Nissan Navara ST review

It was quite simply one of those ‘Ah-ha’ moments. Microseconds after I’d opened the door and spotted at a manual gear shift and an extra pedal on the floor it dawned on me that I hadn’t driven a good old manual for quite some years.

After a stall at the first set of lights (oops, that was 3rd not 1st...) it was plain sailing and just like riding the proverbial bike. After a couple more sets of lights I was really enjoying the Navara Double cab for what it was. It doesn’t handle like a Cayenne, Toureg or X5, but it does the job it was designed for well and isn’t half bad on the road either. To be at home on the farm, or on the motorway, is a pretty hard combination to achieve and Nissan has nailed it.

Space

Heaps inside, but if there was one minor short-coming, it was that there was only just enough for the rods lengthwise and I suspect four adults and the mandatory 2-3 rods each could be tricky. It was no problem to stow a few rods on the tray in rod bags however (Nissan have the tray really well designed with lots of handy anchor points) and the XXL chilly bin met a similar fate for this trip. A canopy on the tray would be ideal and I suspect would be the accessory that most buyers would choose anyway. The interior is more car-like than you might expect and with a battery of air-bags, ABS with EBD brakes and solid Nissan construction, there’s a real sense of safety. You can connect up your mobile via Bluetooth and the nice lady who lives in the steering wheel will give you step by step instructions if you’re technologically challenged.

Handling

The Navara ST handles well and corners with a good dollop of confidence and control. No truck-like characteristics here and the trip to the Bay of Islands and back plus a few hours on the water in one day was a breeze. We didn’t have time for any off-road activity as there was some boat testing and serious fishing to be done but reports on the Navara’s off-road ability are very positive.

Towing

No problem to pull the 610 centre console Extreme we were using for the day. Nissan diesels have a solid reputation and for a 2.5L, the Navara ST performs admirably with plenty of low down grunt. But if you really need to have the most powerful truck on the market, then there's always the new Navara ST-X high grade that boasts a massive 450NM of torque!

The fuel economy seemed impressive – round town for 2 days plus BOI and back and we were still going - a frugal power-plant in spite of it’s performance characteristics. Nissan’s rated combined economy figure for the ST Manual is 9.8L/100km.

Nice one Nissan, I liked the Navara a lot and it did the job well. Full Navara ST specifications can be found below or check out more about the Nissan Navara range on the Nissan website
 

Navara ST 4WD Double Cab Specification

Manual RRP$52,450, Automatic RRP$54,450 (June 2010)

Body Style: Double Cab Wellside
Engine: 2.5L Intercooled Common Rail Turbo Diesel
Power: 126kW@4000
Torque: 403Nm@2000
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual or 5-Speed Automatic
Fuel Economy: Manual 9.8 L/100km, Automatic 10.5 L/100km

Overview

• 4x4 with low range and electronic selection
• 3,000kg Braked Tow Capacity
• Dual Front Airbags
• ABS & EBD braking systems
• Remote Keyless Entry
• Cruise Control
• Bluetooth Hands Free Phone System
• Leather Steering Wheel with Cruise, Audio & Bluetooth Controls
• AMFM Stereo 6CD Player with Auxiliary Input and 6 Speakers
• Leather Handbrake & Shift Knob
• Air Conditioning
• Power Windows
• Map Lamps
• Rear Demist
• 16” Alloy Wheels
• Body Colour Power Door Mirrors
• 2 Utili-Track Tie Down Sections
• Side Steps