Nissan Navara 2015 Review

Four-wheel-drive dual-cab utes accounted for nearly 70,000 new registrations in the first half of 2015, with Nissan claiming a nine per cent slice of the pie with its tried-and-true Navara. The D40-series Navara enjoyed solid success over a 10-year run but now its replacement is here, bristling with improvements.

Bar its ladder-frame chassis, the new NP300-series Navara represents a major shift for the nameplate, with a fresh raft of engines complementing new rear suspension, new styling, a new interior and numerous new features.

Refer to our launch report for a full breakdown of the changes, but the NP300 Navara represents the progression the model's devotees have been waiting for.

trucksales.com.au recently sampled a Navara ST – one grade trim down from the range-topping ST-X – as a family all-rounder, racking up 1200 kilometres in town and country.

To our eye the new Navara looks appreciably more sophisticated, its scalloped bonnet and LED DRLs and headlights creating a distinctive counterpoint to the previous generation.

The Navara ST is available only as a dual-cab pickup and is powered by a new Renault-Nissan-Alliance-sourced 2.3-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo-diesel. Producing 140kW (at 3750rpm) and 450Nm (from 1500-2500rpm), some will lament the loss of the beefy Navara V6 turbo-diesel, which led the segment with 170kW and 550Nm.

The new engine's output matches that of the out-going 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four, but Nissan claims it offers more refinement and a combined ADR figure of just 7.0L/100km. A single turbo version is also available in RX trim, as is a 2.5-litre petrol four in the entry-level DX.

We found the Navara ST's off-the-line performance a little flat – its acceleration is entirely acceptable from a standing start but we would have liked a little more low-end stomp. Conversely, from around 3000 to 4250rpm it's quite spirited, offering punchy progress and pleasing response, while the seven-speed auto flicks through its ratios with ease. At 100km/h in seventh gear the engine ticks over at 1800rpm.

Inside the cab it's impressively quiet on a steady throttle, but the diesel is noisy under acceleration.

We never loaded the Navara up beyond a family of four – two adults and two kids – but we'll be scrutinising its payload (986kg for the model on test) and towing capacities (3500kg) in our 2015 4x4 dual-cab comparison later in the year.

The Navara feels ponderous in tighter low-speed corners but that's not uncommon in this segment. A 12.4m turning circle and 3.75 turns lock-to-lock spell a bit of wheel twirling around town and when parking, the latter helped by a reversing camera in the ST and ST-X.

A traditional disc (front) / drum (rear) brake setup delivers strong performance, while the new multi-link, coil-sprung rear suspension delivers an unexpectedly plush, compliant ride.

This feature marks the Navara apart from its rivals, which adopt the usual leaf-spring rear. Nissan says the arrangement aids ride comfort while largely preserving payload – a healthy 986kg for our test vehicle.

Together with the double wishbone and shock setup at the front, the Navara displays little of the harshness often found in utes and is particularly impressive on the dirt, where it soaks up corrugations nicely.

The Navara retained its composure across a variety of off-road terrain, while the low gearing (down to 44.6:1 in low-range first) handled steeper inclines with ease. Hill descent control, however, is only available in the ST-X (ditto hill start assist).

Changing from 2WD to 4WD and between high and low-range was seamless via the switch at the base of the centre stack, as was the pushbutton operation of the rear differential lock.

Nissan claims a very healthy 32.2-degree approach angle and 226mm of ground clearance for the ST. There's reasonable steel underbody protection and a dedicated front recovery point.

There are A and B-pillar grab-handles to aid cab entry and egress for all passengers. The driver misses out, but the H-point is such that we found ourselves sliding in behind the wheel without fuss.

The new Navara's cab is now far more refined; panel gaps are minimal and the hard plastics are broken up by restrained use of chrome and piano-black fascia. The felt-trimmed door interior and the leather-wrapped steering wheel, shifter and park brake lever add to the overall lift.

In ST trim the driver's seat has six-way adjustment and while the wheel is only adjustable for tilt, not reach, we found it easy to find a comfy setting. The seating offers reasonable support but the dark cloth upholstery, while pleasant to touch, is a magnet for fluff – pet owners take note!

Vision is good, helped by the large, distortion-free side mirrors, and the new instrumentation is thoroughly modern and classy. The menu system is fairly intuitive; the hands-free telephony setup less so, while actually pairing a phone is pain free.

Niceties include front puddle lights, auto headlights, chrome mirror surrounds and door handles, a trip computer and a digital compass heading in the rear-view mirror, but we noted the lack of an ambient temperature display and the floor carpet isn't especially robust – the optional factory mats are a must.

There are three 12-volt outlets in the front of the cab, including one in the dash-top tray.

Cab storage, however, isn't great. The glovebox is tiny and the centre console bin is smaller than most. The rear seat base lifts up for more room when rear passengers aren't in the equation.

Speaking of which, the rear accommodation is perfectly comfy for younger kids and teens, but cramped for adults. At 188cm tall I found both head and legroom to be quite limited.

The back row gets its own venting but we're not a fan of centre twin bottle holder – it gets in the way of kids' feet and doesn't seem up to the abuse that youngsters can dish out.

Fitting child seats is relatively easy but it was disappointing to note the lack of an ISOFIX child seat mounting system.

That aside, the Navara ST boasts a long list of creature comforts. We've also sampled the ST-X and while we appreciated the sunroof, dual-zone climate control, 18-inch alloys, keyless starting, 7.0-inch multimedia display (with sat-nav) and leather-accented (and heated) seating, the ST can still hold its head high.

The six-speaker stereo system delivers decent sound quality and the multimedia system can be paired with a variety of apps once NissanConnect has been downloaded to your smartphone.

We like the central electric rear window and the trip meter offers up a raft of pertinent information.

Out back, the painted-steel tub has four tie-down anchor points and, pleasingly, a 12-volt outlet. We especially liked the wide, plastic lined lip on the locking tailgate – handy for impromptu seating or resting a cuppa.

Nissan's new Navara hasn't yet been assessed under the ANCAP program but rest assured it will be chasing a full five-star rating. In any case, with seven airbags and all the basics covered, it's a solid safety proposition, if lacking the more advanced features of Ford's recently unveiled Ranger.

The Navara managed an average fuel economy of 9.8L/100km during this review, over a wide variety of conditions but largely unladen. That's 0.8L above the figure stated by the trip computer but it's still pretty healthy for this class, also giving a safe working range of around 750 kilometres.

Priced at $48,490 (plus ORCs), Nissan's new Navara ST offers all the ability of the flagship ST-X for $6000 less. Sure, it misses out on some of the luxuries, but it still has all the essentials and in general the NP300 Navara represents a solid progression for the breed.

Life in a Navara ST is anything but Spartan. Add in incremental improvements in virtually every respect, and the model is well equipped to face the new wave of competition.

Also consider:
>> Ford Ranger XLS (from $50,090 plus ORCs)
>> Mitsubishi Triton GLS (from $40,990 plus ORCs)
>> Toyota HiLux SR (from $33,990 plus ORCs)