Navara joins 3.5T tow club

Nissan's new NP300 Navara ute has gone on sale in Australia, bringing class-leading efficiency and class-equalling towing capacity, but falling short of rivals on advanced safety features.

As Toyota has done with its upcoming new HiLux ute, all diesel Navaras now increase their braked towing capacity by 1000kg to 3500kg – also matching the Colorado, Ranger, BT-50 and Isuzu D-MAX, and bettering the new Triton (3100kg).

All 14 four-door pick-up models are now available, starting at a competitive $26,490 for the base DX 4x2 manual and topping out at $54,490 for the flagship ST-X diesel automatic.

The remaining variants in the new Navara line-up, which replaces both the decade-old D40 and the 17-year-old D22, will arrive in September with the release of single-cab, king-cab and dual-cab/chassis versions.

Pricing and specification of those models is yet to be revealed, but once again there will be four models grades (DX, RX, ST and ST-X), three body styles (single-, king- and dual-cab), two tray options (cab/chassis and pick-up) and two transmissions — six-speed manual and the seven-speed 'double overdrive' Jatco automatic from the Y62 Patrol, available for a $2500 premium.

In all, the 2015 Navara range will comprise 27 variants, including 11 4x2s (two single-cabs, one king-cab and eight dual-cabs) and 16 4x4s (three single-cabs, six king-cabs and seven dual-cabs).

This time there will be three engines – two new Renault-sourced downsized diesels and an upgraded QR25DE 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that consumes 9.7L/100km in the DX 2WD dual-cab auto (9.9L/100km manual) and offers 122kW/238Nm.

The top-spec 140kW 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel four available in ST and ST-X grades consumes just 6.3L/100km in 2WD manual models, rising to 6.8L/100km for the auto and 7.0L/100km for 4WD auto models.

With 450Nm of torque, the top-spec Navara engine offers 100Nm less grunt than the old Navara 550's 3.0-litre V6 diesel, 50Nm less than the Holden Colorado's 500Nm 2.8-litre diesel and 20Nm less than the 470Nm 3.2-litre five-cylinder oiler in both the Ranger and Mazda BT-50.

But it produces more torque than the new Mitsubishi Triton’s 133kW/430Nm 2.4-litre and the same as the upcoming HiLux's downsized 130kW/450Nm 2.8-litre diesel (which outputs only 420Nm as a manual).

There will also be a lower-output 120kW/403Nm single-turbo 2.3-litre diesel engine for RX 4x2 and 4x4 models, and Nissan will offer a capped-price service plan for all Navaras.

Based on a carryover ladder frame with modified frontal crash structure, the NP300 is the first mainstream dual-cab ute to come with a coil-sprung five-link rear suspension, bringing big improvements in ride quality compared to the previous leaf-spring Navaras.

Payload remains competitive, however, at a minimum of 880kg for the entry-level DX 4x2, 930kg for the flagship ST-X 4x4, 986kg for the mid-range ST 4x4 and more than 1000kg for all other models, with the RX 4x2 manual topping the range at 1112kg.

All new Navaras come with daytime running lights (LED for ST and ST-X), auto headlights, cruise control, front step lamps, Bluetooth hands-free telephony, trip computer, air-conditioning with rear outlets, flip-up rear seats, a multifunction steering wheel, no fewer than 10 cup/bottle holders, four power windows, anti-dazzle interior mirror and, in the base DX, a six-speaker CD/AM/FM audio system with USB/AUX input.

RX, ST and ST-X king-cab and dual-cab models receive a rear power sliding window, the ST adds rear parking sensors and both ST and ST-X also gain new LED projector headlights, fog lights, side steps, alloy sports bar and a rear differential lock, and the top-shelf ST-X scores keyless entry and starting, leather-accented seating, seat heating, dual-zone climate-control, a 7.0-inch touch-screen with sat-nav, sunroof, 18-inch alloys, heated exterior mirrors with LED indicators, a tub liner and two-channel Utili-Track tie-down system.

On the safety front, all models will also come standard with seven airbags including a driver's knee airbag, stability control (VDC) with brake limited-slip differential (ABLS), traction control (TCS), anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), brake assist (BA) and five three-point seat belts including front seat belt load limiters and pre-tensioners.

However, only ST and ST-X models come standard with a reversing camera, which will be standard across the new HiLux range, no models are fitted with a centre rear head restraint or reach-adjustable steering wheel (as seen in the new Triton and VW Amarok), and only the ST-X receives hill start assist (HSA) and hill descent control (HDC).

Nor is there any sign of the facelifted Ranger's advanced safety technologies, including Lane Keeping Alert and Lane Keeping Aid, Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Alert, Tyre Pressure Monitoring, Driver Impairment Monitoring and Emergency Assistance. Toyota Australia is yet to reveal safety specifications of its new HiLux, which could also feature automatic emergency braking.

The new Navara is yet to be assessed by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), but Nissan expects it to improve on the four-star result of its predecessor and join the growing number of five-star utes.

For first drive impressions of the new Navara, click here.