I’ve often had to hear this incredulous exclamation when telling a buddy about my latest adventure behind the wheel of Nissan’s new Navara King-Cab. This time the bundu-bashing tales involving searing temperatures, rough terrain had an unexpected twist…By Kyle Kock
It started at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, where Nissan launched the latest addition to the Navara line-up, as well as two new specification levels in a bid to make the Navara more attractive to those outdoor lifestyle types who cherish workhorse ability over and above good looks (but wouldn’t mind both) – on or off road.
Admittedly, I was one of those who would rather have walked five kilometres than have my Navara endure and traverse rough terrain. Let’s face it, despite the muscular wheel arches (which clear the allotted rim rubber by a long shot) and bold, square styling, the Navara looks so good that you can’t help but want to spare it any arduous work. Of course, it doesn’t help that every third Navara I’ve seen since it was launched rolls on a set of aftermarket 22-inch chrome wheels – with excessive chrome trim adorned along its angular lines.
But the Navara definitely ain’t a softie …
It’s probably best described by Ross Garvie, Nissan South Africa Product Manager. “Although the superb luxury and refinement levels of the Navara have seen the vehicle positioned against decidedly softer, often pricier rivals in the SUV category, the vehicle itself offers rugged practicality well in excess of its closest 1-tonne rivals! It’s an iron-hearted, square-shouldered prize fighter in a beautifully cut Hugo Boss suit, and as we now extend the range into more value-oriented price segments, these underlying strengths start to become even more critical to the perceived value of the vehicle.”
Too true Ross, as I discovered last week.
As part of the launch, Nissan South Africa invited local journalists on a challenge, to determine the boldest, fastest, and most efficient of the local “motor noter” fraternity. I’d done some sort of off-roading in Navaras before, but from the word go – it really looked as though the “competitors” were taking this seriously. After all, egos and the pride of various publications were at stake here.
All I could think of, was how Nissan could possibly hand over the keys of these beautiful bakkies to amped-up writers with their intentions bent on being the best – poor Navaras.
Challenge 1 wasn’t that difficult. Your run of the mill economy run stuff, which went smoothly enough. The best part was the astounding amount of low-down grunt on offer from the 2,5-litre common-rail turbodiesel unit, which produces class-leading figures of 128 kW and 403 N.m of torque. The double-cab SE model I was driving at the time lapped up the kilometres around Nelspruit easily in sixth gear – all you need is little over 1 500 r/min really, as the class-leading maximum torque is available at 2 000 r/min.
Challenge 2 required a tad more skill – a gymkhana in a dusty field. But seeing as that would have been too easy, sections of it had to be performed in reverse. This is where I find fault with the Navara and most in its segment. Swapping cogs is a bit of a delayed affair, as the throw is just too long for comfort. It finds the ratios easily enough and the clutch is great to operate, but if you’re in a rush and have to manoeuvre around a tight spot, first to reverse, and back, is going to be a bit of an annoyance.
Challenge 3 required a bit of calculation to determine how fast we had to drive under certain speed restrictions to arrive at the next destination in the time allocation. When I got the opportunity to push it, I was thoroughly surprised by the Navara’s cornering ability at speed, stable under hard acceleration – even in the King Cab with its longer, lighter load bed.
I thought Challenge 5 really brought out the best in the Navara during Day1, with five off-road obstacles designed to really challenge the Navara’s low-range, diff-lock and twist an axle or two. Being the tough pick-up that it is, the Navara dismissed these with ease, but the most impressive feats were achieved on Day 2, when we took an offroad trail that would leave soft-roaders crying in the mud right at the beginning before climbing a steep rock face right at the very end – as much as 38 degrees in certain places!
Needless to say, the Navaras got it done, no sweat. The day was concluded with rally legend Hannes Grobler showing us exactly why we’re paid to do the writing, while he terrorised the countryside in the Nissan Motorsport Navara – which also happens to be the leader in the Absa National Off-Road Championship.
So yes, it’s pretty, but with class-leading towing capacity of three tonnes, the most powerful diesel engine available in a double-cab and proven off-road ability, why not kick off those 22s, drop the tyre pressures a bit and do a bit of local rock-hopping?
“You’re mad! I’d never do that in my Navara,” my buddy mouths. The saddest thing about it all is that the majority of Navara owners would probably never dare to go off-roading. How wrong the misinformed are…
You can read a special report on the updated Nissan Navara line up in the August issue of CAR, on sale July 20.