Recently, there was a new Navara launched with an all-new platform, trick rear suspension, a more efficient and powerful diesel engine as well as styling more in line with current Nissan products. I had the newcomer for a week recently and did some mild off-roading and bakkie-type activities.
The styling
If the Mazda BT-50 and previous generation Mitsubishi Triton have taught us anything, it’s that controversial styling can make or break what is in essence, a very good product. I’m happy to report that in the looks department, the designers erred on the side of caution with the latest Navara.
Up front, its chunky chrome front grille is now a Navara signature as are the trapezoid-style headlamps, which now come with LED daytime running lights as standard. The side profile and rear styling are both very conservative, with the Navara cutting a typical bakkie silhouette.
Bakkie interior
The latest Navara is a massive step-up over its predecessor in the design and material quality of its interior. Gone are the days of Nissan’s pick-up feeling agricultural as the Navara has inherited many of its interior parts from the X-Trail, making it more SUV-like in its look and feel.
I would like to have seen a few more storage areasinside and indeed, a better infotainment systemthough. The seven-inch system is the same itemthat you get in the Micra Active city car, leading meto question whether the Navara owner should bepeeved about this, or if the Micra owner shouldbe elated. I’d hazard a guess that the former isprobably more apt.
Driving Navara
The most impressive aspect of the latest Navara is undoubtedly when you task it with negotiating a rough road. The ride quality is seriously impressive, which is thanks to its coil-spring rear suspension, which transforms the way the big Nissan reacts to surface imperfections.
I drive along a heavily corrugated road every day and the coil-sprung Navara seemed to absorb bumps with the poise of a luxury car whencompared to certain key rivals.The powertrain is impressive too, with 140kW/450Nm from its twin-turbo 2.3-litre turbodieselmotor.
This, combined with the relatively smoothseven-speed automatic gearbox, means that youhave a payload of over a ton and an impressive 3500kg braked towing capacity.During my week with the Navara, I achieved afuel consumption figure of 9.0-litres/100km, higher than the 7.9-litres/100km claim, but impressive fora double cab bakkie nevertheless.
Verdict
The fact of the matter is that all of the newer generations bakkies are far better to drive than before. Manufacturers have placed an increasing emphasis on developing these bakkies as lifestyle products that are able to do the heavy lifting when required. The release of models such as the Volkswagen Amarok V6, the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz X-class and Ford Ranger Raptor has made it clear that the premium bakkie is in demand.
I believe that the Navara strikes a good balance between the premium bakkie look and feel, while still maintaining that quintessential basic bakkie charm. The only problem is that the competition is stiff, with many rival products even sharing a platform with the Nissan. It may just come down to brand preference for many. Regardless of your thoughts on the Navara, there’s no denying that it’s a wonderful time to be in the market for a new double cab bakkie.
