Earlier this week, Nissan slapped its badge on the Outlander PHEV to produce a new badass plug-in hybrid. It is now launching a completely different vehicle, one with dostosubshi roots as well. Meet the New Navara, a mid-size pickup that is closely related to the latest generation Triton introduced in 2023.
It is not unusual for trucks in this segment to share platforms. After all, the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok are cut from the same cloth, while the Mazda BT-50 is closely tied to the Isuzu D-Max. The previous Nara itself shared its bones with the Renault Alaskan and the ugly Mercedes X-Class. In China, the Dongfeng Rich 6 is essentially a novelty in disguise. This approach reduces development time and financial stress in a highly competitive segment.
Nissan just replaced the seeds and called it a day. The fourth-generation Novara was tested in Australia, where the local company’s Premcar worked on the suspension to ensure it could handle a wide range of tasks. The automotive engineering expert assessed everything from urban and off-road driving to maneuvering and driving the truck with a full payload.
But yes, the styling betrays the true nature of the truck. To be fair, Nissan put some effort into giving the Novara a distinctive look, and dare we say it, it looks better than the Triton. Much of the sheet metal appears to be gone, but the changes to the front end make the truck even more rugged. For example, the three-slot shape is a nod to the D21 Navara, while the “C” light signature front and rear also sets it apart from the donor truck.
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Source: Nissan
It also helps that we’re looking at the stiffer Pro 4X version, while cheaper trims will do without the off-road bits. Shown here as a concept, a beefier Warrior version is currently in development by Premcar. It’s based on the Pro 4X grade but gets a lifted suspension and custom 17-inch wheels wrapped in 32-inch tires. Premcar sets it apart with beefier fenders, additional underbody protection, and additional driving lamps.
The flagship comes with a curb weight of 7,716 pounds (3,500 kg) and a wider track. Finishing touches include lava red accents and the iconic warrior’s inside and outside badging.
In Australia, Nissan will sell all Navara flavors with a turbodiesel 2.4-liter engine making 201 horsepower and 347 pound-feet (470 Newton meters) of torque. Output is channeled to the road via a six-speed automatic transmission. Lower versions come with an electronic rear differential lock and work with a simple 4WD that only engages four-wheel drive when extra traction is needed.
Stepping up to the ST-X and Pro-4X grades brings a more sophisticated Super 4WD system with a Torsion limited-slip differential. There are also no less than seven drive modes to choose from: Normal, Environment, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Sand and Rock. All versions get electric power steering, unlike the new Hilux, which Toyota will still sell in Eastern Europe with a hydraulic setup.
The developing story…
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