Tough new Nissan ute priced from $63,000

The 2020 Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior has hit the showrooms priced from $62,990 drive away for manual models and $65,490 drive away for automatics.

The pricing for the new Nissan halo model narrowly undercuts that of other lifestyle-oriented 4x4 dual-cab utes such as Ford's Ranger Wildtrak and Toyota's HiLux Rugged X (both priced from $67k drive away) and HSV's Holden Colorado SportsCat Series II (which ranges from $62,490 to $68,990 plus on-road costs).

Based on the recently released Nissan Navara N-TREK which in turn is based on the Nissan Navara ST-X, the Warrior features an array of predominantly off-road enhancements, including upgraded suspension for better ride and handling, and numerous cosmetic touches to underline its range-topping status.

However, while the Navara N-TREK Warrior’s braked towing limit remains at 3500kg its maximum payload is reduced to 724kg – down from the Navara N-TREK’s ratings of 923kg (manual) and 917kg (auto).

Engineered by Premcar

The Navara N-TREK Warrior is locally developed and re-engineered, with Navara N-TREK donor units receiving the Warrior upgrade courtesy of Premcar on its dedicated production line in Epping, in Melbourne's northern suburbs. Premcar is the current iteration of Prodrive, which previously produced FPV models for Ford and TRD models for Toyota.

Premcar says it has added a team of 40 extra staff to handle Navara N-TREK Warrior production, with a capability of modifying up to 10 vehicles per day.

In creating the Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior, which conceptually has much in common with the Nissan Navara AT32 available in Europe, Premcar has teamed with a number of local OEM-grade component suppliers like Monroe, Tenneco, EGR, Frontline, Hella and Rosta, among others, to deliver a ute honed for Australian off-road conditions.

A stringent validation process was undertaken in Victoria's rugged Mallee region, with further testing and evaluation carried out at the Australian Automotive Research Centre at Anglesea (Vic) and Melbourne University's Advanced Centre for Automotive Research and Testing.

Despite the modifications, the Navara N-TREK Warrior remains backed by Nissan Australia's five-year factory warranty.

Carry-over driveline

While the Navara's driveline line carries over, the 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission, the Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior receives a beefed-up suspension package paired with Monroe shock absorbers, with 17-inch Rosta alloys shod with 32.2-inch Cooper AT3 all-terrain tyres.

The upgrade delivers an extra 40mm of ride height for a total ground clearance of 268mm, while the vehicle's track has increased by 30mm to 1600mm. The lift comes with a corresponding improvement in approach angle – now 35 degrees – while Nissan says the package not only improves off-road ability but also delivers improved ride and more responsive steering on sealed roads.

The model retains the same part-time four-wheel drive driveline, offering a choice of rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive via a switch-actuated dual-range transfer case. The Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior also comes with an electronic rear differential lock.

A 3mm-thick stainless steel bashplate from Frontline provides extra protection up front while a unique towbar from the same firm delivers the extra room required by the larger full-size spare wheel.

Premium treatment

Externally, the Navara N-TREK Warrior receives a redesigned front-end with ERG-sourced hoopless and colour-matched steel bullbar complete with 470mm Hella LED light bar.

Also setting the Warrior apart from the standard Navara N-TREK are orange-accented foglight bezels and distinctive 3M decals – 'Navara' on the tailgate and 'N-TREK Warrior' on the body sides, the latter in orange for black models and in black for other colours.

Inside – and on top of the new 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that replaces the 5.0-inch and 7.0-inch units found in the previous ST and ST-X grades – are N-TREK Warrior-embroidered head restraints and orange-accented floor mats front and rear.

That's in addition to a swathe of N-TREK enhancements spanning heated front seats, black leather seat trim with orange fabric inserts, and orange stitching on the centre console, front armrests and leather-wrap steering wheel.

However, unlike the HiLux and Ranger – Australia’s two most popular vehicles, bar none – the Navara remains unavailable with advanced driver aids like autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping.

Local appeal

Nissan Australia will be counting on the new Navara N-TREK Warrior to help reinvigorate its currently flagging Navara sales. To the end of November a total of 9803 new Navara 4x4s had been registered in Australia (VFACTS data) – 16.5 per cent less than the same period in 2018, in a segment that has contracted by a more modest 2.9 per cent.

The Navara sits in sixth place in the 4x4 ute segment, behind Ford's Ranger (33,905 units), Toyota's HiLux (33,061), Mitsubishi's Triton (20,535), Holden's Colorado (14,398) and Isuzu's D-MAX (10,382).

Nissan Australia's managing director, Stephen Lester, said the new Navara flagship holds a distinct appeal for Australian buyers.

"The Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior has been designed, re-engineered and tested in Australia for Australian conditions and Australian drivers," he said.

"We wanted to produce an Australian-market specific, adventure-oriented vehicle that can cope with our terrain, our climate and our driving expectations, for the booming premium dual-cab 4x4 ute market.

"This is the most stylish and capable Navara ever, and is destined to be one of the most popular."

The 2020 Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior is on sale now and is available in three colours: Cosmic Black, White Diamond or Slate Grey.

Also read: Top-10 dual-cab utes for towing

First drive: Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior