Before its range of best-selling 'soft-road' crossovers Nissan's greatest UK success was a selection of hardy off-road vans - with the most daunting being the rugged Nissan Navara pick-up. The latest generation of the versatile workhorse was launched in 2008 as a sub-text to the thriving Qashqai range. However, for those with a need to head off road, load large objects into the back or for towing, the Nissan Navara was even more practical than the seven-seat Nissan X-Trail - a favourite for those with large dogs, caravans and larger families. Nissan has always traded on a macho image for the Navara, even going as far as introducing a Die Hard special edition to coincide with a film launch. So it is time to get behind the wheel of this behemoth to see if Nissan's no-nonsense, reliable image when it comes to pickups and off-roaders is deserved. Introducing the Nissan Navara The Nissan Navara is one of very few pickup trucks on sale in the UK. A favourite with US and Australian buyers, UK customers are only now really turning their attentions to the space and size offered in this segment. In fact, major rival Ford has only just launched its own pickup for the UK market, the Ford Ranger, while Vauxhall's dabble in the pickup market is confined to the outrageous Vauxhall Maloo performance pickup, available in extremely limited numbers. The Nissan Navara matches its rivals is terms of design with a big, bulky front end sporting oversized headlamps, a huge grille and chunky wheel arches that extend outwards from the curving front end design. There are two cab options; the practical Double Cab, which can seat five by encroaching on load space, or the King Cab, which offers a smaller cabin but a massive load area. Both come with roof rails to increase carrying capacity - which is impressive even for a pickup. The Navara has a payload capacity of over 1,100kg for the double cab version and it can tow up to 2,700kg. Load length is a spacious 1.5 metres for the double cab and 1.8 metres for the king cab. We drove the double cab version and it is the extra space in the cabin that will sell this model to business drivers, who will be the usual target market for Navara pickup vans. Inside the Nissan Navara As a result of the target market, Nissan has used a simple theme for the cabin. This can be roughly translated as slightly drab but certainly hard-wearing. Nevertheless, the controls are simple to work out and the upright dashboard is complemented by a high, commanding seating position. There are three trim levels available for the Nissan Navara; Acenta, Tekna and Platinum. All offer four-wheel drive only and, as of 2008, an updated level of equipment as standard. This includes electric windows, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth, 17-inch alloy wheels and the ability to link your mobile phone up to the dashboard. To get the likes of leather upholstery, satellite navigation etc, higher trim levels offer a more premium level of equipment. You will pay around £21,000 for entry-level models in what is a bargain price but higher specification models can rise to as high as £36,000 - so it's important to choose your trim and engines carefully. On the road Luckily, even at the bottom of the engine range the 2.5-litre diesel engine develops 187bhp and 332lb ft of torque. This gives the Navara plenty of grunt and acceleration is surprisingly swift. The six-speed manual gearbox is efficient enough but there is an option of a five-speed auto on higher-specification models. For those who want more power there is a 3.0-litre V6 diesel generating 228bhp and 406lb ft of torque but this is a more expensive option to both buy and run. On the road the Nissan Navara is relatively composed for such a large car, although you will not get the responsiveness and manoeuvrability of a smaller, road-focused 4x4. Instead, you will get plenty of traction thanks to a four-wheel drive system and steering that feels well waited for on-road duty. Taking the Nissan Navara off-road shows it is ready for rougher terrain without being a consummate off-roader in a similar vein to the likes of the Land Rover Defender. Instead, the Nissan Navara bridges the gap between off-road ability and van-like carrying capacity. Throw in strong reliability and capable engines and you get an all-round excellent car. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62hNe-4fYS4
