ROAD TRIP
The Navara may not be the king of off-roaders. But what could really matter more is the unavailability of the high-body 'fake' 4x4
RICHARD LEU
The serene rolling hills and 360-degree mountain vista of Nakhon Ratchasima's Wang Nam Khiew district awaits an entourage of Nissan Frontier Navara 4x4s.
It's mid-year, sometimes sunny, cloudy or rainy making it a good time to put Nissan's workhorse to test. Actually, this is the first time Motoring has the chance to paste grit on the Navara.
Ever since the Navara was launched here early last year, there have been questions relating to the pick-up's off-road ability. One aspect constantly raised was the Navara's ground clearance.
Of course, there is no doubt the Navara would pass the test covering nearly 100km of gravel, dust and mud in a district where it didn't escape our attention that the tarmac is being constantly extended to sub-roads, connecting even the most remote villages.
It is more like a cross-country run for the Navara, whose grunty 174hp 2.5-litre turbo-diesel and extra-large body dimensions make it the perfect pick-up for recreational purposes.
The difference in ground clearance between a 2WD and 4WD is basically the same if you don't consider the bespoke tyres that make the latter version marginally higher on the road.
Gear ratios should be more optimised for off-roading. |
The 4x4 Navara succeeds in tackling all kinds of articulations available on the test. And to say it has the lousiest off-road capability seems a little unfair because varying road conditions usually cannot justify a vehicle's 4x4 credentials - even a Jeep or Land Rover could fail negotiating a rocky terrain.
But once you put the Navara's competition into perspective, its longer wheelbase puts it at a certain disadvantage in its class, as the ramp angle is compromised making it a bit tricky when traversing over rocks or similar surfaces.
And though the Navara's highest in-class outputs of the diesel engine give impressive performance on the sealed tarmac, the highly tuned turbo makes lag it generates below 2,000rpm quite irritating when travelling off it at low speeds.
The ratios of the six-speed manual transmission are also not too ideally suited for jungle-trekking in which the first three cogs aren't uniformly geared. Even Nissan's Thai engineers acknowledged this and are hoping that the facelifted model - due in less than two years - will rectify this shortcoming.
Even though 4x4 pick-ups are rarely used the way they are supposed to these days, the gearbox could have a less notchier feel, as well as a sixth ratio that should make the engine more relaxed on the legal limit, not going over 3,000rpm.
This should also help quell criticism that the Navara being thirsty on fuel, although it must be noted that the performance gain it gets is a fair compromise.
But from another point of view, the Navara's engine need not be that powerful - the 144hp version of the 2WD model would still have made sense in the 4WD one, especially in extra-cab form.
The on-road test that brought us to Wang Nam Khiew via Prachin Buri also revealed the fine chassis set-up of the Navara - something Nissan fine-tuners find very difficult in seeking the right compromise between personal or cargo use.
But the good levels of roadholding at high speeds obviously mean a rather firm ride, from those leaf springs at the rear. Nissan is now contemplating whether to soften the rear suspension of the double-cab model that is far less prone to cargo-hulling.
Naturally, some of the inherent flaws the Navara has can't be solved at mid-life yet, such as the rear seats that aren't as comfortable to sit in as in a Mitsubishi Triton or Toyota Hilux Vigo.
The extra-cab version with rear access panels (called King Cab in Nissan speak) is still a good choice for 4x4 punters who don't need to take another two persons on board.
The only other two on the market, Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50, are equally practical as the Navara, but not as capable on the move. Rumours are rife that the facelifted Vigo due in the third quarter will get such practical rear access panels.
Whether Nissan will remain content with the Navara's 4x4 abilities remain to be seen. But one musn't forget that this corner of the pick-up market is small and shrinking due to rising fuel costs and more paved roads filling up this country, as evidenced in Wang Nam Khiew.
But one thing's for sure: Nissan is the only brand so far to not sell a "raised body with 4x4 looks" for the 2WD body. It may sound gimmicky, but that's what Thais are asking for.
Check out the sales chart of the competition, and you may ask whether Nissan should really feel concerned about making its 4x4 Navara more capable.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Next
