2024 Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior evaluation

Nissan’s greatest beast is getting into its third yr on sale, and it’s simply as robust because it was when it landed.

The Australia-only Warrior is constructed on the D23-generation Navara, which debuted in 2014 and acquired a harder facelift in 2021. Meaning it’s getting on in years, and it’s exhibiting its age.

On check right here is the range-topping Navara PRO-4X Warrior, modified by Melbourne-based Premcar. Our tester was fitted with an automated transmission, although you may get the identical automobile with a handbook – unusual for contemporary higher-spec utes.

Modifications embody beefy Cooper Discoverer all-terrain tyres, a winch-compatible bullbar with an built-in entrance mild bar, under-body armour, and an upgraded suspension setup with a 40mm carry which means you’ll be able to go straight from the showroom ground to the paths.

The subsequent-generation Navara is reportedly due in Australia by early 2026, although there may very well be some final updates to the present mannequin coming within the new few months.

Earlier reviews counsel the following Navara may share a platform with the brand new Mitsubishi Triton, following different ute partnerships like Ford Ranger–Volkswagen Amarok and Mazda BT-50–Isuzu D-Max.

Is the present Navara PRO-4X Warrior nonetheless price a glance in 2024, or do you have to maintain out for the brand new model?

How does the Nissan Navara evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Nissan Navara in opposition to equally sized automobiles.

Nissan

Navara

How a lot does the Nissan Navara price?

Our tester was the costliest Navara variant cash should buy, and the one one to return in at greater than $70,000 earlier than on-road prices.

Single Cab

King Cab

Twin Cab

To see how the Nissan Navara stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

What’s the Nissan Navara like on the within?

Given the 10-year outdated Navara platform on which it’s based mostly, it’s not shocking the inside of the PRO-4X Warrior is trying dated.

The principle factor you’ll discover is how utilitarian it’s in look. Almost each massive floor is plastered in arduous, scratchy plastic, which will definitely be sturdy as time with the automobile ticks by… however has aged the automobile alongside the extra luxurious new Ranger.

What doesn’t make sense is using gloss black plastic. Whereas it appears menial, we don’t like its inclusion in a automobile like this. It could look good when new, however for those who’re going to be shifting issues out and in of the cabin usually it’ll get scratched up very quickly.

You’ll discover it primarily across the chrome-accented conventional gear selector, however a minimum of there’s subsequent to no purpose to be touching the realm too usually. Apart from the small button clean, the only swap on the panel is the one for drive mode on the far left, which is troublesome to achieve comfortably as the motive force.

There’s some extra gloss black surrounding the infotainment and local weather controls, although the buttons are made of lifeless plastic as key contact factors. In case you look intently, you’ll additionally discover a faint metallic sparkle to the shiny bezel – good for those who’re into that.

The remainder of the cabin is straightforward in its presentation. Arduous plastic will be discovered all around the sprint, centre console, and door playing cards. Even the mechanical handbrake deal with is simply arduous plastic, however the traditionalist in me thinks it’s good to nonetheless have a bodily lever in a automobile just like the Navara.

The steering wheel buttons really feel sturdy and function with a stable motion, and whereas extra of that tough plastic seems within the centre of the wheel it’s good to have that blacked-out Nissan badge with pink lettering in entrance of you. It, and the badges on the skin, nonetheless characteristic the pre-2020 Nissan brand in case you missed having it round.

Plastic continues elsewhere too, together with the inside door handles. There’s an A-pillar seize deal with that can assist you climb into the entrance of the cabin too, although solely on the passenger aspect.

Behind the wheel is a simple instrument cluster, which includes two massive analogue dials in your tachometer and speedometer flanking a central data display.

Whereas that display is much from the highest-resolution show you’ll discover on any instrument cluster, there’s a great deal of data offered right here relying on which menu you may have chosen. These menus will be cycled via utilizing the buttons on the wheel.

The 2 massive dials additionally incorporate small temperature and gasoline degree gauges, and customarily what you see is what you get. I just like the direct method right here; Nissan doesn’t attempt to cram in any pointless decorations or animations that will get in the way in which.

There’s additionally no guessing in terms of twiddling with the motive force help tech or off-road mechanisms, as there are clear icons on that data display that inform you precisely what’s and isn’t in motion whenever you begin urgent buttons.

Fittingly, the seats are the nicest a part of the cabin by some margin. They characteristic leather-accented upholstery with intricate pink, white, and black stitching and PRO-4X Warrior-specific embroidery, they usually’re comfy to take a seat in on longer drives.

Premcar says they’re meant to be “hard-wearing”, however that doesn’t imply you miss out on some nicer seating luxuries.

The motive force’s seat nonetheless contains powered adjustment and lumbar assist, alongside heating for each entrance seats by way of two chunky switches.

The identical white-stitched upholstery can be used on the lid of the centre console storage field, which is sufficient in measurement. Different storage up entrance contains the standard passenger-side glovebox, two massive central cupholders, and bottle holders within the door playing cards.

Nissan has additionally included two plastic pockets on both aspect of the centre console, both of which is an ideal place to retailer the important thing fob or telephones whenever you’re on the street.

The infotainment show is falling behind by at this time’s requirements. It’s an 8.0-inch show as you’ll discover in the remainder of the Navara vary – disappointing because it’d be good to have a bigger display within the costlier variants.

Flanking it are eight buttons and two dials, that are all clearly labelled for the important thing infotainment capabilities.

It’s a low-resolution in opposition to one thing like an Amarok, and it may possibly really feel cluttered whenever you’re attempting to navigate utilizing touchscreen operate. All the things you want remains to be there, it may possibly simply take a second to seek out particular menus or settings.

Sadly there’s no wi-fi smartphone mirroring, and also you’ll as a substitute must deliver a USB-A cable with you if you wish to hook up your cellphone. You do a minimum of get the reliability of a hardwired connection, and we noticed no glitches with the system in our week with the automobile.

Elsewhere, you’re restricted for cellphone charging choices. There’s no wi-fi charging pad up entrance, and whereas there’s a cellphone storage cubby it’ll solely simply match a normal iPhone 12 – as long as you’ve taken its case off.

Different charging choices embody that single USB-A port or the 12-volt outlet up entrance, or you’ll be able to open up the centre console storage field to disclose extra USB-A, USB-C, and 12V shops. You even nonetheless get an AUX plug for cellphone audio, telling of the automobile’s age.

In line with the infotainment structure, there are clear buttons across the cabin for lots of the automobile’s key capabilities.

These embody three central buttons for parking sensors, hill descent management, and differential lock, in addition to three to the precise of the steering wheel for driver help operate, traction management, and the Warrior-specific entrance mild bar.

There’s a big rotary swap forward of the gear selector for 4WD drive modes, in addition to a discreet swap to the precise of the wheel to open or shut the Warrior’s powered rolling tub cowl.

All of those capabilities are clearly labelled and straightforward to seek out, which suggests you received’t must spend additional time attempting to know what all the pieces does for those who’re ever in a pinch.

The 2 costliest normal Navara variants supply dual-zone local weather management, which is managed by way of the central interface under the infotainment show.

All the things right here is clearly labelled and straightforward to function, because it’s dominated by massive buttons surrounding a small LCD show. It’s dated in its structure, however I’d fortunately take a well-functioning older-looking system over any touchscreen-only setup.

It’s a small climb to get into the second row of the Navara, however it’s made simpler by aspect steps working the size of the cabin. You’ll be able to pull your self in utilizing the rear-facing seize handles on the B-pillars too, and it’s all made simpler by fairly sized rear doorways that reveal comfortably huge openings.

The second bench gives the identical stitching you rise up entrance, they usually’re comfy sufficient – though they’re a bit flat. There’s a great deal of headroom, legroom, and toe room, and I may sit comfortably behind my very own average-height driving place with room to spare.

Whereas the ground is generally flat, it’s interrupted by a small driveline hump however it isn’t massive sufficient to trigger any actual inconvenience. When the surprisingly huge center seat isn’t being sat on, you’ll be able to fold down the central armrest to disclose two cupholders.

Different facilities within the rear embody a singular USB-A port on the again of the centre console, subsequent to a notch that appears too small to be helpful for storing something; although you can most likely put a cellphone there for those who actually wanted to. Above which might be two air vents, and that’s about all there may be to maintain rear passengers comfy.

It’d be mistaken to go with out mentioning the bathtub out the again, which in our tester was fitted with some additional goodies that enhance the usual Warrior package deal.

As normal there’s the beefy black sports activities bar up high, in addition to massive devoted badging and an embossed Navara brand on the tailgate – to not point out the distinctive decals on the edges of the automobile.

In contrast to the usual Warrior, our tester featured an electrical rolling tub cowl made by Victorian-based firm HSP, which will be managed by the inside swap, the important thing fob, or a management panel on the bathtub’s front-left nook.

It’s a pleasant bonus and improves safety in opposition to break-ins, and when it’s absolutely open a vibrant LED mild bar activates on the entrance of the bathtub. The one problem is the duvet mechanism and light-weight eat into house on the entrance, and it means you’ll be able to’t entry the complete vertical capability beneath the sports activities bar.

You continue to get loads of house to hold issues round in right here although, which suggests the Warrior has completed nicely to keep up the Navara’s practicality beneath the harder pores and skin.

To see how the Nissan Navara stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

What’s below the bonnet?

The Navara vary is powered by a pair of two.3-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines mated to both handbook or automated transmissions. Our tester was fitted with the twin-turbo possibility, mated to a seven-speed automated.

4-wheel drive variants have a part-time four-wheel drive system with low-range and an electronically locking rear differential.

To see how the Nissan Navara stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

How does the Nissan Navara drive?

In case you thought the Warrior appeared large, wait till you get behind the wheel.

Anybody used to driving a passenger automobile may (understandably) really feel intimidated on the prospect of driving a automobile as tough-looking as this, however when you’re out and about you’ll discover it’s all surprisingly acquainted.

Apart from parking and navigating tighter areas, there are not any unusual emotions you wouldn’t anticipate from a ute like this.

Firing up the engine is completed by way of the button to the left of the wheel, which glows pink when the headlights are on. Simply notice the engine received’t activate as quickly as you press the button, as a result of it’ll take a second to heat its glow plugs earlier than it fires up.

Slide the gear selector down and into drive to get shifting, however for those who’re pulling out of a decent house it’s price ensuring you’ve introduced your health club tools.

The steering is heavy at low pace on account of these chunky all-terrain tyres, coupled with the very fact it doesn’t have any digital help below the pores and skin. It’s nonetheless a hydraulic power-steering system, which comes with compromises in on a regular basis driving.

That diesel powertrain brings with it a loud soundtrack, which is particularly noticeable on first startup and below arduous acceleration. It does quieten down as soon as issues heat up, and when you’re rolling you can begin to absorb the Warrior’s upgrades.

Past contributing to the heavy steering, the upgraded suspension {hardware} – that are normal on the non-Warrior PRO-4X – enable the automobile to raised deal with smaller imperfections like pace bumps.

It’s arduous to look previous the standard ute development although, as a result of it tends to clatter over bumps at larger pace whereas clearly relaying any imperfections immediately into the cabin.

That’s to not say it rides poorly, however it might be drastically improved by including weight to the bathtub like cargo. It’s already fairly a heavy automobile at almost 2.3 tonnes, however some additional weight on the rear would make it simpler for the upgraded suspension to compress as wanted, ironing out bumps.

One of many Warrior’s alternative additions is the 40mm suspension carry, and also you actually discover it whenever you’re out on the street. It’s a commanding driving place behind the wheel, and you’re feeling like you’re nicely above a lot of the different vehicles on the street.

Meaning it’s simple to know precisely the place you’re putting the automobile, and blind-spot monitoring helps to keep away from working different individuals off the street whenever you go for a lane change. Due to its measurement and your top above the street, it’s arduous to not really feel such as you’re untouchable.

The excessive driving place is complemented by good visibility throughout, and it’s simple to do head checks due to the unobstructed rear aspect home windows. Even visibility out the rear view mirror isn’t horrible, although it’s potential you’ll discover some glare on the rear window from the infotainment show at evening.

There are another tendencies to maintain an eye fixed out for behind the wheel. The all-terrain tyres, whereas off-road prepared, are likely to create extra street noise than you is likely to be used to. It’s nowhere close to the roar of chunky mud-terrains, however it’s nonetheless noticeable.

Further rubber between the automobile and the street additionally means the automobile will typically comply with cambers within the street, requiring the motive force to carry the steering wheel at a slight angle to proceed on straight.

Put your foot into it from a standstill and the Navara takes off in a spritely method. That’s as a result of first and second gear are each comparatively quick, permitting the engine to rev up shortly when wanted.

Past that although, the Navara begins to lose its benefit because it climbs into the upper gears. It’s not essentially gradual, however we’d prefer it to be faster than it’s.

With 140kW and 450Nm it’s down on one thing like a Ford Ranger Bi-Turbo (154kW, 500Nm) or a Toyota HiLux SR (150kW, 500Nm), and whereas that’s not large on paper it does make a distinction in the actual world.

You’ll discover how different vehicles begin to draw back whenever you climb previous 50km/h. You’ll additionally discover it making a good bit of noise with out really shifting away quicker whenever you put your foot down on the freeway, which once more suggests to us that it might profit from some sort of energy enhance.

Not less than the transmission is a high quality unit, evidenced by its potential to easily shift when it ought to quite than stumbling and second-guessing.

Its seven gears imply you may have loads of vary for low-RPM freeway cruising, although that didn’t assist us in getting near Nissan’s gasoline financial system declare.

We’ll caveat that by saying our week with the automobile was tormented by heavy site visitors each on the freeway and in suburban areas, through which settings the Navara drinks a good bit extra gasoline than we’d need it to.

Our earlier opinions of the automobile share the identical sentiment, and we’ve seen Navara gasoline financial system figures above the 10L/100km mark. A few of that may very well be right down to the added weight of the tyres, bumpers, and below armour on the Warrior, which hasn’t been given its personal financial system declare by Nissan.

From a normal perspective, it’s a stable automobile to drive on the street. It has fundamental driver help tech like non-adaptive cruise management, lane departure warning, and selectable lane-keep help, although the latter makes use of the automobile’s brakes to make corrections which will be unsettling.

It additionally has one explicit on-road quirk in that it doesn’t have a footrest in your left foot. As most different vehicles have one I discovered myself trying to find one in useless, which can be a results of the clutch pedal’s location in manual-equipped fashions.

Aside from that, the Warrior-specific upgrades are worthwhile. That distinctive bumper with its pink decrease portion not solely seems the half, however that LED bar it homes may be very good to have.

In regional areas at evening the usual high-beams do an distinctive job in lighting up the way in which forward, however flicking the swap to activate the sunshine bar makes it prefer it’s nearly daytime forward. It’s reassuring to have the ability to see all the pieces forward with out having to undergo the trouble of an aftermarket job.

To see how the Nissan Navara stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

What do you get?

There are six distinct grades of Navara, every with distinctive tools additions over the previous variant.

Navara SL tools highlights:

• 17-inch metal wheels
• Full-size spare metal wheel
• Computerized halogen headlights
• Energy-adjustable aspect mirrors
• Tailgate help (pickup solely)
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Bluetooth
• 7.0-inch digital journey pc with digital speedometer
• Vinyl flooring (single cab and twin cab solely)
• Carpet flooring (king cab solely)
• Material upholstery
• Outboard rear seat ISOFIX factors (twin cab solely)
• Trailer sway management
• Hill descent management (4×4 solely)
• Hill begin help

The SL Warrior provides the next:

• Winch-compatible hooped bullbar
• Built-in LED lightbar
• Branded underbody black bash plate
• 275/70 R17 Cooper Discoverer All Terrain AT3 tyres
• 40mm suspension carry
• Tow bar
• 100kg GVM improve (3250kg)
• New springs, dampers and jounce bumpers
• Fender flares and tub liner
• All-weather ground mats

The ST provides the next on high of the bottom SL:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• LED fog lights
• LED tail lights
• Computerized high-beam
• Privateness glass
• Energy sliding rear window
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Heated aspect mirrors
• Single tube sports activities bar in polished chrome steel
• Drive mode selector (4×4 AT solely)
• Off-road monitor (4×4 solely)
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• DAB+ digital radio
• Leather-based-accented steering wheel
• Leather-based-accented shifter
• Carpet flooring
• Anti-dazzle rear-view mirror

The ST-X provides:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Full-size alloy spare wheel
• Double tube sportsbar in polished chrome steel
• Sliding in-tray tie-down hooks
• Towbar
• Tub liner
• Proximity entry with push-button begin
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Tyre stress monitoring
• Carpet ground mats

The PRO-4X provides:

• 17-inch black alloy wheels
• All-terrain tyres
• Full-size metal spare wheel
• Black fender flares
• Black roof rails
• Black-painted aspect mirrors, aspect steps, grille and door handles
• Black chrome steel double tube sports activities bar with sail panel
• Leather-based-accented upholstery
• Embroidered entrance seats with PRO-4X logos and red-accent stitching
• Heated entrance seats
• Energy-adjustable entrance seats with lumbar assist

The flagship PRO-4X Warrior provides:

• Winch-compatible Nissan Real buillbar
• Entrance mild bar
• Pink bash plate and 3mm under-body plating
• 275/70 R17 Cooper Discoverer AT3 tyres
• Full-size alloy spare wheel and tyre
• 100kg GVM improve (3250kg)
• 40mm suspension carry
• New springs, dampers and jounce bumpers
• Warrior-specifc fender flares
• Warrior decal pack
• Warrior headrest embroidery

Choices

There are additionally two non-obligatory packages out there on the time of buy.

Choice Pack 1 ($1500):

• Leather-based-accented upholstery
• Heated entrance seats
• 8-way energy driver’s seat
• Electrical lumbar assist

Choice Pack 2 ($2500) add over Choice Pack 1:

• Electrically tilting and sliding sunroof

Is the Nissan Navara protected?

The Navara had a five-star ANCAP security score based mostly on checks carried out in 2015, although this has now expired.

That score was based mostly on a frontal offset rating of 14.01 out of 16, a aspect influence rating of 16 out of 16, and pedestrian and whiplash safety scores of Marginal and Good, respectively.

All 2024 Nissan Navara fashions come normal with the next security tools:

• Seven airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Ahead collision warning
• Driver consideration monitoring
• Reversing digital camera (pickup solely)

ST fashions and up add:

• Blind-spot monitoring and help
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane-keep help
• Lane departure warning
• Encompass-view digital camera
• Rear parking sensors

How a lot does the Nissan Navara price to run?

The 2024 Nissan Navara is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee like the broader Nissan vary.

Moreover, Nissan gives 5 years of roadside help with all new automobile purchases, alongside prolonged service intervals and repair costs for automated fashions which might be marginally cheaper than manuals.

To see how the Nissan Navara stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Nissan Navara

It’s a tried-and-true beast of a ute, and remains to be price a glance for those who’re purchasing for an upmarket off-roader.

After all, it’s arduous to look previous its age. There’s no hiding the very fact the Navara is nearing the tip of its life.

The inside tech is the naked minimal for a brand new automobile in 2024, and the addition of wi-fi smartphone mirroring would do wonders to increase its life.

It could be one thing that’s added in that rumoured replace, which may arrive someday later this yr.

Whereas its engine is confirmed at this level, it does lack energy. Given the multitude of powertrain choices out there in its competitors, we expect it’d be price seeing some extra configurations out there in future Navara fashions.

The PRO-4X Warrior is a cushty automobile to drive on the street, though it’s not approachable as some rivals due to its gradual and heavy steering.

It’s an added bonus to have a automobile from a world producer modified by an Australian model, however there’s no hiding behind the very fact these tweaks include an added premium.

Even with that extra cash you continue to get a dated inside, which sadly does really feel miles behind the competitors.

In case you can’t spring for the top quality, you’ll be able to go for the cheaper SL Warrior as a powerful various. It does have fewer options as normal, however it’s price taking a look throughout the vary to see what works finest.

Click on the photographs for the complete gallery

MORE: Purchase a Nissan Navara
MORE: All the things Nissan Navara