We are with the Nissan Navara at Antalya.
The Navara was not sold in our country quite sometime and if you ask me it was longed for.
And now it stands next to me with its handsome form and it has started to be sold in our country.
The Nissan claims that this vehicle is best in its class as family car in the city, as well as commercial car and as well as in the off road.
Let’s see if it really is so?
To cut a long story short, let’s start to analyze the Nissan Navara all together.
As I have previously mentioned, the pick-ups have much more aesthetic appearance nowadays.
And the Nissan Navara is definitely one of the new models that joined this series.
When you look at the vehicle from the front, what I comprehend is that you see a Navara as if it worked at bodybuilding and attained more muscle than the old generation.
As well as bigger grill, it is clear that the headlamps have been elongated towards the rear.
And inside the headlamps daylights with LED technology is located now.
When you look from the side the Navara has the pick-up form same, as we are accustomed from the other pick-ups.
As the version you see standing next to me, due to the top equipment level, has roof rails, footboards and 18 inches wheel rims as standard.
These bicolor 18 inches wheel rims may come as pretty for some and ugly for others but if you wonder about my opinion, I think it definitely added an aesthetic to the Navara.
I wonder, what kind of living space is offered in the rear seats of the Navara with a 5.3 meters length.
Come on; let us also look at that together.
Not bad a living space is offered here.
This seat, as always, is adjusted to my ideal driving position and I am 178 cm. tall.
As you can see a very good knee room is offered here.
The headroom is also quite good.
As there is no transmission hump here, it provides siting for the third passenger too.
But more important than that in the rear seats of the Navara the upright backrest that is one of the general problems of the pick-ups has been precluded.
The backrest angle, which was 18 degree, is now 24 degrees and it offers more comfortable siting position.
Furthermore, I have one more thing that I should add up and that the air panels at the rear of the Navara are now offered as standard.
Let us consider the rear design of the Navara.
Similar as its rivals, unfortunately the rear of the Navara when compared to its front is less attention grabbing.
If you ask me this becomes prominent in the pick-ups as general design.
The innovations at the rear of the Navara that stand out are the tail lights that got a bit bigger than the previous generation
and shadow plays on the boot lid to add motion and aesthetic.
But there is another detail here that attract attention and that a rear view camera has been put here.
As you know these vehicles are very long.
In other words this car is 5.3 meters long and as you would guess it is not easy to park these vehicles.
Therefore the rear view camera is very functional.
But there is one specialty of this car that separates it from its rivals and that is a system called Around View Monitor that we are accustomed from the Nissan’s other models.
From the cameras on the side rear view mirrors, as well as from the camera on top of the front logo you are able to see all around the Navara.
By this means it provides convenience to parking as well as providing security to you and the vehicle on off road and if you ask me, this a very important feature.
All right, what kind of loading area is offered in the Navara?
Let me briefly mention that.
The length of this place is 1578 mm. and this value makes the Navara to be ahead of its rivals.
Its loading capacity is exactly one ton.
In other words, I think it will satisfy the expectations of those who will use it commercially.
Now, what are we doing?
We are shutting down the boot and getting on to the driving part.
Come on…
I am behind the steering wheel of the Navara.
As always, let me start to tell you the interior first.
This place has a bit better groomed design compared to the other pick-up rivals.
At least, its design is much more pleasing to the eye.
As a matter of fact, in the sense of design, it is possible to see here traces from the other Nissan family members, the Qashqai and the X-Trail.
Naturally, it is hard to say that the quality of the materials used is as good as theirs.
As a matter of fact, even though the texture of the material used on top looks soft, when you touch it you are confronted with hard plastic.
But nevertheless, be it with the indicators, be it with the steering wheel, be it with the multimedia touch screen, the interior appears a bit high quality.
For your small items very good places have been offered.
There is a section here above the mid console, there is a type of section that we are accustomed to above the gear lever, where you can put your mobile
and wallet and two cup-holders behind the gear lever and a reasonable level armrest.
The leather-upholstered seats are very comfortable and can be electrically adjusted.
Furthermore the seats have heating system.
You do not encounter any difficulty to adjust your sitting position.
But I must put a footnote here; the steering wheel has only height adjustment.
In other words, since there is no depth adjustment, too tall drivers or too short drivers may feel discomfort.
Let us consider the engine and driving features of the Nissan Navara.
The Navara is now imported to our country with only 2.3 liters turbo charged diesel engine.
There are two-power levels for this; one is 160 HP and 403 Nm of torque version.
You can purchase this version with six-speed manual gearbox, with either two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive system.
The other power level is the 190 HP and 450 Nm of torque version that I have been testing.
You can only purchase this version with 7-speed automatic gearbox and 4-Wheel drive System and as you can guess with the top equipment Platinum level.
The power of the engine is very good and you realize this on highways as well as on the off road with the traction it offers you.
In other words, I can say that the engine of the Navara will not make you feel any lack of power or the performance and will definitely satisfy all your expectations.
The automatic gearbox works in harmony with the engine.
Of course it is hard to say that the passes are very fast but it satisfies the expectations.
And you are able to intervene from the gear lever for manual use if you desire.
You do not encounter any problem when you drive the Navara on smooth roads.
All right, let me mention what kind of driving features the off road offers.
First of all, you are able to select the 4-Wheel Drive System by the button under the mid console when you want off road.
To be able to select this even when you are on the move is a good feature.
Yesterday, I have spent lots of time with this vehicle at Beydağlar.
I had an opportunity to test its specialties off road on a place called Likya road where World Rally Championship is run on its tracks.
We have driven on, although not extremely challenging but still completely off road tracks, and I should point out that the Navara was very successful.
I must tell you that the driving features of the Nissan Navara impressed me.
Of course I must share with you the reasons.
Previously on VW Amarok test I have told you about the common sickness of the pick-ups, which were not really a sickness but necessary requirement to have that type of rear suspensions to be able to carry loads.
But naturally it is a disadvantage that the comfort level decreases when you travel with it.
In other words you had bounces in the bodywork.
The Nissan in the new Navara avoided it.
In such a way that as it should carry loads, it uses leaf spring packing just as the other pick-ups
but in addition to that this vehicle has another multi-pole connection rear suspension system.
For this reason the Navara while carrying up to one-ton load can offer comfortable travels to its passengers at the rear without bouncing.
This in my opinion is a very important advantage for the Nissan Navara.
Insulation is unproblematic; the Navara has similar level of insulation as the other pick-ups of its class.
In other words, ultimately you hear the sound of the noisy engine as well as the wind noise when you reach high speeds but at reasonable speeds you do not encounter any bother.
Finally let us consider the fuel consumption of the Navara.
Strictly speaking the test I conducted here is not exactly the same as the normal tests I conduct at İstanbul.
Therefore it is impossible for me to give a real test consumption value.
But let me share with you briefly what I have experienced.
Yesterday we have covered 80-90 km. mainly off-road.
At first the fuel consumption values were 8-9 liters but as we start to climb the mountain it started to become 10 liters and even more.
When we return, I was too tired and I did not think of looking at the trip computer.
But I still remember the value to be a bit less than 10 liters.
Of course I should also share with you that this morning we have left the hotel with zeroed trip computer and at the moment are going towards the Antalya airport.
I have covered 30 kilometers and the trip computer at the moment indicates to me 6.8 liters fuel consumption averages.
In other words, I can say that the Navara ultimately has a frugal potential.
I have found the opportunity to test the Nissan Navara for two days on the asphalt as well as on off road conditions at Beydağları’s Likya roads.
Navara managed to overcome all the difficulties.
In other words I can say that the Navara as a pick-up is a very good choice.
But what the Navara becomes prominent over its rivals is definitely its rear suspension system.
That is to say, if you are anticipating an SUV comfort from this class, I can clearly say that the Navara will be the nearest model to satisfy your expectations.
See you.