For a car driver like me, the new Nissan offering – which has be introduced to the market primarily as a taxi but is also well suited for schools wanting to transport smaller sports teams – seem huge and impossibly intimidating as I approached the drivers seat to take my test drive. However, the task of getting into the high vehicle – it has been designed slightly higher than its nearest competitor – was the first and only intimidating thing about this vehicle. Once I had familiarised myself with where all everything is situated I was off to a running start and enjoyed a smooth and powerful ride. The steering wheel is set almost parallel to the floor of the vehicle making it easy to see over the dashboard with nothing between me and the windscreen to impede my view. The gears stick is set into the dash board, rather than on the floor as with a car, and this made reaching and changing the gears extremely easy. As my co-pilot, Rajen Padayachee who handles sales and fleets at Springs Nissan, commented its a bus with the feel of a car. What a relief to find such a powerful machine so easy to drive. According to Rajen one of the many advantages of this vehicle lies it its relatively low torque, “That’s when the power kicks in,” he explained. Wanting to get an eyeful of this new beauty on the public transport route, the Addie’s staff descended on Springs Nissan last Friday to test out the comfort of the NV350 Impendulo and discovered it’s a remarkably comfortable and spacious vehicle. Filling the taxi with the maximum 15 passengers and one driver, there was ample room for everyone’s legs and space left over for the odd shopping bag. Specs
- The driver’s cabin is well designed to offer the greatest comfort including a centrally positioned instrument display for increased visibility of the gauges and large storage pockets and drink holders for an attractive and well designed workplace.
- The seating design offers optimal comfort and easy-fold aisle seats to making entry and exit effortless, as does the large sliding door.
- A fuel-injected 2.5 litre petrol engine.
- Five speed manual transmission.
- Safety is maximised by ABS, brake assist, driver and passenger airbags and a Zone Body Structure that consists of safety and crushable zones.
- Datadots which allow police to identify parts from stolen vehicles should yours be stolen.
- Power steering with a height adjustable steering column.
Win
The Addie teamed up with Springs Nissan last Friday to see how many people we could (almost) comfortably fit in the newly launched Nissan NV350 Impendulo. The vehicle – commonly used as a taxi – can legally transport 15 passengers and the driver but the Addie wanted to see how many passengers we could get in. To stand the chance of winning one of the prizes up for grabs answer the following questions:
- How many people may legally travel in this vehicle?
- How many people do you think we got into the vehicle with everyone sitting in a semi-comfortable spot?
Leave your comment below with your name, the answers to BOTH questions and your contact number before 9am on April 21. To enter the competition, which runs for three weeks, you need to register on the Addie website. The winners will be announced online on April 24.
