This new year seems to be like a season of new pick-up trucks, with various manufacturers vying to tempt the public with their offerings.
In this matter, I was happy to be given the opportunity to have a quick 24-hour drive of the Navara Pro-4X, Nissan’s completely built-up (CBU) pick-up truck that is made in Thailand which you can already book now, and find out about the price tomorrow when it is launched.
Not having driven pick-up trucks for the past few years, I was pleasantly surprised to find out the car-like feel, proof of the refinements made over the year by manufacturers as they recognise that a pick-up truck need not always be used by contractors or as an off-roader, given that there are enough drivers out there who are just content to use them as a lifestyle vehicle.
When the Navara was first introduced locally in 2008, it boasted the mightiest 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine in a pick-up truck, leading it to be dubbed “Mother Trucker.”
Being constantly updated over the period, the latest refreshed Navara Pro-4X variant is a handsome machine.
No matter the paint scheme it comes with, its matt black sidesteps match well.
In the cabin, the controls are rather intuitive, so I managed to operate most things without the need to refer to the owner’s manual.
I liked the simple control layout and design, as it made the transition from normal cars very easy, without the need to guess the functions of complicated controls found in some high-end vehicles.
The eight-inch LCD display seems adequate, providing easy viewing of the 360-degree driving camera interface and other useful information, yet not overloading the driver with too much information.
On the move, handling from the chassis is responsive, with the seven-speed gearbox working in perfect harmony with the 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine delivering 190PS and 450Nm of torque.
Steering is adequately weighted, which made urban driving a cinch.
Cabin comfort is also contributed by the rear multi-link suspension using coil springs, rather than leaf springs in other competitors.
The Navara Pro-4X easily picks up speed, and in no time, I found the speedometer going past 130kph at one point, without even trying.
In all, the Navara Pro-4X remains silky smooth at most speeds normally encountered in day-to-day driving.
The stock 17-inch Yokohama Geolander tyres are fit for the job, producing no detectable noise, which either way, is kept out by the decent cabin insulation coupled with sound insulating glass all round.
Other plus points include rear air-conditioner blowers with separate controls for the benefit for passengers seated in the rear, and there are four USB charging points to keep up with current expectations.
The built-in latching hooks in the cargo area are a much welcomed addition as they made the job of securing stuff much easier.
The only annoying thing I found is the lane departure warning feature, which comes one whenever the pick-up truck detects you driving across road markings without first activating your turn indicators.
There seems to be no way to deactivate this feature (other than diligently using your turn indicators, even when the occasion does not warrant it).
The Navara Pro-4X is a nice addition to the local pick-up truck scene, integrating state-of-the-art features into what used to be mere workhorses years ago.
With that, the only surprise left is the price.
READ MORE: Media preview of refreshed Nissan Navara
