be more creative. "We wanted to let our customers know how much faith we have in our commercial vehicles … we knew they were tough but we were hearing from owners that they were even tougher than we thought," said Phil O'Connor, director of marketing for Nissan's Commercial Vehicle division. Nissan even found one company in Arizona that punished the vehicles beyond what its own in-house engineers did (see video below).
Most buyers in this segment are small-, medium- and, in some cases, fairly large-business owners and operators. O'Connor said that means they could be purchasing as few as a couple of vehicles to rather large fleets, and their priorities seem to fall into three main categories: capability, durability and cost of ownership.
Yes, Nissan looks to be one of the few competitors with a full frame and offering both a V-6 and V-8 option, as well as both high- and low-roof models (but no wheelbase or body-length choices). This is likely to play in its favor with particular buyers, especially if the 350 or so Nissan Commercial dealers are willing to work the deal. Our guess is those dealerships will want to work pretty hard when newer, lighter and more fuel-efficient competitors (like the Transit and ProMaster salespeople) are ready to fight as well.
This segment is getting ready to be visciously competitive as all the players fight to get a slightly different message out to their potential customers, but for now, it looks like Nissan has upped the ante, shifting its message to emphasize a newly revised vehicle and powertrain warranty. In fact, if buyers invest in a dealership's extended warranty offering, they could potentially save a lot of money to their bottom line. How Nissan's competitors respond to this first shot across the bow of the segment will be fun to watch.
Manufacturer images
Comments
Nissan needs to extend its dealer neatwork on these vans. Only certain Nissan dealers carry them where as you can go to any GM dealer and get a GM van. I believe this hurts them as people want local survice.
Eventually pickup drivers will be forced to move to vans since they are more fuel efficient. It's only a matter of time.
With that in mind Nissan extending warranties on vans is rather timely
This is the type of war consumers need! Huge HP/TRQ only goes so far. The complexity of vehicles is only increasing and in some cases requires special tools and or data to fix.
Granted, the cost of the vehicles will be "padded", but with competition, this cost can come down--as long as there's no collusion.
Does this story really need to be told again? Things are really slowing down at PUTC.
What the heck?! Is it just me or is the front bumper on that truck bent? They should get that fixed PRONTO!
There should be a full-size van shootout.
Not to be a Debi Downer but the 5.6 is a good engine but gets terrible fuel mileage compared to other vans IMO. It seems to be a really tough van tho.
@Greg, SierraGS, Bvonscott, Tyler, (GMI's resident GMC/Buick nutswinger)... I will quote your GM'c' ignorance.
"you can go to any GM dealer and get a GM van"
- Sorry guy, No, you cannot. First and foremost, there is No such thing as a 'GM' dealer to the buying public... In my lifetime I've never seen a single one. Are you referring to a GM'c' dealer perhaps? Maybe even a (gasp) faux marketed Chevrolet Motor Company dealer?? Those so called 'Chevrolet' (marketing channel) dealers are Rebadging Nissan small vans with fullsize vans no doubt to follow..
So if one wants so called 'local' service on his faux branded "Chevrolet" (or GM'c') van, he can as easily go down to his local Nissan dealership. Or better yet, just buy the Genuine Nissan in the first place and save himself (or herself) the embarrassment of the utmost embarrassing of badge engineering jokes to come out of Chevrolet... (oops, 'GM').
MPG is Nissan big drawback. They Need a smaller v6 with a 8 speed.
If you need to tow a 7K utility work station this is the van to do it with.
for a long-long time the consumer has figured out any extended warranty is worthless, there are stipulation causes written in the warranty such as neglect, abuse that always finds a way out, an excuse not to honor the warranty.
Everybody has a horror story about a warranty that wasn't honored.
Most dealerships in my area offer their own dealer lifetime warranty that isn't worth the paper its printed on.
The dirty little secret out there is some dealerships will buy the warranty from the vehicle manufacturer. They get a lower invoice price by paying for any warranty costs themselves.
The Hemi was a pig until it got the 8sp transmission. That's what this van needs. However, if Nissan wants to be a segment leader, give it a 10sp. Even the big 5.6L Endurance V8 would get good mpg numbers with a transmission like that. Come on Nissan, you can do it!
I have a feeling that Nissan can't even give them away, they are getting desperate.
@Tom#3
You are probably correct.
Maybe those sales are going to those Eurovans;)
Tom#3, I don't think anyone thinks a warranty is worthless. Its a huge selling point and is good peace of mind. I had a Titan and the few issues I had including the manifolds which were replaced at 60K, that would have cost me over $1500 out of pocket.
The Nissan nv van could be, and just might be the most durable van out there, but with style like that? it will NOT sell! to anyone who has pride in ownership, meaning the fleet buyers will love it, and the owner operator will not! With that said maybe Chevy will sell the full size van, and in doing so will put a Chevy front end on it and make it look a little better than the Nissan does, just like the smaller van does, imho the Chevy van looks a lot better than the Nissan van, so the owner with pride can own a Nissan van, badged as and styled as a Chevy and be proud of it!
Looks are subjective, to me the Nissan is the best looking van out there followed by the Chevy. Its got a big chrome american front end to it that would look at home on an F-150
@Liam,
It has 550,000 miles on it, I don't think they're too worried about a slightly bent bumper.
@DeverMike/Paul/Tom Lemon/Greg Baird/TRX4Tom/Dave/Hemi V8/Tom Terrific/sandman 4x4/lautenslager/zveria/Bob/US Truck Driver/Glenn/Jason/Hemi Rampage/smartest truck guy/Maxx/SuperDuty37/Ken/Ron/johnny doe/jim/ALL1/Frank/Idahoe Joe/The Guy/AD/Casey/papa jim/Young Guy/BeeBe/Steve/Chris/The truck guy/Alex/Mr Chow/Yessir/All Americans/Scott/Buy American or say Bye to America/Ram Big Horn 1500/Hemi Monster/Tom Wilkinson at Chevy, mark49, Tom#3 or whoever you want to call yourself.
Quit the crap, really.
It's getting long in the tooth.
You want to debate, but it has to be on your terms.
Learn to debate with good information, then we might be able to have a decent debate.
Opinions are good, but if they are only your view to support the UAW, then how good are they. Look at what you guys have done to Detroit.
Terror tactics (union tactics) don't work on me.
If PUTC wants the UAW or whatever to control this site I suppose it's their decision.
It's not kids like I've been told by PUTC.
I sold Nissans for a year. The NV is an excellent product. Until the Workmaster and Transit arrived it was the only "Van" to be of modern design with real thoughtful touches (center console that holds files/tray under seat for large clip board/high roof/rear doors that swing all the way around with magnetic holders and automatic reseting hinges). They are also built very very stoutly. The driveshaft and brake rotors are MASSIVE. The 5.6 makes good power and is reliable but is thirsty and i would call the NV competitive amongst the previous generation of vans but dont know how it holds up in that statistic now. For someone looking for a full size van it would be foolish not to at least look at drive and consider it as well as its newer competitors. I have to confess though that 550K in 32 months with so little maint/repair is and impressive test.
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