2004 Nissan Navara Reviews

The diesel ST-R accounts for three quarters of Navara sales and ranks number three in the wider 4WD world behind the market leading Toyota Hilux and Holden's new Rodeo.The five-seat dual cab utility comes with all the trimmings including alloys, fender flares, side steps and a chunky rollover bar.It's priced from $43,490 – more than double the cost of the entry level model. The ST-R is a big sucker at just over five metres long, 1.8 metres wide and stands 1.7 metres tall, with a turning circle of 12 metres.Engine is a 3.0-litre turbo diesel that produces 110kW of power at 3400rpm and 314Nm of torque at 2000rpm. It's a less powerful version of the 3.0-litre diesel in the Patrol, minus the intercooler.Fuel tank capacity is 75 litres and while economy is generally good don't expect the fantastic range of the larger 4WD wagons with their huge fuel tanks.Transmission is five-speed manual only, with a low range set of gears and limited slip rear diff. Lack of an auto could be an issue – you only get an auto with the 2.4-litre petrol model.Brakes are a combination of front discs and rear drums, with no ABS option. They are adequate in a vehicle that is not generally driven quickly but certainly not as good as a full set of discs.Suspension is double wishbones up front and leaf spring down the back. The rear setup is good for load but not so good for handling.ST-R gets 16x7 inch alloys with big 265/70 series rubber.Navara is a traditional style 4WD with lots of jiggle and body roll from a suspension designed to cope with the rigours of off road driving. Try before you buy because the ride will not be to everyone's taste, especially if you are used to a car.The diesel engine is generally smooth and relatively quiet, providing plenty of low to mid range oomph, with easy gear changes – but it is no sports car.Ground clearance is 215mm, but in utilities it is the longer tail that becomes more of an issue. Because the distance between the rear wheels and end of the vehicle is rather long, it is not difficult to put the tail to ground in step down manoeuvres.Load space is an almost square 1395mm and the Navara can carry a full tonne, with a load capacity rated at 1025kg.Towing capacity is a maximum of three tonnes with trailer brakes fitted.The interior looks a little dated, especially the 70s style air conditioning controls – but they work well enough.In a top of the range vehicle such as this we would like to see keyless entry instead of the driver's door operated central locking.Black mark for the lack of a three-point seat belt for the centre rear passenger. A driver's airbag is standard but protecting your passenger will cost extra.Airconditioning is standard as is a CD player with two speakers.

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.Most people may think it's like a petrol-engined vehicle – more revs, more power.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..