Nissan Navara 2021

The biggest visual change on the 2021 Navara is found on the front end. It gains a larger grille, a more angular front bumper, and a new pair of quad LED headlights. Looking at the new front end, especially on the top-spec Pro-4X, reminds us of the Nissan Titan for the American market. Other front fascia changes include the new headlamps are the new, daytime running lamps, which assume a futuristic, angular design.

2021 Nissan Navara facelift

Moving on towards the rear, the midsize pickup truck gains a more modern-looking tailgate. The taillights feature a revamped design that features a C-shaped LED lighting element. In terms of style, the Pro-4X is clearly the most imposing with its black-colored grille and trim pieces. For an additional splash of color, this trim also receives orange accents found on the over-fenders, as well as the faux-recovery hooks on the plastic skid plate.

When the facelift model is introduced in the Philippines, much of the interior remains the same as compared to the outgoing model. The door cards are a combination of soft and hard surfaces, but the dashboard is still mostly made out of textured, sturdy plastic. Zero gravity type seats are installed in the cabin with the VL and PRO-4X variants utilizing leather, while the lower-trim VE and EL variants come with fabric.

Interior view of the Nissan Navara

Standard features in the 2021 Nissan Navara include two cupholders and bottle holders each in the front and the rear, four USB ports for charging, high type meter with 7-inch color TFT display (except for the base EL variant only), an armrest for the rear passengers, and door pockets in the front and rear.

All variants except the entry-level EL come with a dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system with rear vents. The Pro-4X, VL, and VE also get an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, Aux-in, and USB connectivity. For the aforementioned variants, the infotainment system is linked to six speakers for entertainment while cruising down Philippine roads. Meanwhile, the EL variant gets the 2-DIN with four speakers.

The 8-inch infotainment screen

Standard on all trim levels of the Nissan Navara are six-airbags. This includes dual front airbags, side airbags, and side curtain airbags. Also standard across all trims are vehicle dynamic control, anti-lock braking with electronic brake-force distribution, ISOFIX child seat tethers, speed-sensing door locks, a car alarm, and an engine immobilizer.

The Nissan Navara is manufactured using a rigid body-on-frame structure and the Nissan F-Alpha Platform (D23). A 4x4 and 4x2 drivetrain version is available locally. For suspension, it is built with an independent Double Wishbone paired with coil spring and stabilizer bar at the front, and a five-link coil spring with a stabilizer at the back. Braking is assisted by ventilated discs at the front and drums at the rear.

It is built for the off-road

We happen to put the Japanese car brand's pickup truck to the test by driving it on the famous Paoay Sand Dunes in the Philippines. The truck's stability and control are outstanding especially with the use of its 4x4 system complemented with a differential lock for seamlessly riding through steep and uneven roads.

Making its return for the Nissan Navara’s midcycle refresh is the 2.5-liter YD25 inline-4 turbodiesel engine. Of note, there are two tunes for this engine. For all the variants except the EL, the said engine can make up to 190 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque, while the EL’s 2.5-liter mill makes a bit less at 163 horsepower and 403 Nm of torque. It can be paired to either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic (with a manual mode) transmission.

Ready to take on road challenges