Nissan Navara 2004 Review

Briefly, I was paid to drive a truck. I think anyone who has driven a small truck for city deliveries may not consider it an ideal long-term career.

However, I didn't then have a career and possibly the most interesting aspect of the job at that time was that the truck was a diesel. Which brings me to the delicacies of punting diesels.

They're all wrong, of course, which was amplified when I recently drove a surprisingly sophisticated 4WD Nissan Navara through some deserted sandhills near Lancelin and unusually dry gravel tracks around Mundaring.

Both zones are at either end of the offroad sphere. One is harsh, dry, hot and virtually tractionless and the other is steep, shaded, rutted and close to a pub. Immediately you realise that the Navara ST-R dual cab 4WD is hard-core material.

In the sand it shows superb bottom-end grunt helped by a low-range gearbox and the sensibility of deflating its 16-inch tyres.

Up in the Hills overlooking Perth, the dry gravel-clay soil indicates slippery terrain compounded by rocky outcrops that really show up a 4WD's undercarriage.

It's easy to see that the Navara ST-R dual-cab ute has a commercial parentage, though it's not a vehicle that I would instantly dismiss as being utilitarian.

The proof of the pudding is in driving down a major road, where within minutes you remarkably become one of a dozen ST-R drivers. For good reason, the dual-cab design indicates self-employed tradesmen also have a weekend family getaway machine.

In the Navara's case, this compromise works well. The ute gets up and boogies in the dirt and is a surprisingly compliant on-road commuter. The fact that it accommodates the dichotomy of rubbish and valuables in the rear tray places this vehicle very much in the multi-purpose category.

The Navara's 3-litre four-cylinder engine is shared with the Patrol – but doesn't quite feel the same with another body – and the turbocharger and intercooler make for a powerful combination of economy and performance.

Though the spec sheet shows a modest 110kW of power, this smallish engine whacks out so much torque that the driver has problems keeping up with the five gear changes.

Above all this, the ST-R is remarkably civilised. Though from a performance perspective the power was well accepted, it was the quietness that impressed everyone else in the cabin.

The 4WD segment is controlled by a lever on the floor – just like the old days &150; and you need to remember to physically get out of the cab and engage the freewheeling hubs. The Navara's interior is up to the mark and even the equipment level is very good. Buyers pay extra for airbags but airconditioning is included, as is a CD player.

The fact that so many are seen on the road pretty much confirms what this story is all about – this is a pretty impressive package..

Nissan Navara ST-R

Price: $42,990 Engine: 3-litre, 4-cyl, twin-cam, 16-valve, turbocharged, intercooled Power: 110kW @ 3400rpm Torque: 314Nm @ 2000rpm Fuel: Diesel Fuel tank: 75 litres Fuel economy: 9.8-litres/100km Transmission: 5-speed manual, low-range Drive: Part-time 4WD Reduction: 2.02:1 Suspension: Front – double wishbone; Rear – leaf springs Brakes: Vented disc/drum Turning circle: 12m Wheels: 16-inch alloys, 255/70R16 tyres Spare tyre: Full size Length: 5080mm Width: 1825mm Height: 1700mm Wheelbase: 2950mm Ground clearance: 215mm Weight: 1895kg Towing (brkd/unbrkd): 3000kg/750kg Warranty: 3year/100,000km What we like: Engine performance, room, ruggedness What we dislike: Unladen ride comfort