Now that Nissan’s new NV2500 has made its debut in the commercial van market, techs and reviewers alike have been able to take it out for a spin. Not only is the Nissan NV garnering positive reviews, it’s also part of a significant marketing campaign — proving Nissan is taking the field service and trades markets very seriously.

“Unless you’re a building-trades person who favors cavernous rolling crates, you’re not likely to get terribly excited about the all-new vehicles from Nissan,” wrote Frank A. Aukofer of Scripps Howard News Service. “But if you are such a person, the 2012 Nissan NV line of commercial vans opens up a host of possibilities. It’s rare that closed-vehicle manufacturers pay much attention to plumbers, electricians, carpenters and handymen.”

However, the Nissan NV2500 seems to have been designed with just that group in mind. While vans from Ford or General Motors account for a vast majority of commercial van sales, Nissan’s newest addition attempts to provide a breath of fresh air to a market that hasn’t seen a lot of noticeable changes in recent years. “It’s a relatively small market that is 95-percent owned by domestic makes whose loyal customers are hard to seduce. Apparently, Nissan took that as a challenge,” notes Car and Driver’s Tony Swan.

Nissan has gotten creative lately in attempting to show the utility of the NV line, which includes two roof styles — standard and raised, where one can stand upright inside. One example of Nissan’s creative promotional tactics is the Radio Shack-sponsored “man cave” seen at the Amgen Tour of California cycling race. While this raised-roof model doesn’t include some traditional “man cave” items such as a kegerator or La-Z-Boy recliner, the video below shows a van that’s outfitted with entertainment options and all the utilitarian features a bike shop could ask for. While most field service companies aren’t interested in the ability to watch television on the job, the versatile shelving and storage capabilities displayed in the video could prove useful.

More about commercial vans on The SmartVan

ABOUT Sara Suddes

San Francisco-based contributor Sara Suddes writes frequently about small business, the economy and technology.