COOL AS ICE

In an effort to create more interest in its versatile, popular three-quartertonner, Nissan has upped the NP200’S cool factor

WHO can forget the original Nissan 1400 bakkie, later called the Champ? There were scores of special editions and bespoke trim offerings over the course of its near fourdecade production cycle. Now Nissan has turned a similar trick with its current entry-level bakkie, the NP200.

As with the 1400, the NP200 is also manufactured at Nissan’s Rosslyn plant outside Pretoria.

Called the ICE, the new model has a long list of additional equipment meant to appeal to buyers who use their bakkies during the week for work and for leisure activities come Saturday.

Externally, the ICE is painted in a choice of Bright Silver or Starling Blue metallic paint. It also boasts a nudge bar that integrates two horizontal LED daytime-running lights, a sports bar aft, tinted windows and new 15-inch alloy wheels. A sensible addition is a rubberised finish in the loading bay that should make it less prone to scratches, as well as a tonneau cover. These additions are useful and visually appealing … which perhaps can’t be said of the decals on the flanks.

Inside, the ICE model has been garnished with leather upholstery and rubber mats. In terms of tech, the ICE receives an updated Bluetooth audio system. Priced marginally lower than the 1,5-litre dci SE, the ICE swaps electric windows for manual winders, while the mirrors are also manually adjustable. However, safety has not been compromised, as the bakkie offers two airbags and ABS. A service plan is optional.

I’m 1,87 metres tall and found the driving position slightly compromised. The top part of the steering wheel rim blocks sections of the speedometer and rev counter, while the top of the windscreen is slightly lower than ideal. All the controls are easily operated, though, and there is enough space behind each seat for two laptop bags.

The drivetrains have remained unchanged, which means the 1,6-litre petrol unit stays, and so too the test unit’s 1,5-litre turbodiesel. The latter pulls eagerly from around 2 000 r/min to about 4 000 r/min, from where performance tails off.

In a market segment that isn’t exactly filled to the brim with talented contenders, the NP200 remains a sensible, solid buy … it now just stands out a bit more, too.