Review of the Nissan Townstar Electric

by: Alex Bradley

Alex Bradley is a skilled writer and digital content specialist focusing on automotive and sports. He has a degree in Multimedia Journalism and previously worked for The Northern Quota as Head Sports Editor.

Nissan Townstar Electric Review 2023

The Nissan Townstar Electric is an electric city van that's ideal for sole traders who need a nippy and versatile van. Coming with agile handling, a good electric range, and two body sizes, the Townstar Electric is an excellent van to lease. 

Rivals to the Townstar Electric include the Renault Kangoo E-Tech, Peugeot e-Partner, Citroen e-Berlingo, and Vauxhall Combo Electric. 

Our Nissan Townstar Electric review covers:

• Key Features
• Nissan Townstar Electric Pros and Cons:
• Design, Practicality and Boot Space
• Interior and Trims
• Power and Performance
• Leasing vs Buying

Nissan Townstar Electric Key Features

• Boxy exterior design and slick front end 
• Well-built and practical interior 
• Load volume ranges from 3.3 - 4.4m3 
• 90kW electric motor paired with a 45kWh battery 
• Four trim levels 

Nissan Townstar Electric Pros and Cons:

Pros:

• Better range than rivals 
• Loads of tech available 
• Comfortable and easy to drive around town 

Cons:

• Entry-level trim doesn't get a touchscreen 
• Rivals offer faster charging 
• Only one battery 

Design, Practicality and Boot Space

The Townstar Electric adds a bit of variation to the city van market, which is more than welcomed. While following the same design principles as the Peugeot e-Partner and Citroen e-Berlingo, the Townstar Electric has a bigger front end and a more square body. 

The cabin of the Townstar Electric is spacious and comfortable. There's plenty of space for the driver and passenger in the front and loads of storage options, including an overhead storage tray and a mobile phone holder on the dash (in Tekna models). 

Load volume comes in at 3,3m3 for the M and 3.9m3 for the XL, exactly the same as the two lengths found in the Vauxhall Combo Cargo and Peugeot Partner. Payload varies depending on what model, but as a whole ranges from 650kg to 1,010kg. 

Interior and Trims

Inside the cabin, the Berlingo looks smart and feels well put together. Build quality is probably its standout feature with the cabin and tech being able to survive the hustle and bustle of a small business. The range of plastic materials also make it easy to clean. 

The Berlingo comes standard with an eight-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, DAB radio, Bluetooth, and a USB port. If you want sat-nav, you’ll have to upgrade to the Driver Edition trim. Most will be happy with the system, it’s driver-oriented which makes it easy to use while driving. 

Two trims are available: Enterprise Edition and Driver Edition. 

Enterprise comes with 16-inch steel wheels, ait conditioning, automatic lights, an overhead storage shelf, a four-way adjustable driver seat, cruise control with speed limiter, anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, and automatic activation of hazard lights on major deceleration

Driver adds to this with automatic windscreen wipers, a six-way adjustable drivers seat with lumbar support, sat-nav, automatic electronic parking brake, rear parking sensors and camera,  and an exterior look pack with body coloured side rubbing strips and rear bumper.

Power and Performance

Under the bonnet the Citroen Berlingo comes with a 1.2-litre petrol or a 1.5-litre diesel engine. Both come with front wheel drive, the petrol is paired to a six-speed manual gearbox, while for the diesel you can choose between the manual or an eight-speed automatic. 

The entry-level petrol is surprisingly punchy, given the fact is only has 110bhp. It has plenty of pull when driving up an incline, but feels laggy at higher revs. It comes with a top speed of 108mph and has a fuel economy of 37.3 - 45mpg. 

The diesel engine is available in two variants, a 102bhp or a 131bhp version. The slower unit is paired to a six-speed manual gearbox and is best suited for around-town driving. It returns decent performance and a good fuel economy of 47 - 56mpg. 

The 131bhp variant is better if you plan on racking up the miles. It comes with an eight-speed automatic gearbox which results in lower engine revs and quieter performance at speed. It also has the highest top speed at 114mph but its fuel economy drops slightly below the 102bhp version. 

Whatever engine you choose, the Berlingo is a quiet and comfortable drive. Like its siblings the Peugeot Partner and Vauxhall Combo Cargo, it;s handling is sharp and entertaining, while the suspension deals with bumps and cracks in the road well, even with an empty load.

Leasing vs Buying

Prices for the new Nissan Townstar Electric start from £40,794.00 OTR* or to lease from £355.88 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Nissan Townstar Electric? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest van leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.