The Nissan Navara is the culmination of the brand’s 80-plus years of light-truck and pick-up expertise in the world. The nameplate was first launched in the Philippines in 2015, introduced Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM) in 2018, and launched the New Nissan Navara in 2021 with interior and exterior upgrades along with the introduction of the PRO-4X trim level–the highest in its range.
The key feature that sets the Navara apart is its Dual Rate Coil Springs, which offer a smooth ride while also enabling it to handle a pretty hefty 1 TON payload. It’s a very soft and pliant ride that’s far better than the stiff and harsh experience provided by most other pick-up competitors with their conventional rigid rear suspension design. It’s “dual” in a sense that it incorporates a primary spring with a gentler starting compression rate, as well as a secondary, more rigid spring. When the truck is loaded to, or close to, its full capacity, these springs reach a critical point at which they switch to using the heavier-duty secondary springs. Nissan really did their homework on how to make capable yet comfortable pick-ups.
In 2021, the Navara got a major exterior refresh, with a revised front bumper, grille, headlights, rear tailgate and rear bumper–giving this pick-up a fresh new look. During this time, the PRO-4x variant was introduced to the market to give the Navara a more athletic and rugged look that’s ready for off-road.
The PRO-4X gets blacked-out exterior trims (grille, side view mirrors, door handles, and roof rail) and upgraded features with its Quad Projector LED Headlamps and LED Fog Lamps, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning with Intelligent Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Intelligent Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection, and an 8″ Advanced Display Audio.
The Nissan Navara has as much as 600mm of flood wading depth, while the PRO-4X has improved off-roading capabilities: 6.2-meter turning radius, a ramp break angle of 23 degrees, a 23-degree break-over angle, 32 degrees of approach angle, and 26 degrees of departure angle.
The heart of all Navaras is the brand’s impressive 2.5-Liter Turbocharged CRDi Diesel Engine. Attached is either a 6-Speed Manual and/or a 7-Speed Automatic Transmission which outputs 161hp and 403 Newton-Meters of torque for the 6-Speed, or an impressive 18 7hp and 450 Newton-Meters of torque for the 7-Speed Auto in both 2WD and 4WD configurations. The 7-Speed Automatic is best-in-class in the pick-up segment.
Inside, the Nissan Navara is loaded with tech. 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto*, give you convenient connectivity even when off-roading. Giving you eyes around your vehicle is Nissan’s Intelligent Around View Monitor which is essentially a 360-degree camera, when driving through tricky terrain, there’s an Off-Road Monitor** that acts as your personal spotter–helping you to see exactly where to drive your front wheels. And lastly, its Zero Gravity Seats give you unprecedented comfort even on long, rough drives. These are arguably the best factory-fitted seats in a pick-up our team have ever tested.
*Available in VE variants and up
**Available in VL and PRO-4X variants only
And that is the crucial difference behind the wheel of the Navara: it’s a smooth driving, smooth riding pick-up that feels like a sophisticated executive express more than a workhorse. But it’s got what it takes to perform in the toughest and harshest of environments, as tested by me when I drove the PRO-4X variant during its launch in a purpose built off-road track, and in my early days as a car reviewer, when I had the opportunity to drive the Navara through the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert in Morocco, Africa, and again in the sand dunes of Paoay, Ilocos Norte during the Navara’s first local drive event when it was released to the Philippine market. On smooth roads, the Navara drives more like a cross-over, delivering unmatched smoothness missing in other pickups, with the responsiveness equally missing in most other pickups. The brakes are powerful, delivering progressive, fade-free performance, and the throttle is instant, linear with a strong midrange and good top-end lunge. Truly, the Navara is an exciting driving experience on or off road.
Looking for a tough, capable, stylish package that has the tech to match? The Nissan Navara is your best bet!
For more information, please visit http://vehicles.nissan.ph/Navara_Article_PDI
