SOMEONE has worked out tradies and farmers deserve a few niceties too.
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Nissan has updated its Navara workhorse and, in the process, made it a far more pleasant workplace.
We were invited to sample the Navara ST (the entry-level RX is still a robust-if-Spartan truck suited to grunt work). And we were pleasantly surprised by, dare we say it, the “car-like” interior with some worthwhile extras like satellite navigation, an attractive and easy-to-use full colour touch screen, dual zone climate control, and a rear parking camera. None of that would be an especially big deal in a family car or SUV, but in a pick-up style ute, it’s practically luxury.
We took our test vehicle – a Navara ST 4x4 dual cab for our usual punt around town. And when, – almost by accident – a completely unrelated news story had us going up into some gold mining country, we found ourselves on some fairly under-developed tracks in the bush. It was a pretty decent workout overall.
The basic nuts and bolts of the Navara have not changed much for a while now. The ST has a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel with 140kW of power and, more importantly in a machine like this, 450Nm of torque.
There is a five-speed automatic transmission with a sequential manual mode, a very healthy 3.0 tonne towing capacity, and selectable high and low range four-wheel-drive.
We found the engine transmission combo to be an effective one which is a worthwhile upgrade over the manual model for those who can afford it. The diesel isn’t super quiet on the road but it feels strong and, while we did not push the envelope with any serious low-range stuff, there’s no reason not to think it would be very capable off-road. It seemed to relish the muddy tracks we drove around Wattle Flat.
The suspension is geared, naturally enough, for carting a load rather than for comfort and handling. The Navara does have leaf springs in the back after all, and the ride height which is great for clearing rocks and ruts isn’t exactly optimised for sports car handling.
While it can be a bit jiggly over potholes and other rough stuff, it is still quite well tied down and better than some other light truck-based utilities we’ve sampled. That said, the view from the driver’s seat is a quantum leap up on this type of workhorse from even just a few years ago. The instrument cluster, the fully integrated audio and communications unit (which can save and play back 9.3gb of music through a “Music Box” system) with handsomely laid out buttons and controls, and decent seats front and back, makes the Navara a far nicer thing to sit in during a hard day on the job.
For a really long drive I’d personally rather pamper myself in a passenger car-based ute, but for those who need the off-road ability or rear accommodation, the gap is finally beginning to close.
It might not be politically correct to say so, but the workers have never had it so good.
* Your local Nissan dealer is: Peter Stevens Motor World 5336 8777
Nissan Navara ST
ENGINE: 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
POWER: 140kW at 4000 revs
TORQUE: 450Nm at 2000 revs
TRANSMISSION: five-speed automatic
DRIVE: four-wheel-drive with low range
FUEL: diesel, 9.0-l/100km (ADR 81/02 combined)
BRAKES: front ventilated discs, rear drums, with ABS, stability control and brake assist
ANCAP SAFETY RATING: four stars
FEATURES: Touch screen audio with Bluetooth connectivity and 9.3GB hard drive, satellite navigation, rear parking camera, 17-inch alloy wheels, side steps.
PRICE AS TESTED: $41,990 drive away
OTHERS TO CONSIDER:
FORD RANGER XL DOUBLE CAB: from $43,890
MAZDA BT-50 DUAL CAB: from $44,240
MITSUBISHI TRITON DOUBLE CAB: from $40,990
TOYOTA HILUX DOUBLE CAB: from $42,490