View our gallery of Nissan NP200 pictures

Having already driven Nissan's NP200, you could be forgiven for asking why, just a few weeks later, I was driving this bakkie again.

The difference this time is that I was shunting around in the diesel-powered version.

It is also worth pointing out that Nissan's new bakkies are in no way or form similar to their predecessor. This is not the tiny, contractor?s toolbox that many remember, but a genuine load-hauler with a generous sprinkling of upmarket goodies.

It's a great vehicle overall. Extremely practical and able to compete with rivals ? in price as well as performance - without sacrificing comfort and style. It looks like a bakkie on the outside, albeit a very smart one, and feels like a sedan on the inside.

Diesel but not 'dieselfde'

The 1.5-litre engine is proud of its heritage and chatters and burbles aloud. I find it a very soothing sound, especially when cruising at low revs where the murmur of diesel combusting and the sounds of the tyres rolling over the tar become hypnotic, lulling me into a state of calm. Who needs meditation and Ravi Shankar, I've got Nissan.

The engine's 63Kw of power and 200Nm of torque make the rest of the bakkie feel very lightweight. It will comfortably climb hills in top gear without bleeding speed or power and remains firmly in crosswinds and through sharp corners, even without a load in the rear.

It also allows for confident overtaking and the vocal diesel leaves other drivers in no doubt that they have just been passed by what they wrongly assumed was a frumpy bakkie. The unique design, with its sharply-deliniated grille and neat lines, gets many second, and third, glances

That is not a child-storage bin

Having the NP200 for a second time around, I had the chance to explore other features of this car ? er ? bakkie more thoroughly.

The 300 litres of space behind the seats is brilliant. I was constantly amazed by just how much I could fit behind there. It's big enough that my kids were certain it was a passenger area for smaller people. I had a tough time convincing them that being able to fit comfortably behind the seats did not mean it was intended for that purpouse.

The seats are also separate and adjustable, a great bonus for long-legged drivers, but the steering wheel position ? with no telescopic or vertical adjustment - has to be accepted as is.

Nothing but bunnies

I must once again ashamedly admit that I did not properly test the load box and load-hauling capacity. It amazes that friends and neighbours always come calling for help with shifting a load when I don't have any bakkies to test.

However, when there's one very obviously sitting in my driveway, nobody needs a hand. Moving a load of tiny bunnies does not count, either.

However, the NP200's performance and handling leave me convinced that it is a very capable hauler. I would not hesitate to throw a big load in the back and move it across the country if needed.

The diesel versions sit in-between and slightly above the price range of the petrol models, but the NP200 still ranks as the best value-for-money LCV in my books.

Prices:

Diesel: