2021 Nissan NV350 Impendulo

Nissan NV350 Impendulo

Nissan’s NV350 Impendulo plays the budget card hard in the minivan segment, lining up against workhorses like the Toyota Hiace, Ford Transit, and VW Crafter. On paper at least, the Impendulo’s entry price is its main draw, but you won’t see it flooding the classifieds. Only one example is currently up for grabs at R157,500, which says everything about how scarce these have become. Petrol engine, manual box, no frills, no variety — you take what’s on offer or you walk away. This isn’t the model you see ferrying half of Joburg’s early commuters or hustling up and down the N1, mostly because stock is thin and turnover glacial. The lone listing, a 2017 1.6i Visia F/C P/V, is a panel van, not the more common people-mover. It’s clocked 158,000 km — and that matters, because a petrol panel van with that mileage needs a forensic look before anyone parts with cash. Small business owners and local fleets have historically been drawn to the Impendulo for its rock-bottom price and the promise of cheap parts, but the Hiace diesel is still the king if you care about resale or serious long-distance work. That’s the point: at R157,500, you’re trading long-term durability and efficiency for upfront savings. New stock? Forget it — if you want one, you’re hunting the used market with everyone else.