New Nissan Navara to target horsey set

The growing number of private buyers choosing dual-cab utes for family and recreational purposes rather than load lugging was a driving force behind Nissan’s decision to be only the second ute manufacturer to offer a multi-link coil-spring rear suspension on its all-new Navara.

Nissan Navara chief engineer Takashi Fukui told motoring.com.au at the this week's global launch in Thailand that as many as one in five utes are now sold to private buyers, who have greater demands than traditional ute owners in regards to vehicle comfort and usability.

“I think it’s 20 per cent now for all (pick-up) trucks -- double-cab, king-cab and single-cab -- but with the launching of the new (Navara) ute, I think (it will be) more,” he said.

“(Coil springs are) for the expansion of comfort, they’re more for the private customer.”

The new Navara runs double-wishbone independent front suspension and either leaf springs or a coil-sprung five-link live axle at the rear.

But unlike the SsangYong Actyon ute, the Nissan workhorse doesn’t sacrifice payload by using the more compliant rear suspension, with the same one-tonne capacity claimed for both its leaf and coil set-ups.

Takashi said customer demand was also driving ute towing capacities, with the new Navara set to join rivals Holden Colorado, Isuzu D-MAX and Ford Ranger/Mazda BT-50 twins in offering a 3.5-tonne towing capacity.

“(The 3.5-tonne towing capability) is a strong requirement from the market,” he said.

The new Navara’s multi-link suspension also suggests Nissan is well advanced in the development of a new full-chassis seven-seat SUV in the spirit of the previous Pathfinder, which in its latest iteration has a monocoque construction to join the popular ‘soft-roader’ set.

While remaining tight-lipped about future models, the Nissan chief engineer admitted the Japanese company had completed a “study” for the next ‘Pathfinder’.

Although it’s unclear what nameplate it will wear, the new Navara-based SUV will compete with other seven-seat off-road wagons including Toyota Prado, Isuzu MU-X, Mitsubishi Challenger, Holden Colorado 7 and Ford’s upcoming Everest.

An affordable, diesel-powered family SUV would also fill the void in Nissan Australia’s line-up created by the latest Y62 Patrol, which remains available only with a thirsty petrol V8 and premium pricing.

There’s also speculation Toyota may introduce its HiLux-based Fortuna to the Australian market as a cheaper alternative to the Prado, which currently starts at $56,000 for the entry-level, five-seat manual GX.