Nissan Caravan, NV350 or Urvan? One Van | CPM Auckland | Car Parts Market
Caravan, NV350 or Urvan? One Van, Three Names
6 min read
The same Nissan van is sold as the Caravan, the NV350, the Urvan and once the Homy. Knowing which name maps to which generation is the difference between the right part and a return.
Nissan Urvan-NV350-E25-E26
Searching for parts for a Nissan Caravan is unusually confusing, because the same van is sold under four different names. A buyer looking for an "NV350 tail light" and a buyer looking for a "Caravan E26 tail light" want the identical part, and neither will find the other's listing unless the seller has thought about it.
Here is what each name means, and which generation each one maps to.
Is the Nissan NV350 the same as the Nissan Caravan?
Yes. NV350 is the marketing name Nissan gave the fifth-generation Caravan, whose engineering designation is E26. A Nissan NV350 and a Nissan Caravan E26 are the same van, and parts listed for one fit the other.
The full picture across all four names:
Caravan — the model name, used in the Japanese domestic market and on used imports carrying their original badges.
NV350 — the marketing name for the E26 generation, used in Japan and export markets from 2012.
Urvan — the export badge for the same van, used across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia.
Homy — the passenger-trim sibling, discontinued in 2001. Japanese domestic market, E24 and earlier.
New Zealand suppliers routinely stack the names in one listing precisely because buyers search all of them. It is normal to see a single mirror advertised as fitting a "Caravan / Urvan / Homy E25".
What is the difference between an E25 and an E26?
They are consecutive generations, and the change between them is complete rather than cosmetic:
Nissan Caravan E25 — 2001–2012 in the catalogue, also sold as the Caravan, Urvan and Homy.
Nissan Caravan E26 — 2012–2026, also sold as the NV350, Caravan and Urvan.
Body and lighting parts do not interchange between them. The E25 and E26 have different bodies, different lamp apertures and different mounting points. Every Nissan part in the Car Parts Market catalogue is recorded against one generation or the other, and none is recorded as fitting both.
There is one genuinely useful exception, and it is worth knowing before you assume nothing carries over: the engines did. The E26 inherited the QR20DE and QR25DE petrol engines and the YD25DDTi common-rail diesel from the E25. So the honest answer to "does an E25 part fit an E26" is split — generally no for anything you can see from outside, often yes for engine ancillaries.
Car Parts Market specialises in body and lighting parts and does not currently stock Caravan engine parts, so for anything under the bonnet you will need a specialist. For panels, lamps and mirrors, the generation decides it.
Why is the same van called Caravan, Urvan and Homy?
Because Nissan used different names in different markets, and New Zealand receives vans from several of them.
Caravan is the Japanese domestic name, used since 1973. Most Caravans in New Zealand arrived as used Japanese imports and wear that badge.
Urvan is the export name for the same vehicle, used across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia. A van imported through one of those markets may carry Urvan badging and identical panels.
Homy was the passenger-trim sibling sold alongside the Caravan in Japan, discontinued in 2001. It appears on E24-era and earlier vehicles, and New Zealand parts suppliers still list it beside the Caravan name because owners search for it.
NV350 is not a separate model at all. It is the name Nissan applied to the E26 generation from 2012, and it is now the name most New Zealand buyers use.
If you are searching for parts, try the generation code — E25 or E26 — rather than the badge. It is the one identifier that is unambiguous across all four names.
Which name should I search for when buying parts?
Search the generation code first, then the badge on your van. Car Parts Market catalogues the two Nissan lines separately, because the E25 and the E26 are genuinely different vehicles:
The catalogue currently holds 30 Nissan Caravan parts: 23 for the E26 and 7 for the E25. Coverage is deepest on lighting and mirrors, with 6 E26 headlights, 6 E26 tail lights, 4 E26 mirrors, 2 E25 headlights and 2 E25 mirrors.
Narrow body or wide body?
The Nissan Caravan NV350 was sold in narrow-body and wide-body forms, and front-end panels differ between them. A narrow-body bonnet will not fit a wide-body van of the same year.
Car Parts Market records body width against each product where it applies, so a listing that suits only the narrow body says so. If you are unsure which yours is, measure across the body at the widest point or send the registration through the parts inquiry form.
The E26 also received a facelift partway through its run, and the front grille and headlights changed with it. Each listing carries its own year range — check that range against your van's build date rather than its New Zealand registration year, which for an import is usually later.
Ordering the right side
New Zealand is a right-hand-drive market, so RH is the driver's side and LH the passenger's. Car Parts Market states the side on every listing where it matters, including all NV350 headlights, tail lights and mirrors.
This is worth double-checking against overseas listings, where the convention is reversed and an "LH" part may be the driver's side.
If you are not sure which generation or which side you need, send your registration or chassis number through the parts inquiry form and Car Parts Market will confirm it before you order. Where compatibility is confirmed in writing before purchase, the Fitment Guarantee applies. You can also browse NV350 tail lights directly.
Car Parts Market is based at 11A Akatea Road, Glendene, Auckland, ships throughout New Zealand and to Australia, and offers click and collect from the Glendene warehouse. New aftermarket parts carry a three-month warranty; terms and conditions apply. Email support@carpartsmarket.co.nz or phone 09 243 1350.
Frequently asked questions
Is the NV350 the same as the Nissan Caravan?
Yes. NV350 is the marketing name Nissan applied to the fifth-generation Caravan, designated E26 and built from 2012. A part listed for an NV350 fits a Caravan E26 of the same year and body width, because they are the same vehicle under two names.
Will a Nissan Caravan E25 part fit an E26?
Not for body or lighting parts. The E25 and E26 are consecutive generations with different bodies, lamp apertures and mounting points, and no panel, lamp or mirror interchanges. Engines did carry over — the QR20DE, QR25DE and YD25DDTi are shared — so engine ancillaries are a different question.
What years is the Nissan Caravan E26?
The Nissan Caravan E26, sold as the NV350, began in 2012 and Car Parts Market records fitment through to 2026. It was facelifted partway through the run, so the front grille and headlights are not identical across all years. Check the year range on each listing against your van's build date.
What is the difference between a Nissan Caravan and a Nissan Urvan?
Nothing mechanical. Urvan is the export badge for the same van sold as the Caravan in Japan, used across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia. Parts are interchangeable between them when the generation and body width match, so search by E25 or E26 rather than by badge.
Does Car Parts Market stock NV350 parts in New Zealand?
Yes. Car Parts Market holds 30 Nissan Caravan parts — 23 for the E26 or NV350 and 7 for the E25 — covering headlights, tail lights, mirrors, grilles, bonnets and bumper components. Stock ships throughout New Zealand and to Australia, with click and collect from Glendene, Auckland.
