By Paul Gover.
A mid-life update has lifted the Nissan Navara clear of its mid-pack rivals in the Australian ute world.
The newer Navara still has the same basics under the skin – like the latest Toyota HiLux, but unlike the all-new Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT50 – but tweaking and preening has made it more attractive to buyers.
The obvious change, like the ugly new nose on the BMW M4, is a brutal new front that helps the Navara stand out in any Bunnings carpark.
It’s a nod, but not a wink, to the hulking Nissan Titan that leads the Japanese brand’s ’truck’ attack in the USA. The Titan has been promised for Australia, too, although there has been no serious movement on the commitment for more than a year.
“The model year 2021 introduces a tougher and more rugged design. It’s built tough. It’s the most advanced Navara ever,” says Travis Maher, product manager for Navara at Nissan Australia.
“The reality is that the ute segment continues to become a more influential. The forecast is that will continue to evolve for us.
“In terms of a mid-cycle change, the scope of the changes is quite impactful – quite large”.
What he means is that utes are critical to Nissan and the Navara update is intended to keep its contender in the peloton while it waits for an all-new breakaway.
The key model in the Navara line-up is the ST-X, priced from just under $60,000 on the road and with a five-star ANCAP safety rating, a 2.3-litre turbodiesel engine, and goodies including an 8-inch infotainment screen with smartphone mirroring, dual-zone aircon and rear cross-traffic alert, a 360-degree camera system and tyre-pressure monitoring.
For people who want their ute to work, a tow-bar and tray liner are standard.
Nissan had already installed improved coil-spring rear suspension with local tuning, and the upgrade for 2021 brings more comfort and refinement.
It’s obvious from the first second that the Navara is new, thanks to the frontal impact of a Kenworth. It’s a big push but brings some worthwhile improvements to the lighting in addition to the added chrome.
Inside, the ’21 is a little more plush looking and it has the ’stuff’ that people want in a ute that doubles as a family car. The back seat is still only passable, nothing like plush, but the aircon is good, the sound system is fine, and smartphone syncing is easy and works well.
As a drive, the Navara’s coil springs make it more plush and less bouncy – although it is still a ute with more focus on work than play – and the steering is light with good braking bite and feel.
The 2.3-litre diesel in the ST-X is not as refined as the engine in a Volkswagen Amarok, or as punchy as the feel in an Isuzu, but it still provides 3.5-tonne towing and that’s a very big deal for los of people. It gets along well enough and the seven-speed automatic is responsive and a smooth shifter.
The standard tow-bar is welcome, and so is the tray liner, but you cannot load two dirt-bikes without folding the tailgate down and that obscures the number plate. It’s a common ute failing, although few people complain.
What makes the 2021 Navara so impressive is the value that comes with the standard equipment, as well as good-value servicing costs through five-year the warranty period, and the (for a ute) classy drive.
NISSAN NAVARA ST-X
Position: dual-cab ute
Price: from $48,790 drive-away
Engine: 2.3-litre 5-cylinder twin-turbo diesel
Power: 140kW/450Nm
Transmission: 7-speed auto, 4-wheel drive
Safety: 5-star ANCAP
Plus: does the job, reasonably comfortable
Minus: the basics are getting old
THE TICK: a smart choice
Score: 8/10
