Nissan Navara. A "dirty" macho will appeal to the active.

Nissan Navara. A "dirty" macho will appeal to active people

In Europe, and even in Russia, a pickup truck is perceived as something unusual. For most of our compatriots, such cars are something like flashy trucks for eccentric rich people who indulge in extreme sports and test their vertebrae for strength. But times are changing, and now dealers increasingly call the pickup segment one of the most promising in the country.

The Navara has nothing in common with the pickups that were previously officially sold here. It is not a rural workhorse, but a quite modern and even elegant SUV, only with an open platform at the rear. The Double Cab cabin claims American scale, although in terms of dimensions the Japanese car yields to its overseas relative, the Titan.

The rear part is better to reinforce

From the front, the Navara is the spitting image of the Pathfinder, with which it shares a ladder frame. The same large headlights, a signature grille with an emblem in the center, a massive bumper flowing into powerful wheel arches. But the chassis is different: the Pathfinder has a fully independent suspension and smart All Mode 4x4 all-wheel drive, while the Navara has a dependent rear axle on leaf springs and a rigidly connected front end (in front — independent suspension on transverse arms). The Navara can tow up to three tons, plus another ton can be loaded into the bed. A real worker. And when you sit inside and close the door, the feeling only intensifies — electric drives all around, leather on the steering wheel, seats, and automatic transmission lever, soft plastic on the front panel, a CD stereo with dual-zone climate control in the center.

The interior is strict, but it feels like a claim to solidity. Rear passengers, of course, are not as comfortable as in an SUV — the backrest is vertical and not adjustable. But Nissan engineers made sure there is enough space in the shoulders, knees, and above the head. So three people in the back can ride without unnecessary hugging.

The cargo platform is almost 2.5 square meters, and the loading height is not limited in any way (unless you order the optional hardtop, which, by the way, looks stylish). Tents, boats, and other camping gear will fit without any questions. If necessary, an ATV or snowmobile can easily fit here. But there is one nuance: the tailgate, in my opinion, is held on by too flimsy latches that are unlikely to withstand a load of 100–150 kg. If you plan to carry heavy equipment, this is worth considering right away. Otherwise, trips into nature are not a problem for this pickup.

Dirt road is not an obstacle

You turn the key — and hear the "tractor-like" roar of the diesel. Words are unnecessary here, only emotions: it's somehow strange to enjoy diesel decibels in such a flashy car.

The choice of gearboxes is already decent: a base 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic. The test had the latter, and usually this puts an end to serious off-roading, but not in the case of the Navara. The gearbox is clearly tuned for off-road conditions, so 403 Nm of torque easily pulls the pickup out of the most unpleasant situations.

Plus, there is the proprietary all-wheel drive system, which has already proven itself well. In the city, it's a regular rear-wheel drive pickup, but if necessary, you can quickly engage the front axle with a lever on the center console, distributing torque between the axles 50:50. There is also a low range, and a button on the panel for locking the rear differential. So serious off-road raids are not scary for the Navara.

Filling with heaviness

On the highway, the Nissan also behaves decently. The combination of engine and automatic transmission allows the unladen pickup to reach the second hundred in 11.5 seconds after the start, and the acceleration is smooth, without jerks or dips. The car confidently holds the road even in ruts, and the steering wheel fills with pleasant heaviness as speed increases, reactions become more precise, and it's easier to control the vehicle. In corners, the pickup goes like on rails, but it's still better to slow down — despite moderate body roll, rear passengers keep sliding to the "falling" side. The ride smoothness is a pleasant surprise, because at the rear there is a solid axle on semi-elliptical leaf springs. You remember that you're driving a pickup only on washboard roads or poor gravel, where the empty bed starts to "buck" slightly. However, a little load — and the problem goes away.

Now about prices. Nissan kept them secret for a long time, but now everything is revealed: in showrooms, the Navara starts at 36,790 dollars. For comparison, the most popular classmate — the Mitsubishi L200 — starts at about 25,000 "evergreens" (we don't count the Chinese Great Wall Deer). Expensive? No! After all, the Navara is positioned as a SUT — Sport Utility Truck, and the L200 is more of a "workhorse" than a car for active recreation. Plus, even in the base version, there is a full electric package, climate control, and a decent audio system with a six-disc CD changer. Add to this the instrument panel from the Pathfinder, made of quality materials, an excellent diesel with a decent automatic, and confident behavior both on the highway and on dirt roads — and the price difference no longer seems so huge. And this macho, ready to do any dirty work, is worth that money...


Technical specifications:

Model	Nissan Navara Double Cab 2.5 TDI
Number of doors/seats	4/2+2
Curb weight, kg	2038
Gross weight, kg	2805
Maximum speed, km/h	170
Acceleration time from standstill to 100 km/h, s	11.4
Minimum turning radius, m	6.7
Trunk volume min/max, l	1511 x 1560 mm
Ground clearance, mm	240
Displacement, cc	2488
Power, hp/rpm	174/4000
Maximum torque, Nm/rpm	403/2000
Fuel consumption urban cycle, l/100 km	10.7
Fuel consumption extra-urban cycle, l/100 km	7.3
Fuel consumption combined cycle, l/100 km	8.5
Fuel tank capacity, l	80
Price (rub)	from 977,000

Source – AUTOMANIA.RU