KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 — The 4x4 pick-up truck industry in Malaysia is in a new phase — one in which the auto makers are sending out a message that it’s not only cool to be in a truck, but that it can be as good as a car as well. That means that whereas previously you would buy a car for your daily use, and a truck for your weekend adventures, all you need now is one vehicle that does it all.
With the Nissan Navara NP300, as the all-new Nissan pick-up is called, what Nissan has done is to pack in all the tech features that one would normally see in a car, into the pick-up. At the same time, Nissan also has various levels of tech specs to cater for the grassroots level truck users who actually need it for rough and tough work, thus there are five variants for customers to choose from.
This trending move actually started a decade ago in Malaysia with the road transport de-regulation to allow double-cab pick-ups to be used for private usage as passenger vehicles. The fact that these pick-ups are not subject to import duty helped to make the pick-up truck a great value-for-money proposition as an alternative for a car. In comparison, a 5-seater or 7-seater 4WD SUV is subject to a different and higher import tax structure, resulting in a retail price that can cost up to 100 per cent more than a pick-up truck, although both may be built on the same platform, and share the same mechanicals.
The early models started life as workhorse machines, but bit by bit, the auto makers added more car-like features. At the moment, other than the tech packages, the Nissan Navara NP300 promises one other feature — coil springs and a live axle at the rear, whilst its competitors are on leaf springs. The coil spring suspension is a promise of a much more comfortable ride, and although we expect others to follow suit in the future, for the moment, it puts the Navara on the top of the heap, so to speak.
The Nissan Navara NP300 is available in six variants, which include five double cab models and a single cab for customers who need larger hauling capacity. All variants come with a 2.5 litre turbo-diesel, but with two power outputs. Whilst the rest of the range get to enjoy 163 PS and 403Nm of torque, the top-of-the-line VL variant gets a whopping 190 PS and 450Nm of torque. Three variants get 7-speed automatic transmissions, an industry first, while the other three come with 6-speed manual transmissions.
In terms of suspension, all the double cab variants come standard with double wishbone suspension at the front, while the rears come standard with coil springs and solid axle mounted with five links. The single cab gets leaf springs at the rear. The VL variant comes shod with 18-inch alloy wheels, followed by the others with 16-inch alloys, with the exception of the single cab which gets steel rims.
Headlights for the VL are LED type, and halogen lights are standard across the balance of the range. Specifications-wise, the VL variant gets all the works — on top of what has been mentioned previously, it gets daytime running lights and steering controls for audio, hands free, cruise control and drive assist display. On the dashboard, there is a 5-inch colour display for driving information. Elsewhere, the driver seat comes with an 8-way electric control, and seats are bound in leather. For the VL, the air-conditioning is one step up from the manual controls for the rest, with dual-zone automatic control.
All variants come with three 12-volt power outlets, except for the single cab which gets two.
In terms of safety, all variants come with dual front airbags. ABS with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) is available throughout the range, except for the baseline manual variant (E variant) and the single cab variant. The same goes for VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control, which is Nissan’s term for its stability control system), Traction Control System (TCS), and ABLS (Active Brake limited Slip, which uses the brake system to transfer drive from left to right wheel, giving the effect of a limited slip differential). Similarly, all the automatic transmission variants get Hill Descent Control (HDC) as standard equipment. Keyless entry and push-button start is available on the VL and the V variants.
From the long list of goodies outlined above, it shows that there are many features normally found in passenger cars (and the more premium ones at that), that have found their way into the pick-up truck. Even the steering wheel has become smaller and more car-like. The only thing left is to make it drive like a car.
On the road, during a short test drive that happened on the day of launch, we got some first impressions of the Navara NP300. The honest truth is, other than the inescapable fact that you are riding higher than a car, everything else is really car-like. I would venture to say that it actually drives and rides like a SUV, especially since the rear suspension is on coils. Even when we went off road as part of the test drive, the additional ride comfort accorded by the coil springs could be felt. For me, it is a back-to-back comparison, as I do own a couple of other 4WD vehicles.
We didn’t get to test the ABS and traction control systems, but I am sure they work, without a doubt; however, on the off-road section, which was wet from torrential rain the previous day, we had a great opportunity to check out the HDC (Hill Descent Control). It was on a very steep and muddy downhill track of approximately 30 degrees — all you have to do is press a little button on the centre dash control panel to activate it, take your foot off the brakes and accelerator, and just control the steering wheel, while letting vehicle systems do the hard work of getting you down to the bottom safely. The last twenty metres down that slope is a memory one will never forget — the overnight rain had made it very slippery, and we were literally riding a 1.8 tonne sled down the hill, but we are happy to report the Navara NP300 handled it superbly.
On the road, the ride comfort is a class above other 4WD trucks, and I note that the gear shifts are seamlessly smooth — the 7-speed transmission is what makes the difference. I was lucky to also drive the previous Navara on a back-to-back basis, and I could easily see where the new Navara was coming from, including the engine acoustics, which is a vast improvement.
The Navara NP300 is available in four colours, Tungsten Silver, Diamond Black, Brilliant White, and a new option, Savanna Orange.
Prices are as follows:
NP300 Navara 2.5L VL (AT) RM120,800.00
NP300 Navara 2.5L V (AT) RM109,800.00
NP300 Navara 2.5L SE (AT) RM102,800.00
NP300 Navara 2.5L SE (MT) RM97,800.00
NP300 Navara 2.5L E (MT) RM89,800.00
NP300 Navara Single Cab (MT) RM79,000.00
Prices are on-the-road including GST, without insurance.
