Do you remember that excellent Nissan Navara TV ad from a few years back? Set in a harsh, grey, lunar-like environment, it had the bakkie flying through the air before it was left hanging in a freeze frame at maximum extension.
I loved that ad mostly because it aired during rugby games and I was probably in the pub a few beers down at the time. But it was also because the Navara always struck me as being so unapologetically South African (even if it is actually built in Thailand and Spain). Rugby and a big bad bakkie — all a Lions-beating Springbok supporter needs for a satisfying weekend.
I can relate to that ad a bit better now after spending a dirty few days in the bush with a dozen Navaras — bundu-bashing, rock crawling, fording rivers and catching serious air time on more than one occasion. And after conquering some pretty rough terrain I can assure you there is very little this bakkie can’t do.
Our trip was celebrating the completion of the Nissan Navara bakkie line-up with a new “king cab” (one row of seats with clam-shell doors), the introduction of an entry-level XE model and a newer mid-range LE model to complement the already popular top-of-the-range SE model.
Nissan is the first to admit it underestimated what a box office hit the Navara would be when it launched in 2005. So the new entry-level XE model will service those who have been dying to jump into a Navara at lowest possible cost since then. The top-of-the-range SE model also gets a few cosmetic changes.
What hasn’t changed though are the durable 2,5-litre diesel and 4,0-litre petrol engines and the Navara’s impressive 4×4 capabilities.
Evidence of the Navara’s capabilities were proven by the South African-built, privately entered Navaras that dominated the Dakar rally this year beating some of the richest production companies in the sport to finish fourth and fifth respectively. This feat was achieved over stages that lasted in excess of 500km a day, that climbed as high as 4 300m above sea level and through terrain so arid that it hadn’t seen rain for hundreds of years.
And the two top Navaras didn’t suffer any mechanical maladies whatsoever.
Pricing:
2,5 dCi K/Cab XE 4×2: R279 900
2,5 dCi K/Cab XE 4×4: R320 900
2,5 dCi D/Cab XE 4×2: R293 900
2,5 dCi D/Cab SE 4×2: R318 900
2,5 dCi D/Cab XE 4×4: R334 900
2,5 dCi D/Cab LE 4×2: R334 900
2,5 dCi D/Cab SE 4×4: R359 900
2,5 dCi D/Cab LE 4×4: R375 900
4,0 V6 D/Cab LE 4×2: R334 900
4,0 V6 D/Cab LE 4×4: R375 900