The all-new Navara: Rugged and revamped

Yochanaan Coetzee







The all-new Nissan Navara has arrived at Pupkewitz Nissan, and not only is it drop-dead gorgeous, but it also now sports a specialised build for Namibian conditions, which is even more rugged than the South African version.

“Nissan is currently the only brand that has built a bakkie specifically for Namibian conditions without compromising on safety and comfort,” Pupkewitz Nissan dealer principal, Janse Janse van Rensburg, said.

“Due to the hardworking nature of us Namibians, and our love for the outdoors, Nissan felt it apt to tailor an even tougher Navara to match our conditions,” he added.

The Navara is known for its rugged yet refined looks, robust capabilities, reliability and versatility. This has made it one of the most respected and anticipated models within the Nissan line-up and around the world.

These qualities have been enhanced across the board, with a meaner yet sleeker design that is hard-wearing and boasts luxurious features as well as enhanced infotainment and safety systems.

Beauty beyond the keyholder

Since the first Navara bakkies were launched in 1985, they broke new ground in terms of styling and presence. With its bold, big, almost American truck-type styling, it stood out on the roads for all the best reasons.

This latest iteration steps boldly into the future with a mix of flash, function and an unassuming ferociousness, especially the Navara 2.5D Pro-4X 4X4 AT DC, that turned heads and visibly broke the hearts of some high-end bakkie drivers we encountered on our test drive recently.

The all-new Navara includes V-Motion identity, an over-fender for Pro-4X grades, redesigned wheels and increased bed height, and new LED headlamps and foglamps, all built to allow for increased driveability, ease of use and aesthetic appeal.

The newly introduced Pro-4X grade comes with its own distinctive, athletic look with a black Nissan emblem, an aggressively detailed front bumper and black grille, door handles, roof racks and running boards accented by 17-inch black wheels and all terrain tires.

The Pro-4X takes the design up another notch with lively, orange-red accents, a tint inspired by the colour of magma, contrasted with the dark grill, wheels and mirror caps.

The line also uses a signature orange-red colour for the Nissan wordmark on the black emblem, as well as other accents in- and outside the car.

Sporty respite

Inside, the new top-of-the-range Pro-4X grade has a sporty interior with red-stitched black leather seats and a red Nissan logo on the steering wheel.

The new Navara features noticeably heightened quietness, thanks to increased amounts of sound deadening insulation and the laminated windshield and front windows, further reducing the stress for both driver and passenger.

Additionally, a new multi-function steering wheel and large eight-inch navigation/infotainment screen, as well as a seven-inch higher resolution TFT screen nestled between the instruments make the interior more intuitive and driver-focused.

The seats are amazing and offer sporty, accented support whether you’re cruising around town or going cross-continent, with upgrades to the seat cushions, back shapes and lumbar support.

For added convenience, passengers in the back can also now utilise the new rear armrest with built-in cup holders to store beverages or smartphones, while beating the heat with auto dual zone aircon with rear passenger vents.

The intelligent around view monitor 360-degree camera is also a first for the local bakkie line-up. This makes for stress-free manoeuvring in town - especially with how light the steering is - and is so intelligent that it automatically switches on and zooms in when you engage 4L (which you can do up to 100km/h on the fly), helping you “wax hom”, crawl and climb so much more safely.

Shift the way you move

The Navara now comes with a suspension tuning to enhance its on- and off-road dynamic driving performance, especially in the unique Namibia spec which receives rear leaf springs to make it more rugged and greatly improves its load capacity, and makes it the perfect partner for adventurous journeys, labour-intensive jobs and taking on any terrain, thanks to the specially reinforced chassis.

Juxtaposing the bakkie’s tough character is a significant upgrade in equipment supported by a suite of advanced Nissan intelligent mobility technologies. These upgrades prioritise convenience and safety for customers’ peace of mind, without compromising the vehicle’s excellent driving performance, substantial towing capability, durability and overall reliability.

Powerful and value-packed

The range is powered by a tried and tested 2.5-litre turbo-charged diesel engine, which allows the brand to meet customers’ requirements for low running costs, reliability and performance.

The power-train is available in two levels of output. The high output engine, available on higher grade models, delivers 140 kW power and 450 Nm torque, while the mid-output engine delivers 120 kW power and 403 Nm, making it the most powerful engine in the entry and mid-grades bakkie segment.

In addition, the Navara engine line-up includes a 2.5-litre petrol engine delivering 118 kW and 233 Nm available on the entry grade XE single cab, which will arrive in Namibia at the end of the month.

As a show of faith in their engineering, Nissan has also upped its after-sales offering with a best-in-segment service plan of six years/90 000 km and a warranty period of six years/150 000 km.

For more information or to book a test drive, visit pupkewitznissan.com or contact the Windhoek dealership at 061 291 6800.