Nissan Navara VS Renault Kangoo

With its relatively light 2033kg kerb weight and 3150kg GVM, our test vehicle has a one-tonne-plus payload rating of 1117kg.

It’s also rated to tow up to 3500kg of braked trailer. However, to tow that weight would require a substantial 740kg reduction in vehicle payload to avoid exceeding its 5910kg GCM (or how much it can legally carry and tow at the same time). Even so, few (if any) Navara owners would need to tow 3500kg.

The load tub is almost square with its 1509mm floor length and 1560mm width. And with 1134mm between the rear wheel housings, it won’t fit a standard Aussie pallet but will take a Euro, held in place by a choice of four load-anchorage points.

In terms of cabin storage, the centre console offers open storage up front, two small-bottle/cupholders in the centre and a small lidded box at the back. There’s also a large-bottle holder and storage bin in each front door, plus a glove box and overhead glasses holder.

Rear passengers get a large-bottle holder and smaller storage bin in each door plus a fold-down centre armrest with two small-bottle/cupholders. The rear bench seat’s base cushion can also swing up and be stored vertically for more internal cargo space, or to access two small underfloor storage compartments.

With its 1707kg tare weight and GVM 2230kg, the SWB E-Tech has a 523kg payload rating, so it’s a genuine half-tonner.

It’s also rated to tow up to 1500kg of braked trailer. And with its 3730kg GCM (or how much it can legally carry and tow at the same time) it can haul its maximum payload while towing its maximum trailer weight, which is impressive.

The cargo bay, which offers 3.3 cubic metres of load volume, is accessed through sliding doors on each side with (by our measure) 625mm openings, or through asymmetric barn-doors at the rear. Both can be opened to 180-degrees to enhance forklift and loading dock access.

The load area is 1806mm long and 1590mm wide with 1248mm between the rear-wheel housings, so it can carry one standard Aussie pallet or two Euro pallets, held in place by a choice of six floor-mounted load-anchorage points.

A protective load floor-liner is available as an accessory, the walls and doors are lined to mid-height and there’s internal lighting.

The front doors open to a full 90 degrees, providing conspicuously wide access. The cabin has a spacious and airy feel, even for someone my height (186cm) thanks to a high roof height relative to the seating position, plus ample leg and elbow room.

The solid bulkhead, which doubles as a cargo barrier, insulates the cabin from most cargo bay noise and minimises demand on the climate control air-con, which thankfully provides three physical dials rather than the distraction of touchscreen prompts when adjusting settings.

Cabin storage includes a large bottle holder and bin in the base of each door, plus a sizeable clamshell-lidded compartment in the dash-pad ahead of the driver. This incorporates a handy smartphone holder, which can be moved to either side depending on driver preference.

There’s also a large open storage area in the centre of the dash-pad plus a full-width overhead shelf, single glovebox and a centre console containing two cupholders and open trays for small items.

Our only criticisms are the lack of hinge detents or struts to hold the rear barn-doors open in their 180-degree positions, given that a gust of wind when loading/unloading can slam them shut with potential injury for the operator.

We also think full-electric vans need to provide dedicated storage for their charging cables, as they are often treated as an afterthought.

For example, our E-Tech’s bulky public-charging cable was coiled up between the bulkhead and passenger seat backrest. This required the seat base to be slid about 50mm further forward to accommodate it, resulting in reduced passenger backrest angle and legroom.

Other test vehicles have been supplied with these cables sitting on the passenger floor, stuffed into overhead shelving etc which are all unsatisfactory locations for such an important piece of equipment.