Ask Nathan: Return of the Small Work Van, Lagging Design and Can’t Afford a Damn Thing?

In this week’s Ask Nathan:

  • Will the small work van return to the USA?
  • Have you noticed all silhouettes of crossovers look the same?
  • I still can’t afford even the cheapest new car!

The first question comes from a gas station clerk who recognized me, and asked a serious question about the return of the small work van to our shores.

Q: (Paraphrased from a one-on-one conversation @ARCO in Torrance, CA): I don’t understand why all of the small work vans are gone.

Just a few years ago – we had the Nissan NV200 (and Chevy City Express), Ford Transit Connect, Ram ProMaster City, and the Mercedes-Benz Mertis. Now, there’s nothing! I did some research, and there’s nothing out there! My work van (Nissan NV200) has over 150,000 miles and all I’ve changed or fixed were brakes and tires. It hauls everyday and nothing can beat its economy. I load my van way easier than my wife’s crossover. It holds more and is easier to park.

Why did they get rid of them, and will they be replaced?

— Nice guy who runs a gas station

A: Honestly, I am a bit bewildered by the rapid extinction of small work vans on our shores.

I did some research too, and the sales numbers only shed a bit of light. At its peak, Nissan sold just under 19,000 NV200s in the United States, with Canada selling about 10% each year of that, on average. Mercedes-Benz’s Metris, which is slightly larger than the others, was on par with Nissan, peaking in 2023 with over 23,000 sold here. The Ram ProMaster City trailed the Nissan by about 10 percent, and the Ford Transit Connect (which is still being sold as new – but has been officially “discontinued”) trounces all of them by a massive margin.

Oh, and the rebadged NV200/Chevrolet City Express? It barely moved the needle. Altogether, hundreds of thousands of small work vans were sold in the United States in a rather short period (less than a decade), and disappeared almost overnight. Why?

Volkswagen ID. Buzz Premiere
The VW ID Buzz cargo van is not slated to come to the USA. Because we can’t have nice things

The death and (possible) rebirth of the small work van – in the United States.

Sales numbers were never competitive with full-size vans – and are completely eclipsed by pickup trucks. Still, the numbers were (mostly) profitable, and may have increased with updates and newer powertrains. In reality, a huge reason for discontinuing these vans was the import tax (chicken tax) and the difficult ways around it. Vans had to be imported with windows, rear seats, seatbelts and whatnot to escape the ridiculous 25-percent import tax. Then, they would be stripped of the aforementioned components once they reached our shores. That’s a pricey pain in the neck for importing.

Sure, you could build these little vans here. Mercedes-Benz began doing just that with their larger vans, avoiding this tax and giving locals work. Sadly, the return on investment (ROI) is slim for those who have to build a production line just for one vehicle that shares few parts with its brethren.

It’s rumored that one of the other reasons every player in the segment suddenly pulled out had to do with electrification.

Almost every van builder had (or has) an electric equivalent of these discontinued vans. Hell, I even drove a Nissan E-NV200, which is like an NV200 mated to a Nissan Leaf, at an event. Ford and Stellantis have small EV vans overseas, and they are thriving. For shot-shot deliveries in populated areas, EV vans are good – and smaller (lighter) ones could be great.

Rumor has it: Toyota might be mullings a hybrid version of their HiAce delivery van for North America. Imagine a small work van capable of about 30 mpg – when loaded? It could be possible, but this is just a rumor.

I wish I had a solid answer for you. We know that minivans are heading towards electrification, just look at Toyota and KIA, but they don’t qualify as purpose-built cargo vans. It may take time, but I feel like we will see a small work van of some sort return to the United States.

What it may run on will be a mystery.

– N

The next question comes from a viewer who feels like most automakers are not being very innovative with their design.

Q: (Via: YouTube) Modern design stinks.

I can’t believe you think there are handsome SUVs out there. You said so yourself many times. I’m not buying it.  

Name one good looking SUV!

– TL86t22

A: As I always say, looks can be subjective; however…

The Rivian R3X. How about that? It’s just the absolute killer-bee’s knees. I know, some people are iffy about the nose, or call it a tall hot-hatch design, but Rivian classifies it as an SUV. Actually, you failed to mention what qualifies as an SUV, verses a crossover. Thus – I placed them in the same bucket. I’m unpredictable like that.

Look, I get it: the silhouette of many crossovers, and many SUVs are very close. I daresay it’s hard to tell the difference between many, in profile, at dusk.

I think, if you look hard enough, you can find some pleasing shapes among both SUVs (Wranglers, Land Cruisers, G-Wagons and the like) and crossovers (just about everything else, sans pickups) here and there.

You know what? I bets some readers can name some sweet looking rigs they’ve seen too!

– N

The final question comes from a regular who is upset about finding an inexpensive new car.

Q: Thanks for answering my question about cheap trucks in that email I sent you! Now I’m asking about cheap cars for my girl.

It is almost impossible for her to find anything new for 2024 that can hold her family. The Mitsubishi Mirage goes bye bye soon and it’s too small anyway. There are no cars that are realistically priced. Nothing under 20 thousand after taxes and fees. It’s getting stupid and depressing.

We just can’t afford a damn thing on a 100-thousand a year combined with a kid and a house.

— Juan TT

Chevy Trax "Lead Dream Chaser"

Other than the Nissan Versa (which starts under $17K for the manual, and the CVT FWD model starts at over $18K – before tax and fees, there isn’t much out there. Sorry.

I highly recommend the 2024/2025 Chevrolet Trax. Yes, it’s just a hair over $20,000 – but you get a lot of car for the money. Seriously, it’s one of my favorite “affordable” cars of the year. The only thing that comes close is its cousin, the slightly-more-expensive Buick Envista.

I wish I knew about something on the horizon that would be more cost effective.

— N