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Nissan Navara 2021 (Nissan Media)
• The new Nissan Navara bound for SA has been revealed.
• The Navara will continue with its five-link coil suspension.
• The lineup will be spearheaded by a Pro-4X model.
• For more motorsports stories, visit www.Wheels24.co.za
Nissan has unveiled its updated Navara D23 series, as part of the company’s strategy for global product recall.
Technically distinguished by its coil spring rear suspension, the D23 Navara has now gained a significant redesign of its front and cab architecture.
The new look of the bakkie is dominated by a massive grille and reshaped hood profile. While massive grilles were once the sole property of the big bakkies of the US market, this design influence has finally made its way into the mid-size double cabins that South African buyers are familiar with.
Balancing Navara’s massive grille are new bi-LED headlights, which structure a set of four individual light groups in each headlight. The tailgate also gains LED pattern lights.
PRO-4X for hardcore bakkie drivers
Nissan marketing staff have noted the demand for the Ford Ranger Raptor and, having recognized that business opportunity, the new Navara offers a PRO-4X variant. Although it doesn’t have the same suspension hardware as the Raptor, this PRO-4X Navara certainly looks good.
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With 17-inch rolling wheels with high-volume Yokohama Geolander tires, the PRO-4X Navara should deliver superior ride quality on Karoo’s worst gravel roads. The smaller wheel and large tire combination also allows for a significant deflation margin, if a PRO-4X rider encounters treacherous, deep sand and requires additional traction and flotation from the tires running at 1 bar of pressure.
Nissan has not changed the core Navara platform with this product update. There are slight mechanical refinements, like a sturdier rear axle, meant to appease bakkie owners who use every kilogram of the manufacturer’s recommended payload capacity.
Load capacity improves to 1.2 tonnes on most new Navaras, with the PRO-4X rated at 1.1 tonnes. That 100kg discrepancy is likely due to the specific wheel and tire size applied to Nissan’s new PRO-4X crew cab.
The hydraulic power steering system has also been slightly recalibrated to allow for greater agility at low speeds. This is something that should not only be beneficial when looking for that parking space at the local mall, but also during technically challenging off-road driving.
Nissan Navara 2021 (Nissan Media)
USB for all
Nissan’s interior architects haven’t done much to alter the Navara’s cabin. The most notable change is a three-spoke steering wheel, similar to the one you’d use to drive Nissan’s smaller SUVs.
Connectivity has become a problem for even the most adventurous crew cab bakkie owners and Nissan’s desire has been to make sure its new Navara can keep all passengers happy in this regard. USB charging ports have increased from one to four in number, capable of keeping four Smartphones powered on when on the go.
LOOK: Nissan hints at how Navara will look bound for SA in November 2020
A clear ergonomic improvement of the new Navara’s cabin is the presence of a simple folding armrest as part of the rear seat. Beyond the increased comfort it provides over long distances, allowing rear passengers to vary their posture, it also provides a stable cup holder and storage platform, rather than having to reach into door pockets to grab a phone smart or a cold drink.
Nissan has invested most of Navara’s updated R&D in engines, and the 2.3-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel has been moved in a very similar configuration.
With Toyota introducing its new Hilux and the next-generation Ford Ranger less than two years away, this Navara update is a crucial product for the sick Nissan.
Although the local presentation date is yet to be confirmed, Nissan’s significant production assets in Tshwane could offer a much broader portfolio of new Navara cab models and derivatives in South Africa. The bakkie will be released locally in April 2021.
