Nissan finally unveils the new Navara… but it’s not coming to SA?
The wraps are finally off the new Nissan Navara, stepping in to replace one of the most iconic generations in the nameplate’s history. And honestly, it’s been a long time coming. The Navara was the bakkie that essentially started the ‘luxury bakkie’ conversation back in the D40 days, long before the segment realised comfort and capability could actually coexist.
It carved its own path so boldly that rivals even dismissed it at first; coil-sprung rear suspension in a bakkie sounded crazy then. But it worked. The Navara rode like an SUV without losing its towing or load-carrying confidence, making it a favourite among people who used their bakkies day-to-day.
Comfort was always its secret weapon. And before ‘lifestyle bakkie’ became a buzzword, the Navara was already doing it: a proper cabin, good ergonomics, and genuine refinement. But time caught up. Competitors raised the bar, and the Navara’s lower-output engines and ageing interior made it feel out of step.
With the newly revealed Navara, Nissan is playing an interesting game. Yes, it lives a double life as the Mitsubishi Triton’s sibling, but Nissan has tried to give it just enough tweaks to separate it from its donor. It’s not the first time we’ve seen a partnership like this; some have worked, some have flopped. We all remember the short-lived Mercedes-Benz-Nissan marriage, and on the flip side, Ford and VW seem to have figured out the formula.
Because of that, I can’t help but feel Nissan could’ve pushed a bit harder to give the Navara a more distinct identity. Especially since, badge-sharing or not, the Triton is still a direct competitor. Nissan insists the design is rooted in the brand’s bakkie heritage while offering a glimpse of what’s to come, and to be fair, the details do hint at that. Look closely and you’ll spot the bull-bar-inspired V-strut shield up front, plus the three slots above the grille that throw you right back to the D21 era. The C-shaped headlights are what we’re used to in the brand’s latest products.
Unfortunately, once you climb inside, it still shouts Triton. Sure, Nissan has tried to spruce things up with a 9-inch infotainment system, an inch bigger than the Triton’s, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a wireless charging pad on certain models. Regardless of the Triton DNA, it’s still a massive step up from the outgoing Navara’s cabin, so credit where it’s due. You also get a 7-inch colour TFT instrument display, and markets like Australia, where bakkies are also a thing, will even benefit from MyNissan Navara Connected Car Services, offering features like remote HVAC control and emergency calling. So yes, it’s familiar… but at least it’s a much-needed leap forward. Also, the existence of physical buttons and switches is worth mentioning in this day and age, where vehicle functions are increasingly embedded in submenus deep within the infotainment system.
Then there’s the powertrain, also borrowed from the Triton, a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel now tuned to 150kW and 470Nm paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. That’s a proper bump, especially considering the SA-spec Triton makes 135kW and 430Nm. Even compared to the current Navara’s 2.5-litre engine with 140kW and 450Nm, this is a significant upgrade. On paper, it should translate into stronger towing abilities and increased off-road confidence. And if our time with the Triton is anything to go by, this engine deserves the benefit of the doubt; it genuinely impressed us there.
The biggest change, though, sits underneath. The Navara has officially ditched its signature coil-spring rear suspension in favour of the Triton’s leaf-spring setup. And, to be honest, it raised some eyebrows in our office, since the coil setup was one of the Navara’s distinguishing features, the feature that set it apart from the competition. Losing it does make you wonder whether the bakkie is giving up one of its strongest identities just to fit into its new shared platform.
The good thing, though, is the capability hasn’t taken a knock. You still get a payload between 950kg and 1,047kg, a braked towing capacity of 3,500kg, an intelligent 4WD system, and seven terrain modes: Normal, Eco, Snow, Gravel, Mud, Sand and Rock.
So while the character may have shifted, the numbers suggest it hasn’t forgotten what it’s here to do. The bad news, though, is that despite the new Navara being built in right-hand drive and heading to markets like Australia, Nissan has no intention of bringing it to South Africa. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the brand insists it still believes in the current model and will rely on continual updates to keep it alive.
That approach, though, feels out of touch. The current Navara is ageing, and rivals have moved the envelope. And yes, we understand Nissan is going through internal changes and financial pressure globally; that’s no secret. But this is SA, a bakkie-obsessed nation, and a country with long-standing ties to the Navara. This makes the decision to entirely overlook our country for market rollout difficult to understand and even harder to justify.
