Is the Nissan Navara worth it?

The Nissan Navara is one of the Japanese brand’s more popular offerings in the Philippines. Making its debut into the automotive market back in 2014 the Japanese pickup has quickly solidified itself as a popular pickup choice thanks to its attractive price point and powerful diesel engine. It won the hearts of many Filipino pickup buyers thanks to the features that it brings and will its comfortable coil spring suspension, which gives it an edge over its predominantly leaf spring-based competition. Earlier this year, Nissan Philippines released the refreshed version of its midsize pickup, with it having more standard features along with a new range-topping PRO-4X trim. Given the extensive range of upgrades it has, many would probably ask if the new Nissan Navara is worth it? That said, let's list some of its strong qualities and see if midsize pickup still stands strong after a refresh.

Being a diesel pickup that it is and sporting one of the more powerful engines in the segment it already ticks two boxes that Filipino pickup truck buyers look for – a diesel motor that produces a substantial amount of torque and power. But what about its looks does it still stand the test of time?

While styling is subjective, the Nissan Navara still has the exterior kit to keep up with the rest of the newer vehicles on the market. The Japanese pickup greets you with a large flat face that is accentuated by a revised, large V-motion grille, which is flanked on either side by large angular headlights. While the lighting elements may vary, the majority of its variants now get quad-LEDs headlamps while the entry-level EL gets halogen headlamps. Moving to the Navara’s sides and nothing much stands out aside from a few creases and the large color-matched fender flares. All of these accents help give the vehicle an athletic look.

As for its new range-topper, the Navara PRO-4X standout among the rest of the range given its more rugged profile. It is treated with a generous amount of black details applied on its grille, side mirrors, door handles, and even on its wheels. It also gets some orange details that are closely matched with some of the interior finishes. 

Thanks to its design, however,  the Nissan Navara comes with great approach and departure angles as well as 220 mm of ground clearance. Overall, the new Navara's functional styling shall stand the test of time.

Like its predecessor, the new Nissan Navara greets you with a simple yet rugged cabin. It comes in a black theme with a beige headliner. Nothing too flashy can be found here aside from the use of piano black plastics near the gear selector. Everything in the cabin feels refined but durable at the same time. Everything you need is easily within reach along with its large 8-inch infotainment system that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the higher-level trims. A 360-degree camera is also present in the vehicle in its higher variants. While its resolution could still be better, it still gets the job done well and aids you in parking the vehicle. It is also worth noting that select variants now get a dual-zone automatic climate control along with slight cabin revisions from the steering wheel and its gauge cluster. Rear passengers even get a center armrest with cup holders now, therefore ditching the pop-out units below the center seat.

Likewise, opting for the PRO-4X variant will give you a sportier interior complemented with some nifty additions. The following include its special leather seats, the richness of black accents, and the inclusion of the special Nissanlogo on the steering wheel, which by the way is finished in black and orange.

Granted that this is only a refresh, under the hood is the tried and tested 2.5-liter turbo diesel engine that has two different outputs. The entry-level variants of the pickup make 160 hp and 403 Nm of torque while the higher trim levels produce 187 hp and 450 Nm of torque. Both of these engines can be had with either a 7-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission. This puts the vehicle on par with many of its rivals. Whichever variant you choose from the Nissan Navara will offer you capable and reliable performance.

Aside from its redone exterior and interior, select variants of the updated Nissan Navara come with a new set of Intelligent Mobility features that heighten its overall safety. The following include Intelligent Emergency Braking (IEB), Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and High Beam Assist (HBA). Likewise, the Navara retained the Around-View Monitor (AVM), Hill Start Assist (HSA), and Hill Descent Control (HDC), as well other basic equipment including airbags (driver, front passenger, side, side curtain), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).

All in all, the Nissan Navara presents itself as a great value-for-money pickup truck. Despite it being one of the more seasoned veterans in the segment, with Nissan giving it new features and strong safety updates, it has still retained its competitiveness in the market.

If you’re in the market for a comfortable yet powerful pickup truck then the Nissan Navara is indeed worthy of your consideration. It brings with it simple yet tough styling that fits well on and off the road. Its coil spring suspension also makes it one of the more comfortable pickup truck options available on the market without sacrificing payload capacity. It also brings with it an attractive price point making it one of the best value for money options for those looking to get a pickup truck.

Are you now decided to get a brand new Nissan Navara? If so, then, don’t hesitate to click on the ‘Get Quote’ button—it’s absolutely free. You could even request to test drive the cars so you would know what you’ll like about them, first hand.