New Nissan taxi 'good,' some NYC cabbies say

Some New York City taxi drivers are giving a thumbs-up to the new Nissan van taxi, citing the fuel efficiency and more comfortable ride of the hybrid vehicle that hits the streets next year.

Victor Salazar, 48, of the Bronx, who has driven a cab for 17 years and has favored the soon-to-be extinct Crown Victoria, said the new Nissan NV 200 van "is exceptional and is a solid vehicle."

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Tuesday evening unveiled the brighter, yellow boxy shaped van for drivers and media in Manhattan at a glitzy private showing, complete with models, nightclub-style mood lighting and hors d'oeuvres.

"I see this Nissan as a real good taxi," Salazar said, after viewing the van at an earlier private showing for drivers. "It's comfortable for the driver. I can now move my feet easier and it makes me feel more secure."

"I am going to save money on fuel and they say it has a nice pickup," Salazar said. The Nissan van is a four-cylinder vehicle while the Crown Victoria has eight cylinders.

"These are the safest, most comfortable cabs to ever hit our streets," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at the Manhattan event.

The Nissan van will replace the Crown Victoria, which Ford stopped manufacturing last summer. The van will cost about $29,000, including the partitions.

Designer Francois Farion said the van gives passengers a less-obstructed view of the city, with panoramic windows and a skylight roof.

"We wanted to make the ride transparent and get away from that dark experience," he said.

Bhairavi Desai, executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, said most members are pleased with the van.

"The new vans are ergonomically much better. We're glad that Nissan took our recommendations and gave drivers more leg room and moved back the partition -- now drivers can adjust the front seat," she said.

Queens taxi driver Beressoford Simmons, who has driven a cab for 40 years, said the driver's seat "feels orthopedic. It's very comfortable."

Still some drivers think the backseat may be too small. "We have to see how that will play out," Desai said. "Right now it doesn't look like three average-sized adults can comfortably sit in the backseat."

The new Nissan also will have to pass the durability test. "The Crown Victoria was a real work horse," Desai said.

To quell concerns, Nissan has offered a 150,000 mile warranty. "This is the best warranty in the industry," she said.