Nissan Frontier Navara 4x4: No compromises!

MANILA, Philippines - Pickup trucks are not expected to be fast, and neither are they expected to be comfortable. For many years convention dictated that the pickup truck was made to be just a workhorse and nothing more. It started every time you turned the key, its bed took everything you could think of loading, and you could take it over punishing terrain that would defeat a car. Just don’t expect a pickup truck to drive like a car, much less ride like one.

But convention is meant to be shattered, and with the Navara pickup truck the engineers at Nissan decided that “good enough” was, well, not “good enough”.

For starters, they gave the Navara the heart of an athlete: a 2.5-liter turbocharged and intercooled, Common Rail Direct Injection Diesel rated at an overachieving 174 PS at 4,000 RPM and 40.3 kg-m of torque at 4,000 RPM. The most powerful engine in its class, it’s also extremely efficient as it pumps out this output from just 2.5-liters, giving it the highest specific output per liter as well as yielding impressive fuel economy.

The engine is just one vital component of the drivetrain. To harness this power, Nissan makes available two excellent transmission choices: a 6-speed manual, or a five-speed automatic. The 6-speed M/T is an excellent choice for drivers who frequently go out of town. Coupled with a light clutch, it offers more control over the short gear ratios as well as providing high fuel economy with the overdrive 6th gear.

The five-speed A/T, on the other hand, appeals to the driver who must typically balance urban commuting with longer weekend travels. Responsive and smooth shifting, the 5-speed also combines close gear ratios for quick acceleration as well as an overdrive 5th gear for highway cruising.

Whether you choose the manual or the automatic, the Navara is a virtual muscle car on an open road. Acceleration is quick and effortless, and highway cruising is extremely relaxed as the overdrive gears maintain a comfortable yet fuel-efficient speed.

Four-Wheel Drive is handled by a sophisticated electronic shift-on-the-fly system that’s so simple to operate all one needs to do is turn a knob on the dashboard to select which mode to use: 2-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive High Range, or 4-Wheel Drive Low Range. To further maximize traction, the Navara is also equipped with a Limited Slip Differential.

However, all that power needs a rock solid chassis, or else you’ll end up with the typical pickup truck that feels like it’s shaking itself to bits. So, the Nissan Navara is the only pickup truck with an eight-crossmember ladder frame chassis, two more than the usual. Like the buttresses of a bridge, this overbuilt design yields an extremely stiff platform, translating in a remarkably smooth ride that’s free of the normal vibrations and shudders of a conventional pickup truck. The stiffness of the chassis also enabled the engineers to tune the Navara’s suspension for a softer ride without compromising payload capacity. The result? A smooth, solid ride almost like a car’s, yet with the payload capacity of a workhorse truck!

Inside, the Navara takes pains to create as carlike an ambience as possible with a handsome cabin that’s also functional. Cupholders and storage bins are aplenty, and all primary controls and modern creature comfort comforts are laid out within easy reach. The five-passenger cabin has generous leg- and headroom for both front and rear passengers, and not at the expense of eating up valuable bed space either.

Just one look at the size of the Navara’s bed indicates that space was still a high priority. With the biggest bed in its class, it can handle all kinds of cargo. Going diving? Tanks, dive bags, and other scuba gear fit with space to spare. How about hitting the trails? Three bicycles easily fit in the back with room for other gear, and without having to put down the tailgate. Or how about using it to haul the really heavy stuff? No other truck can carry as many cargo boxes, sandbags, or construction materials like the Navara does. Because with pickup trucks, bed size is like horsepower: there’s no such thing as too much of either. Whether you’re a weekend warrior, gentleman farmer, or hyperbusy entrepreneur who needs the most truck for the buck, the Navara gets the job done.

It’s powerful, but also fuel efficient. It’s solid, but surprisingly comfortable, and exceedingly versatile. It does all the things you’d expect of an SUV, but adds the toughness and utility of a workhorse truck.

It’s the Nissan Frontier Navara. Uncompromised.