NISSAN TAXI—TAKE 2

SHOULD THE government trust an automaker and its future intentions? Should an automaker be offered an exclusive deal based on these plans? This time around, the answers appear to be “no.” So it seems with a recent ruling of the New York Supreme Court that, at best, clouds Nissan’s deal to replace archaic taxi cabs with Taxis of Tomorrow.

Nissan NV200 was to have been the exclusive new NYC hack for a decade.

Previously, it was reported that the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission had approved the Nissan NV200 (NV as in “Nissan Van”) as the official NYC hack (www.wp.me/p2ETap-fU). This vehicle beat its competition fair and square with a combination of size (a roomy minivan), durability (the NV evolved from a 2009 design shared by several automakers) and other criteria.

Nissan said it would be introducing a hybrid version of the NV200 in 2015, the hybrid being part of the taxi commission deal. However, 2015 isn’t soon enough for the state’s Supreme Court, which ruled that the Nissan exclusive was “null, void and unenforceable.”

Taxi companies can still buy Nissan NVs if they want. But they must also be provided with hybrid options as well.

I’ve sat in the back of a Nissan Vanette (aka NV) as well as in several of its potential NYC hack competitors—and, to me, there’s no hybrid competition at the moment. See http://goo.gl/ctnB5 for the 2013 EPA Fuel Economy Guide and its list of hybrids.

EPA Model 2013 Fuel Economy Guide.

Here’s my sample-of-one analysis. I cross off any of the EPA Compact hybrids, the BMW ActiveHybrid 3 and Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid likely the roomiest. Their rear seats—and especially access to them—aren’t designed for passengers paying to be back there.

Toyota Prius. This and other images from www.nyctaxiphoto.com.

Among the Midsize hybrids, several are already in widespread taxi service, principally the Toyota Prius in New York, Vancouver, B.C. and elsewhere. Its front seats and those of its Ford Fusion Hybrid competitor are fine. Again, though, rear seat head room and access are nothing to commend it, particularly in contrast to the almost walk-through NV200.

Ford C-Max Hybrid.

The EPA Fullsize class has a couple of possibles. The Ford C-Max Hybrid’s rear seat has quite good head room, though ingress/egress is a tad limited. Ditto for the Toyota Prius V (one of my finalists in www.wp.me/p2ETap-9S).

Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid.

The Toyota Avalon Hybrid is an interesting wild card; it’s roomy and access is good, but efficacy of this new hybrid model has yet to be proven.

I wonder if the New York Supreme Court justice tried sitting in the rear of any of these? ds

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2013