New Bakkie, New Rules
SA4x4|January 2017

By thinking outside the box, Nissan is set to stir the pot with its all-new Navara.

New Bakkie, New Rules

 

A twin-turbo diesel engine, coil springs and seven gears means that their latest premium pick-up, the D23, may be the one to beat.

At its launch in Morocco, we were given an opportunity to put it properly through its paces, enabling us to gauge ride comfort, off-road ability and much more over a range of challenging terrains. 

What's new?

When compared to the old Navara (D22), everything is new — from the chassis to the engine, gearbox and the interior. Nothing has been carried over from the previous model, and it boasts some unique features... for a contemporary bakkie, that is.

As we know, the international launch for the D23 Navara was back in 2014; but, for South African conditions, the Navara gets a 25mm suspension lift and the option of both 18-inch and 16-inch wheels to suit your off-road needs. 

Coil springs in a bakkie?

The new Navara takes cues from the ladder-frame SUV segment and fits coils to the rear end in a five-link setup. The benefits of this combination include a reduction in lateral movement of the rear axle, improved wheel articulation, and a softer ride when unladen.

By replacing leaves with coils, Nissan has removed the friction that occurs as leaves slide over each other. The reduced friction makes a huge difference over small, high-frequency bumps like corrugations or ridges in the road. In fact, the ride quality is so good, and the handling characteristics so SUV-like, that you very quickly forget that you're driving a pick-up. Gone is the jittery-rear-end feeling and the fast rebound that we've become used to in double cabs; the new system is compliant and soft. It's also quiet, with no trace of the incessant squeaking that often plagues leaf-sprung vehicles. A class-leading ride? Absolutely.

この記事は SA4x4 の January 2017 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は SA4x4 の January 2017 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

SA4X4のその他の記事すべて表示
SA4x4

Uganda The Pearl Of Africa

This trip, the very last in the series of stories from Dan Grec’s two-year Africa round trip, details a scary mishap and some extraordinary wildlife encounters

time-read
10+ 分  |
March 2020
Chewy, But Edible
SA4x4

Chewy, But Edible

Take another look at those garden pests

time-read
4 分  |
March 2020
Auto Perfection?
SA4x4

Auto Perfection?

Adding a six-speed auto to Mahindra’s workhorse ups the game for this value proposition

time-read
3 分  |
March 2020
SA4x4

Defenders On Tour

The second 2019 Defender Trophy event kicked off in Limpopo and was unique in that participants camped in three different countries…

time-read
9 分  |
March 2020
SA4x4

Rad Rig The Dream Catcher

Motorhome world’s one-of-a-kind luxury globetrotter

time-read
4 分  |
March 2020
The Difference Between An Overlander And An Offroader
SA4x4

The Difference Between An Overlander And An Offroader

A very important distinction needs to be made between the offroader and the overland traveller; often the two are thought to be the same.

time-read
5 分  |
March 2020
Steelmate TP-S9
SA4x4

Steelmate TP-S9

Solar powered TPMS (External sensor)

time-read
3 分  |
March 2020
SA4x4

Light on the dark side

VW AMAROK DARK LABEL

time-read
4 分  |
March 2020
Monkey business!
SA4x4

Monkey business!

Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) are the most widespread of the African monkeys; occurring from the Ethiopian Rift Valley, highlands east of the Rift, and southern Somalia, through the eastern lowlands of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia (east of the Luangwa Valley), Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and all nine provinces in South Africa.

time-read
3 分  |
March 2020
SA4x4

GREAT ZOOKS

There are a few mishaps as a bunch of Jimnys tackle one of Lesotho’s premier off-road challenges, Baboon’s Pass

time-read
10 分  |
March 2020