For the longest while
Nissan South Africa offered the big
Navara in double cab format only. In fact, even the first-generation model only arrived here as a double cab, with the single cab NP300 taking on one-tonne pickup duties. With the current model, Nissan chose to also allow us a
single cab Navara, which comes with either a 2.5-litre petrol, or turbo diesel engine. Our unit was fitted with the diesel motor.
One-tonne bakkies are the lifeblood of local business. They carry most of our goods in the local environment and work day and night in all areas of the country. The market is strong for them and many of the locally-based manufacturers now offer a bakkie of some sort. This
Navara is positioned above the
NP300, which is really a basic workhorse with very few extra comfort or even performance features.
While the exterior is pretty basic, with the front grille being almost identical to the double cab’s – bar the black bumper and headlights, the
Navara single cab does retain a good family resemblance to its bigger, more prestigious sibling. Hence the price premium on the
NP300. The 16-inch steel wheels are a clear separator from the double cab, apart from the bigger load box (2.3 metres long, 1.56m wide) and absence of two rear doors. A really useful but often underrated feature is the rear side step, which helps to reach into the load box or on top of a canopy if one is fitted.
Inside the bakkie is a cosy environment to be in, with the mandatory two seats in cloth upholstery. Other bits found in the cabin include the height-adjustable driver’s seat, air conditioning, power steering from a multifunction wheel, power windows, remote central locking, and auto door lock among others. A sound system with radio, Bluetooth and CD player is included. While some of these look like they should be or are standard in the
single cab market, they really are not. And they are highly appreciated by the people who drive these vehicles under the hot
South African sun from morning until evening.
As previously mentioned, our unit was the in-line, 4-cylinder 2.5-litre turbo diesel. It produces 120kW at 3 600rpm, and 403Nm of torque at 2 000rpm. Quite a forceful thing then. Add to that is the 6-speed manual transmission as well as four-wheel-drive (4WD) and you have a virtually unstoppable workhorse. I found it easy to drive, although if you are not used to the long rear you may struggle with parking. Also, the rear leaf spring suspension does not particularly enjoy hard bumps. The bakkie has a 1.1 tonne payload and a braked towing capacity of 3500kg. Otherwise the 80 litre diesel fuel tank can give one around 720km of mixed driving.
While the
Navara 2.5 DDTi 4WD appears to be an expensive option for a single cab bakkie, it is among its peers in terms of pricing. Capability are similar too, but the Navara has a better features list than some of the segment leaders.
