WEEKEND WARRIOR
Nissan’s new ute is civilised in town and capable on dirt
VALUE
Australians love the promise of adventure offered by high-end utes and are happy to pay handsomely for it.
Priced from $69,990 plus on-road costs (about $78,000 drive-away) in automatic trim, Nissan’s Navara Pro-4x Warrior is not a cheap car by any stretch. But it is significantly cheaper than Ford’s Ranger Raptor.
A follow-up act to the limited edition Navara N-trek Warrior, the new model is based on the updated “Pro-4x” model with a better interior and improved safety gear. Warrior fans considering an upgrade will be drawn to the new version’s winch-compatible front bar and upgraded payload. High-riding suspension, tough looks and all-terrain tyres make an imposing first impression. The cabin’s 8-inch touchscreen has a 360-degree camera and smartphone mirroring, but its low-resolution displays feel dated alongside segment leaders.
COMFORT
The need to balance ride comfort and roadholding with the ability to tow heavy loads and carry the best part of a tonne in the tray makes fine-tuning the suspension in dual-cab utes a nightmare.
Nissan Australia turned to Australian outfit Premcar to do the work, tapping into local engineering know-how from experienced folks who understand what customers want from their ute. The result is a machine that’s not only more capable off-road than the regular Navara, but more comfortable on the road.
That said, there is still room for improvement. The Navara’s seats aren’t particularly supportive, there is no reach adjustment (or shift paddles) on the steering wheel and all-terrain Cooper tyres are noisier than regular rubber.
SAFETY
Recent changes to the Navara included the addition of auto emergency braking, which was sorely absent from the range until 2020. It also has seven airbags, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts, but not active cruise control or centre airbags. Powerful LED headlights help make a case for the Navara after dark. Folks who aren’t going to take the car offroad should think carefully about whether the Warrior is what they need, as its Cooper allterrain tyres are quite slippery on wet tarmac – a regular ute or SUV would be more appropriate for urban use. But if you’re heading bush on a regular basis, few vehicles will cope better with rough terrain.
DRIVING
Our time with the Navara fell during a period of heavy rain that didn’t flatter the car on tar, and made serious off-roading somewhat of a muddy gamble.
Previous experience from the vehicle’s launch suggests the Warrior is quite capable on dirt, helped by enormous ground clearance and chunky tyres.
Around town, the new suspension offers impressive control at highway speed, though the ride can be a touch firm at lower pace. The Navara’s 2.3-litre, 140kw/450nm engine is adequate if not outstanding, helped by an impressive seven-speed automatic transmission.
ALTERNATIVES
NEW FORD RANGER WILDTRAK, ABOUT $75,000 DRIVE-AWAY
The new Ranger promises to be a winner. TOYOTA HILUX RUGGED X, ABOUT $76,000 DRIVE-AWAY
Genuine accessories increase the appeal of Australia’s favourite car.
JEEP GLADIATOR RUBICON, ABOUT $83,000 DRIVE-AWAY
A unique approach to go-anywhere motoring.
VERDICT
Tough looks and the promise of adventure make a strong case for the Warrior but we’d still lean towards the benchmark Ranger.