The Navara needs no introduction, as many would know that Nissan has a long lineage of bakkies, and the brand has certainly made its mark in Southern Africa. Some would regard the shift from Hardbody to Navara as the progenitor of the 'Soft Bakkie', where there was more of an emphasis on comfort and usability daily, and bakkies adopted more of an SUV approach to make it more attractive and thus more accessible to potential customers.
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The South African spec Navara is manufactured locally, with just over 1000 made in October 2024 alone and a near-even split of vehicles destined for our market and the other half for export. That's information obtained from the Lightstone Industry New Vehicle Sales Report. Although it's been around since 2021, the latest Navara has a fair bit of popularity from this, but does it still have the chops to compete against some of the newcomers to the bakkie market despite it being softer? We had the Navara in its top-of-the-range PRO-4X guise on the test.
Pros
- Exceptional ride comfort
- Nissan has plenty of experience building utility vehicles, and it shows
- Muscular engine with meaty power delivery
Cons
- Does feel dated in some regards
- Odd interior ergonomics omissions
- Interior storage space can be improved
Styling
The Navara in PRO-4X form uses Nissan's V-Motion design language, characterised by a V-shaped grille emphasising emotional design, space and comfort. One of the dominating features of the Navara's front end is the grille crowned with a satin metallic grey trim piece with Navara lettering. The grille is flanked by the LED projector headlights and below some stealthy foglamps. The plastic bash plate incorporates some red trim pieces. A black and red colour motif here with the PRO-4X is tastefully executed. The Nissan badge is finished in gloss black and red, and you'll find sprinkles of trim pieces finished in gloss red as well. You'll find side steps, gloss black 17-inch wheels, and a 'PRO-4X' decal along the side. The rear end is one of the better-looking bakkie rear ends out there, and some care has been taken where the tailgate has a sculpted look, as though there's a boot spoiler there. The Navara favours angular cues and sharp creases to give it an imposing presence but doesn't shout about its size. Rather, you appreciate the care taken with its design at first glance. Our test didn't include the optional fashion bar and tonneau cover, but you can order these as accessories.
Space and Comfort
Inside, the Navara shows its more SUV side with its carefully laid out dashboard and centre stack. The interior is fairly analogue, with its host of physical buttons, knobs and rotary dials. Some would argue that this would make the Navara feel dated, but in this writer's view, it was a pleasure to use. In a day and age where vehicle features and such are hidden behind a sub-menu on a gargantuan-sized infotainment screen, or buttons take less importance in favour of screen real estate and minimalism, the Navara strikes somewhat of a balance, but more favour is given towards buttons. You could say it's old school in that respect, but then again, plenty of bakkies in the South African market still follow this.
The PRO-4X has hard plastic interior trim but some soft-touch surfaces and leather-trimmed interior pieces. The seats are trimmed in leather and have 'PRO-4X' lettering on the seatbacks. Overall comfort in the Navara is great, and the NVH levels in this vehicle, as you'd expect, are minimal. The only areas where the Navara could improve are specific interior ergonomics such as a dead pedal, a grab handle for the driver's side to enter the vehicle and better access to the seat adjustments as the space to get there is quite tight. Storage space for phones and cubbies can be better as well. Handling infotainment duties is the 8.0-inch touchscreen, which features NissanConnect with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and the system is decent enough. The reverse camera could be a higher definition, in my opinion.
Performance
The high power version 2.5DDTi turbo diesel engine is propelling this Navara, making 140kW and 450Nm. The YD series engines have been around for quite some time to the tune of over 20 years, and some would argue that the engine is dated. However, in this application, the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", comes to mind. The 2.5DDTi is capable by modern standards and, if anything, is one of the more responsive bakkie diesel engines this writer has tested. Power delivery is meaty, and the Navara doesn't feel laggy from a standstill. It can be a noisy engine with induction noise from the outside, but it doesn't permeate into the cabin. Power can be sent to two or four wheels via a 7-speed automatic gearbox with low range and rear differential lock. The transmission is buttery smooth and brilliantly programmed and is a great pairing with this engine. Towing capacity is rated at 750kg unbraked and 3500kg braked.
The Drive
The Navara here is well poised. The suspension setup uses double wishbones with coil-over struts in the front and multilink rear suspension instead of the general rear leaf spring setup. The result is a softer rear end, more compliant on-road performance, and comfortable ride quality. This doesn't dull the Navara's blade, though, on the rough stuff, as while it is comfortable, it can still manage 4x4 settings well enough in factory form. The PRO-4X, in this guise, has 17-inch wheels fitted to All-Terrain tyres. The Navara strikes a good balance between onroad and offroad usage, making it entirely usable for daily duties.
Safety
You'll find the following safety equipment on this Navara:
- 7 airbags
- ISOfix Child Seat Anchors
- ABS, EBD, BA (Brake Assist)
- VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control)
- Trailer Stability Assist
- Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control
- Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection
- Reverse Camera with Sensors
- Intelligent Emergency Braking
- Intelligent Forward Collision Warning
- Intelligent Driver Awareness
- Blind Spot Warning
- Lane Departure Warning
Fuel Consumption
The claimed fuel consumption for this vehicle is 8.1 L/100km, but we managed around 9.0 L /100km in our test period, which was a combined cycle.
Price
The Navara in PRO-4X trim's purchase price includes a 6 year /90 000km service plan and 6 year /150 000km warranty.
| Model | Pricing |
| Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi double cab XE | from R493 600 |
| Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi double cab SE manual | from R542 400 |
| Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi double cab XE 4x4 | from R567 000 |
| Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi double cab SE auto | from R576 800 |
| Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi double cab SE Plus manual | from R591 000 |
| Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi double cab SE Plus auto | from R614 200 |
| Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi double cab SE 4x4 | from R637 500 |
| Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi double cab LE | from R660 200 |
| Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi double cab SE Plus 4x4 | from R674 000 |
| Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi double cab LE Plus | from R703 800 |
| Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi double cab LE 4x4 | from R744 200 |
| Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi double cab PRO-2X | from R782 200 |
| Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi double cab LE Plus 4x4 | from R785 700 |
| Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi double cab PRO-4X 4x4 | from R844 000 |
*The pricing stated here was correct when published and is subject to change without further notice.
Rivals
- Mitsubishi Triton
- Isuzu D-Max
- Ford Ranger
- Toyota Hilux
- LDV T60
- Volkswagen Amarok
- GWM P500
The Verdict
The intro of this article posed the question of whether the Navara can keep up with some of the other bakkie offerings in our market. The answer is yes, as far as this writer's opinions go. The Navara's powertrain is glorious for day-to-day usage, paired with a comfortable suspension setup. This vehicle still remains a viable option in the ever-competitive bakkie market.
