There are many ways to look at vans. They can be utilitarian for construction crews and their equipment, convenient for families with a large crew, or aesthetic for those with dreams of driving around with a mural of a hulking barbarian atop a mountain of his vanquished enemies. The 2014 NV3500 vans satisfy all those needs, while it cruises the streets like an SUV.

Even down some of the bumpiest streets of Long Beach, Calif., the NV vans offered a smooth and manicured ride on both wide four-lane roads and narrow side streets.

The vans handled like the SUV I usually cart my wife and kids around in, making the driving transition seamless. The 5.6-liter DOHC V-8 engine also helped quickly move through traffic when I needed a little extra boost, especially on the freeways.

On top of that, whether you're driving the cargo or passenger version, the NV3500 also works as a rolling office. The front passenger seat folds completely flat in the forward position to act as a table, and the center console can comfortably house a laptop computer, which can be charged from the available standard 120-volt outlets.

An interesting story was recently related to the Bobit crew when members of Nissan’s team visited our Southern California office. When designing the new NV vans, engineers from Japan were sent a box of hanging file folders, so they could design the center console to hold them like a filing cabinet.

The NV passenger and cargo vans can turn heads, and almost turn on a dime. It might take a little getting used to for someone who spends their days in a sedan or station wagon, but all those soccer moms and dads and the repair crews that make their way to my house a little too often will never notice a difference.

Editor's note: View a full photo gallery of the Nissan NV passenger van here and a gallery of the NV cargo van here.