Navara has that X-factor
New turbocharged diesel 4x2 double cab stands tall among 4x4s and will get you revved up
THERE’S been a lot said about Nissan’s Navara on a number of platforms, most notably among those that prefer their drive trains with low range and diff locks. Thankfully I’ve tested that, so I won’t have to tell you how good or bad it is here.
Like almost all bakkie manufacturers there’s an option for a normal 4x2 derivative and Nissan is no different in bringing in the rear-wheel drive only double cab earlier this year.
Sales of double cabs in South Africa outstrip all other vehicles by a large margin, proof that, if nothing else, we’re a nation of people who more often than not choose our cars based on lifestyle and practicality.
If there’s any doubt, take a trip along the M1 on a Friday afternoon and have a look around as you crawl forward in the traffic. They’re all over in various shapes, sizes and condition, ready to take out the garden rubble, tow a caravan or boat, do the school run or take the significant other out on a bespoke outing after having carted around plants and soil all day.
Talking of bespoke outings, the Navara in black that we tested would not have looked out of place at even the most snobbish soiree.
Apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed driving the six-speed manual double cab.
A lot of that was due to the suspension which, like its 4x4 sibling, makes use of a coil-rear suspension, the same one that’s fitted to Mercedes’ X-class.
Is it better than the raft of other double cabs out there? I’d say marginally, particularly when unloaded, which most double cabs will be for the majority of their lifespan.
I stay in the sticks on a fairly wellmaintained dirt road and even when giving it a bit of throttle (something you wouldn’t do in a “normal” car) it remained steady and soaked up the bumps and ruts with ease. Insulation is also top-notch, with very little road and almost no engine noise.
The best bit about the Navara is its twin-turbo 2.3-litre diesel engine that seems perfectly suited to it, pushing out 140kw and 450Nm of torque. Not once did it feel wheezy while I shifted through the gears at speed or crawled along in the traffic. To top it, over almost 500km in mixed driving that included some sand consumption, figures on the readout showed 7.4 litres per 100km. That’s good in anyone’s book, not just for a big double cab.
And herein, I think, lies much of the reason why double cabs are so popular. Not everyone needs a 4x4 and I reckon many of the 4x4s on our roads have never seen their transfer cases’ gears turn, never mind changing down to low range. Sure, it’s handy to have, but with 229mm of ground clearance, decent suspension, careful driving and a light right foot, you get a multipurpose vehicle that can take you through some dodgy terrain and, in the case of the Navara, you can tow up to 3.5 tons (braked) and have a payload of 1 030kg.
It’s a little smaller than some of the rivals which makes parking in minimum-spec mall spaces easy enough for most drivers once you are used to the riding height.
Technologically, it doesn’t have to stand back either, with Bluetooth, navigation, video in its different formats, USB, keyless entry, dualzone air conditioning, stability control, auto lights and wipers, and an around-view monitor with strategically placed cameras that make getting in and out of tight spots as easy as it is with a little hatchback, as well as seven airbags.
Okay, the touch screen doesn’t feature Apple Carplay or Android Auto and it’s a bit difficult to get to the icons if you’re large-fingered and the steering doesn’t have reach capability but, to be fair, the rest of what it has to offer far outweighs any of that.
Oh yes, the leather heated front seats are incredibly comfortable with spinal support and I doubt a long trip will leave you fatigued.
So do you really need a double cab that’s a 4x4? Probably not, if you’re honest. And with a sixyear/150 000km warranty and a three-year/90 000km service plan, I’m surprised that there aren’t more Navaras on the road.