Nissan NV

– Detroit, Michigan

Most days of the year, I’m not too picky and will drive pretty much any type of vehicle. Whether it’s a tiny subcompact, a burly SUV, or anything in between, I can make it work. When it comes to moving day, however, that occasional time when I pack up and move apartments, only a cargo van will do the job.

Notice I said van and not pickup truck: the former can always fit so much more stuff lengthwise and heightwise in its rear than a truck can in its bed. You can stack boxes and desks up high, Tetris-style, and your belongings are protected from the elements. Moreover, the load floors of today’s cargo vans are far lower than the bed of a truck, meaning less straining when you ask your buddies to load up your bookshelf.

Nissan’s entry in the fullsize cargo van segment is the NV, offered in a variety of models: NV1500, NV2500, NV3500; normal and high-roof options; V6 and V8 power. Whichever way you slice it, any NV I’ve ever used has managed to be an incredibly useful and accommodating van, without posing too much of a learning curve for everyday drivers – like myself – to get behind the wheel.

Pros

It’s huge and functional. This high-roof model – it’s an impressive 8 feet, 10 inches tall on the outside, 6 feet, 2 inches inside the cargo area – can fit more than enough stuff to make moving apartments a one- or two-trip affair. (Hey, I don’t have much stuff.) Not only is it stupendously big, but the NV3500 has a low liftover height (just 28.5 inches) to sa...