The Navara is back: Nissan’s glorious reimagining of the pickup

BANGKOK, Thailand—Looks like the 4x4 market is picking up. Nissan unveiled its new entry into the pickup market with the new NP300 Navara. Nissan brought along the Philippine media to an exposure trip in its new manufacturing plant located in Prakan, Thailand. In addition to a detailed tour of the facilities, we were treated to a first look at the all-new pickup both at the plant and at the 2014 Thailand International Motor Expo at the IMPACT Challenger Halls.

So what’s up with the new manufacturing plant and why should you care? Because Nissan is roaring back into the market with its impressive new line-up. It’s invested over 100 million dollars for the production of the new Navara. Besides the new model, this new plant will increase Nissan’s reach in the ASEAN region. And they’re not just manufacturing these pickups. Along with the new plant, a customized test track is designed to test new prototypes, complete with 14 special road conditions and surfaces, a 120 km/h high-speed stretch, and a 100-meter-diameter multi-purpose pad. This track will simulate real-world driving conditions, like a bumpy road, a harsh road, and an uneven road. Internally, the company is increasing the contribution from ASEAN regions and reducing that of Japan’s over the coming years. These efforts are all to localize the Nissan experience for all its various markets in the ASEAN region. According to Nissan, “the deeper we know the market, the better product we build.”

But enough of that. We’ve had a taste of the new Nissan Navara and we can’t wait to share what we saw. The new NP300 Navara is a fluid mix of Nissan’s tough heritage and its smart, innovative technology. It comes with the tried-and-tested suspension and loading capacity that its buyers have loved over the years. We were treated to 12 new highlights that Nissan built into its tough pickups that were the first in its class and in the market.

It’s been over a decade since we last saw a new Navara. It’s gotten quite a transformation since then. It’s curvier and sexier. Forget the spartan body of the old Nissan Frontiers. The new Nissan Navara feels more like a sleek SUV than a hard pick-up truck. And besides the usual silver, dark gray, and brown designs, the Navara is available in an earthy amber. It’s a sleek new color that looks amazing both on and off road.

Its interior is also another story. It looks and feels like a passenger car. Its dash panel is a pleasant TFT 3D. The panel we saw came with Thai options. We wouldn’t hold our hopes for a Philippine variant, but it’s nice to see Nissan’s localization efforts coming to fruition. Starting the engine feels new for a pickup, too. You’ve got an Intelligent Key with a Push to Start/Stop button. For our perpetually ambiguous weather, the Navara comes with dual zone automatic air conditioning. And for the double cabs, there’s a rear air vent for rear passengers. For navigation, it comes with a NAVI system. It’s got an 8-way power seat for maximum adjustability. Its steering wheel is multi-functional. If those weren’t enough, it has Bluetooth and USB connectivity options, too. It’s all about enjoying the comforts of an SUV interior in the durable body of a pickup truck. How’s that for getting the best of both worlds?

So how does it drive? It’s armed with an inline 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve engine. While you may notice that it’s similar to the Nissan Frontier of old, this improved version is a 2.5-liter YD engine that powers out 163hp at 3,600 rpm and a 403Nm of torque at 2,000 rpm. It’s got a class-leading 7-speed automatic transmission, complete with a manual mode. It works well with urban driving, while keeping the hardy nature of a 4x4 ute.

The Navara’s exterior features also went through quite a facelift. It has new features that are the first of its kind for a Nissan pickup. The bed, size, and ground clearance are similar to previous models, but with an astounding 70kg reduction in weight. The rear has spoilers optimized for high-speed driving while maintaining fuel economy. It’s always been a chore to park pickups, relative to the ease of a sedan. The Navara eases that discomfort with a rear camera.

Of course, these were all tested on the Thai market. We think it’s safe to say that the Thai market is similar to the Philippine market on most accounts: they have heavy urban traffic, they do a lot more urban driving, it rains a lot, etc. But to be sure, we came up with questions as to how they plan to localize the new Navara for the Philippine market.

First of all, a Philippine exclusive for the Navara is a multi-link rear suspension, perfect for our imperfect roads. We asked the depth at which the Navara can drive in, given our often-waterlogged streets. Nissan claims that at a depth of 800mm, the body may have water intrusion and waterlogging, but its engine will not stop. The Navara is guaranteed to survive without any damages at a depth of 450mm. On average, that goes up to the waist. It may survive deeper depths, but we wouldn’t advise trying it out for Yolanda-level flooding. Given the region’s more industrial nature, Mindanao will receive their own localized version of the Navara in the future. As for our version, Nissan will offer the Navara in seven different trims with 4x4/4x2 and King Cab/Double Cab options. It is expected to be available to the Philippine market late first quarter of 2015.