A star attraction.

Byline: By Steve Hughes

One in four light commercial vehicles sold in the UK are car-derived vans, and it is a sector that is predicted to rise.

The class is dominated by the Vauxhall Combo, Citroen Berlingo and the Renault Kangoo. Nissan's new offering, the Kubistar is based on the Kangoo, and should be on sale in the UK by September.

It joins the larger Primastar and Interstar to give a range of panel vans from 1.5 to 3.5 tonnes.

Nissan's newest van is aimed principally at the small business owner in the service sector. Such a person is more likely to transport lighter loads and drive relatively short distances for deliveries.

Compact design is important to these people who want a manoeuvrable, fuel efficient load carrier suited to a mainly urban habitat.

And the Kubistar, along with the Kangoo, is the most compact in the sector.

It is a little over four metres long yet offers a load volume of three cubic metres when fitted with the clever swivel bulkhead.

It can be specified to suit a variety of applications through different side door and tailgate options that also include a rear roof hatch. Available payloads will range from 620 to 800 kg and, although the UK line-up has yet to be finalised, as many as six different engines could be offered including three dCi units.

Similarly, equipment levels have not been decided but air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, telephone installation, automatic central locking, and side airbags will all be offered.

Prices will start at pounds 7,000, to include a three year warranty and three years' roadside assistance with three days' van loan.

By the end of 2003, Nissan is aiming for a commercial market share of around 2.5 per cent, equating to 8,000 vans, and 3 per cent in 2004, which is 9,500 units, when the Kubistar is on stream.

The company predicts it will sell about 300 Kubistars in the last four months of 2003 and 1,200 next year.