Premium Ride Up North
The motoring media was invited by Nissan Philippines Inc. to a road trip around the north of Cebu on board the newly launched Nissan Urvan Premium. We all hopped in a caravan of Urvans from Radisson Blu Hotel and went up the Transcentral Highway up to West 35 Mountain Resort where we had breakfast. The powerful 2.5 Turbo Diesel brought us up the mountains with ease (it's the same engine on the award-winning Navarra).
The new 15-seater van is a huge commuter. Its dimensions being wider, longer and taller,are pushing the limits of what a family van should be. Obvious was the high ceiling or the bubble top design, high enough for passengers to move around inside freely. All the seats are individualized and reclineable, veering away from the standard bench type of the old. Airconvents are well distributed in the ceiling, making sure all the passengers get equal feel of the efficient airconditioning that Nissan is so famous for.
Ramesh Narasimhan, the NPI President and Managing Director who graced the opening of two Nissan dealerships in Cebu, joined the trip that stopped over the posh Kandaya Resort in DaanBantayan.
The trip covered over 250 kilometers of mixed terrain, mostly winding, uphill roads and long strips in Medellin. The Urvan handled it like an SUV, delivering both power and comfort. In the twisty inclines of the Transcentral Highway, the Urvan had surprising balance with very minimal body roll for a van that looked "top heavy." The torque was evident in Medellin where Freeman Motoring Journalist, Norris See confidently pushed it, overtaking vehicles with relative ease.
The best part of the Urvan is the comfort it offers. I was just happy being a passenger, chatting and napping while the others took turns test driving the van. The comfort made the 3-hour trip so much shorter. With this, NPI is well assured the Urvan Premium will do well in the market.
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