Nissan Navara review (2021)

• Powerful engines and good steering
• Capable off-road, especially in AT32 guise
• Some concerns about rear suspension when loaded or towing

From its sharp steering to its powerful engines, the Nissan Navara is one of the better pickups to drive - but still falls some way short of being as comfortable and easy going as a car.

What are the Nissan Navara's engines like?

From launch until the update on sale 1 July 2019, the Navara has used two slightly different 2.3-litre engines to produce its choice of 163hp and 190hp power outputs.

Simply put, the 163hp engine has only a single turbo and produces 403Nm of torque, while the 190hp engine has two turbos and produces 450Nm of torque. Torque is the stuff that gets heavy loads moving, so it's always desirable to have as much of this as possible in a pickup.

Initially these engines were Euro 5 emissions compliant, but they were updated to initial Euro 6 requirements in September 2016; we mention this just so that used buyers in need of a Euro 6 Navara don't get caught out by accidentally buying a very early example.

After the 2019 update, however, the 163hp engine is also a twin-turbo motor. As a result it gets a boost to 425Nm. Both 2019 engines meet the latest Euro 6D Temp (also known as Euro 6.2) emissions regulations.

Regardless of power output, these are muscular motors - even the original 163hp engine would happily haul 400kg up a slippery 25% gradient climb.

But these engines also feel quite rough and ready. Accelerate hard and you'll be treated to a bold roaring noise that puts more in mind of agricultural machinery than most passegner vehicles. They are quiet enough at speed, though, and performance on the motorway is certainly strong, just as you'd expect of a vehicle rated to tow 3.5 tonnes.

An X-Class that uses the same engines is quieter by comparison, thanks to Mercedes fitting additional sound isolation. But the Navara is faster, thanks to its lighter weight.

What about the gearboxes?

The standard six-speed manual gearbox fitted until the 2019 update is notchy and has a very lengthy action - so no surprise that many owners prefer the seven-speed automatic, which is available as an option on all but the entry-level Visia and Acenta trim levels.

While this is certainly smoother - not to mention considerably less combatative to use - it can still be slightly hesitant, and doesn't quite match the best auto transmissions available in some rivals, notably the eight-speed auto in the Amarok and the new 10-speed auto in the latest Ranger models.

We'd still go for the Navara auto over the original manual version, though. It's lighter (increasing payload) and will prevent clumsy drivers from causing premature clutch wear.

However, after the 2019 update the manual gearbox has been substantially improved, feeling more precise and benefitting from a shorter action. It's still not as slick and easy to use as the best manual rivals - again the Ranger scores highly here - but as something suitable for a tough commercial vehicle it's certainly acceptable.

What is the Nissan Navara like to drive?

All Double Cab Navaras and 2019-update onwards King Cab models are fitted with multi-link rear suspension - which features coil springs like a regular car. This helps with steering precision and road holding, reducing roll in the corners and making the Nissan less susceptible to being upset by sudden bumps.

Most pickups still use a traditional leaf springs at the back (and by traditional we mean dating back to the horse and cart), which are typically strong but jittery, and less capable of dealing with variable road surfaces, especially at higher speeds.

As a result, the Navara is a comparatively confidence-inspiring truck when you want to drive quickly. But - particularly after the 2019 update, which has seen Nissan strengthen the rear springs and raise the rear a little to help it cope better with higher payloads - the ride at low speeds around town can be quite uncomfortably firm for passengers.

And even on brand new motorway tarmac there's a constant high frequency vibration. Not enough to be unbearble - and certainly less than you get in many rivals - but still distinctly noticable.

So if you're looking for a pickup with a comfortable ride there are better alternatives. Following its own revision in 2019, the Ford Ranger is now very good in this regard, as is the Volkswagen Amarok.

In older Navara King Cabs that use leaf springs at the back, bumps and potholes are a lot more noticeable, and the truck is bouncier when unladen. They still don't roll around in the corners too much, though, and the steering remains light and accurate.

One other area where the 2019 update has definitely brought major gains is the brakes. With bigger front brakes and discs on the rear instead of old-school drums, the Navara now hauls itself to a stop with much greater conviction. Good news when you're dealing with such a large, heavy vehicle.

Can the Navara cope with hard work?

Plenty of Navaras are still bought as working trucks, where the latest creature comforts remain appreciated of course.

But there have been concerns raised about the ability of the rear coil springs to cope with heavy loading and towing. Certainly, they seem to struggle more than traditional leaf springs in this area, with some drivers complaining about the way the Navara seems to sink right down at the back, making the steering feel light and the ride uncomfortable.

In an effort to compensate for this, Nissan has fitted new dual-rate springs as part of the 2019 update, allowing the truck to become much stiffer at the back when loaded up and less prone to sagging. Even so, leaf springs remain the tried and tested method of regularly handling the highest payloads.

Electronically-controlled four-wheel drive system

Four-wheel drive is standard-fit on all but the entry-level Visia King Cab model.

This electronically controlled system has three settings labelled 2Hi, 4Hi, and 4Lo. The 2Hi system is for normal road conditions, 4Hi is for wet road, gravel tracks and other moderately slippery surfaces, while 4Lo is for more extreme and muddy conditions.

A mechanical centre differential lock is also available should your needs require one. An electronic limited slip differential is standard at the rear.

We’ve tested the Navara in locations as exotic as the Sahara Desert (see below), and can confirm it copes very well with off-road challenges.

Anyone looking for particuarly good off-road performance should seriously consider the AT32 version, which increases ground clearance and wading capability, but isn't as bulked up as rivals' AT35 models, which can feel too large for some British roads. The Navara Off-Roader AT32 has received its own set of updates for 2020, too.

• Car-like interior design with plenty of room
• Comfortable seats but no steering wheel reach adjustment
• High-tech solution to visibility limitations

The Nissan Navara has one of the more car-like cabs in the current pickup truck sector, with design themes familiar from the firm’s passenger SUV range.

It’s still not the most inspiring interior to look at, but it has sensibly laid-out buttons and a relatively user-friendly infotainment system - although even the updated 2019 version feels a bit clunky compared with the best alternatives.

Build quality could be better, and practicality isn't as good as hard-working rivals like the D-Max when it comes to in-cab storage.

Spacious inside

There’s plenty of passenger space front and rear in the Double Cab models, though rear space is compressed in the King Cab, as you’d expect given the additional load area behind.

Nissan claims the seats were designed by NASA, and the lower-end fabric versions are particularly comfortable. But it is a big shame Nissan hasn't included reach-adjustment for the steering wheel, which means you may not be able to find your ideal driving position.

Access to the back of the King Cab is via a pair of stubby, backwards-opening doors and there's a set of fold-down seats that are very much for occasional use only.

The Double Cab has four full doors and proper rear seats complete with Isofix mountings for child seats.

Visibility issues?

We have seen some complaints about forward visibility – and indeed the seats are mounted quite low while the dashboard and bonnet are quite high.

The available 360-degree camera system is amazingly helpful for this, and still an unusually high-tech feature for a pickup that few rivals are able to match.

• Excellent fuel economy for a pickup
• Long service intervals and five-year warranty
• Plenty of standard kit right across the range

Nissan claims the Navara is the least expensive pickup to run, and with best-in-class fuel economy and lengthy service intervals, it's hard to argue that it's wrong.

Nissan Navara mpg

There have been changes to the way fuel economy is tested, which means that Navaras sold after the 2019 update seem to be less fuel efficient than those that came before. This is not the case. Instead, the quoted figures should be closer to what you get in the real world - though we are still waiting on true WLTP figures for the Navara, which should prove even more accurate still.

Anyway, with the disappearance of the two-wheel drive King Cab, all four-wheel drive Navaras with the manual gearbox have claimed fuel economy of 40.4mpg. The autos are rated at 38.2mpg.

Before the 2019 update, the most fuel-efficient Navara of all was the two-wheel drive King Cab, which only came in Visia specification and returned a claimed 46.3mpg.

All four-wheel drive models of the same era claim 44.9mpg with the manual gearbox, while automatics claim 41.0mpg.

Regardless of age, few rivals get anywhere near such official figures, and though fuel economy in the real world is more likely to start with a three than a four, the Navara should be as frugal as you can get from a pickup.

What are the service intervals for a Nissan Navara?

Officially, the Navara needs a service every 25,000 miles or two years, whichever comes sooner.

In theory, this means it goes twice as far between dealer visits as most rivals, which should make a significant difference to your running costs.

How the long is warranty on a Nissan Navara?

The Navara has a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty as standard - exactly matching the Toyota Hilux.

This is one of the better pickup warranties in the UK, though the Isuzu D-Max is covered for five years or 125,000 miles, and the SsangYong Musso seven years or 150,000 miles.

Nissan Navara trim levels and standard equipment

Initally there were five standard Nissan Navara trim levels: Visia, Acenta, Acenta+, N-Connecta and Tekna.

However, in 2018 Nissan added some even more premium options at the top of the range labelled the N-Guard and the Off-Roader AT32, both based on the Tekna grade but with added items of kit.

Visia and Acenta trims are offered as both the King Cab and Double Cab but with the 163hp engine only, and are aimed more at working operators and fleets. The posher rest are only available as 190hp Double Cab models.

Here’s what you get as standard:

Nissan Navara Visia standard equipment highlights:

• Multifunction steering wheel
• Bluetooth, USB and aux-in connectivity
• Cruise control and speed limiter
• Three 12v sockets
• Electrically adjustable door mirrors
• Automatic headlight
• Hill descent control (4WD only) and hill start assist
• Rear electronic limited slip differential (eLSD)

Nissan Navara Acenta standard equipment highlights (in addition to Visia):

• Keyless entry and ignition
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• C-Channel load lashing rails
• Chrome step rear bumper
• Body-coloured front bumper

Nissan Navara Acenta+ standard equipment highlights (in addition to Acenta):

• 18-inch alloys wheels
• Dual-zone climate control
• Heated and electrically folding door mirrors
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Reversing camera
• Side steps

Nissan Navara N-Connecta standard equipment highlights (in addition to Acenta+):

• NissanConnect infotainment system with 7.0-inch touchscreen
• Satellite-navigation
• DAB radio
• Smartphone App integration

Nissan Navara Tekna standard equipment highlights (in addition to N-Connecta):

• Intelligent Around View Monitor 360-degree camera system (makes manoeuvring easier by providing a bird’s-eye view of surrounding objects - very clever)
• Leather upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Rear parking sensors
• LED headlights
• Roof rails

Nissan Navara N-Guard standard equipment highlights (in addition to Tekna):

• Black 18-inch alloys
• Black front grille
• Black roof rails
• Black rear bumper
• Black side steps
• Black LED headlight inlays
• Black foglight surrounds
• Black door mirrors
• Black door handles
• Choice of Storm White, Metallic Black or Twilight Grey paint
• N-Guard side graphics
• Sunroof
• Headlamp washers
• Part leather seats with yellow stitching
• N-Guard floor mats

The N-Guard began life as a special edition, but will continue on into the 2019 updated model as the top of the regular range.

Nissan Navara Off-Roader AT32 standard equipment highlights (in addition to Tekna):

• 17-inch black alloy wheels with 32-inch off-road tyres
• Arctic Trucks suspension with 20mm increase in ground clearance
• Steel underbody protection
• Rear differential lock
• Arctic Trucks wheel arch extensions
• Arctic Trucks mud flaps
• AT32 exterior badging

This version of the Navara is, as the modifications suggest, designed to tackle more extreme off-road challenges. As such, optional extras for the AT32 include a snorkel air intake and a front differential lock.

In 2017, Nissan also launched a limited run of Trek-1° models. Based on the range-topping Navara Tekna, just 400 were offered to UK buyers in a choice of black or white paint. Unique features included black alloy wheels, LED spotlights mounted on a sport styling bar, and an unusual hard load cover.

• Engine specially developed for commercial vehicles
• Some issues with past models

The Navara uses a 2.3-litre engine developed specifically for commercial vehicles, and one that's been in service with the Nissan NV400 van since 2010.

So, in this respect you should expect the Navara to be well up to the challenge of a tough working environment. Issues aren't unheard of, but they aren't common either, so as long as you keep the pickup well maintained it should prove a reliable partner.

Some scepticism about the ability of the coil spring rear suspension to cope with heavy loads and towing does remain, however.

The 2019 model update sees Nissan move more of the range over to this set-up, though, so clearly it remains confident in the product - albeit with a change to dual-rate springs and a 25mm increase in height at the rear introduced at the same time.

Nissan Navara reliability historically

Previous-generation 'D40' Navara models suffered from a number of issues, including the engine block, which has been known to fail under strenuous conditions.

Most notorious of all, however, is the so-called 'snapped chassis' problem which afflicts those older Navaras. Hopefully Nissan has cured this for the 2016-onwards model.

• Seven airbags and an alarm as standard
• All Double Cab models come with AEB

While pickup truck safety has traditionally not quite been on a par with regular passenger cars, the Navara is one of an increasing number that is offered with at least some modern active safety aids.

Nissan Navara safety

The Nissan Navara has no less than seven airbags as standard (driver, passenger, side, knee and curtain), in addition to electronic stability control on all models.

What's more, all Double Cab models are fitted with autonomous emergency braking (what Nissan calls Forward Emergency Braking) as standard - something that you can't get at all on VW Amarok, for example.

Nissan Navara security

All versions of the Navara come with an alarm system and immobiliser, remote locking, locking wheelnuts and a lock for the spare wheel.