Our regular reader Manoj Prabakaranhas has shared with us a spy-shot of the upcoming Nissan Evalia MPV that he spotted at the Trade Center in Chennai. Nissan had showcased the 7-seater MPV at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi. The company has been testing the vehicle for over 7 months now. As a result, the test-mules that are spotted now wear only a mild camouflage just to hide their badges.
Along with the picture, Manoj mentioned in a note that:
- The Evalia looks a little smaller than the Innova; the van like styling at the rear reminds him of the Tata Winger.
- The test-mule was definitely the top-end variant as it had splashes of chrome all-around.
- The tall, boxy stance at the rear makes the wheels look miniscule.
- The MPV had a roof-carrier fitted onto it, also with chrome surrounds.
- The ground-clearance of the MPV is shockingly low, unlike its rivals. Once laden with weight, the suspension will sag even more!
Sold as the NV200 in other markets, the Evalia will be powered by the 1.5 litre K9K diesel engine, running in the same state of tune as the Nissan Sunny. The 7-Seater MPV will also have a stripped-down, commercial version that’ll be sold under the Ashok Leyland branding.
While it is rumoured that the launch of the MPV will be in August, there is still no confirmed news on when the Evalia will hit the market. Expected to be priced between Rs. 8-10 lakhs, the Evalia will compete with the likes of the Toyota Innova, Mahindra Xylo and the Chevrolet Tavera.
