Nissan PH heats up hotly-contested pickup truck market with the launch of the 2021 Navara

Representing 80 years of heritage and pickup excellence, say hello to the new Navara from Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI).

Recently unveiled on the brand’s official Facebook page, the 2021 Nissan Navara boasts an aura of “badass” styling that can be both suave and rugged. But it’s not just for the looks alone as the truck comes at the ready with a suite of advanced systems that make it rise above the challenges when the going gets tough.

Exterior

Sifting through the press photos and watching the entirety of the launch video, this millennial author notes the Navara’s exterior design as “badass” or a something which evokes coolness and superiority above all obstacles and adversaries. It’s that kind of feeling when seeing video clips of action movie super soldiers gearing up for an epic mission.

But in all seriousness, the 2021 Nissan Navara heads the way with a new face, featuring an updated bumper, hood and the adoption of an "interlocking" grille design and new high-tech. The front end also has a set of squared C-shaped headlamps that are unique in its class.

In profile, subtle changes were made, so as to preserve the nameplate’s signature silhouette while bringing it up to date. These include new look alloy wheels, available in 17- and 18-inch sizes, and an increased bed height that enhances the Navara’s tough stance. Additionally, the increased bed height ensures that the Navara can better safely contain payloads of varying sizes and kinds.

Moving to the back, the 2021 Navara highlights a new rear bumper, which is accented just above by a pair of C-shaped LED tail lights, thus rounding off the overall motif.

Interior, tech, and safety

Inside the new Navara is where Nissan really gets everyone up to speed with the best it can offer in this age of higher high-tech. Aside from the redesigned steering wheel, comfort and convenience amenities, and hi-res 7-inch TFT multi-information display that takes precedence at the center for everyone to enjoy, the new Navara also boast Nissan’s famed Intelligent Mobility.

Without getting too technical, the Nissan Intelligent Mobility is the brand’s advanced suite of assistive and safety gismos that help the driver be in control, no matter the situation and road condition. For the new Navara, Nissan has installed...

• Intelligent Forward Collision Warning - A system that alerts the driver, via visuals and sound, of obstacles up front.
• Intelligent Emergency Braking - Kind of like the Intelligent Forward Collision Warning system, but with the added feature of automatically applying light dabs of the brakes to slow the vehicle down or mitigate a collision, should the driver fail to react on time.
• Driver Attention Alert – A system that detects driver fatigue, and sends audio-visual alerts to refocus the attention of the driver. It also applies automatic steering corrections, should the system detect erratic driving.
• Lane Departure Warning – Warns the driver if he or she is veering off the lane.
• Intelligent Around-View Monitor – One of the suite’s most highlighted feature, this system uses cameras located around the outside parameters of the vehicle. Then, with a little bit of cool digital imaging wizardry, all footages from the cameras are fused into a single real-time top-view video of the vehicle on the LCD head unit. This greatly helps the driver manoeuvre the Navara in tight parking spaces or driveways. It also provides a quirky way to admire the Navara’s styling.

These are some of the goodies within the new Navara’s Intelligent Mobility package, which also includes Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and High-Beam Assist.

Tried and true performance, on and off the road

Nissan didn’t touch anything under the hood of the new Navara. In this light, the much-loved turbocharged and intercooled 2.5L inline 4-cylinder mill is still pumping it with 190 hp with a pulling power of 490 Nm. This motor is governed by either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed automatic gearbox, the latter of which offers Manual Mode for a bit of spirited driving, every now and then. The new Navara is also available in 4x2 and 4x4 kinds, all spread evenly across its 8 variants.

The range-topping Nissan Navara Pro-4X

Yes! For 2021, NPI is indeed offering 8 variants of the new Navara. And at the top of this is the most badass of them all, the Navara Pro-4X. Featured on the launch video as the heroic action star of the Ilocos Norte sand dunes, the Navara Pro-4X stands as NPI’s offering for the true off-road junkie who loves to live life on the edge in style.

As part of the Pro-4X pack, the truck boats style enhancements such as orange-accented front bumper, black emblem with signature lava orange “Nissan” lettering, black grille/door handles/roof racks/running boards, 17-inch black alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, and more lava orange accents dotted inside and out.

Pricing

Before this feature article ends, Nissan has also announced that the new Navara will begin rolling out of the dealerships by April 15, 2021. As such, the sticker prices for the entire range is as follows...

• Pro-4X AT (P1,849,000)
• VL AT 4x4 (P1,779,000)
• VL MT 4x4 (P1,699,000)
• VE MT 4x4 (P1,499,000)
• VL Calibre AT 4x2 (P1,599,000)
• VE Calibre AT 4x2 (P1,459,000)
• VE Calibre MT 4x2 (P1,369,000)
• EL MT 4x2 (P1,149,000)

Note that the above-mentioned price list includes the government-imposed Provisional safeguard Duties adjustment.

"The new Nissan Navara gives our customers in the Philippines confidence, practicality, driving pleasure, safety, excitement, and pride of owning the latest in our line of innovative products. It's a pickup that is part of the Nissan DNA, embodying our passion and desire to help people overcome challenges and explore places only a few can reach. It is truly driven by the brave," says Nissan Philippines President and Managing Director, Atsushi Najima.

In closing, Nissan is also offering a five-year vehicle warranty exclusive only for the new Nissan Navara. The five-year warranty applies to all new Navara variants, making it a unique offering for the pickup segment.

"This extended warranty lets our customers enjoy the new Navara even better throughout its product lifespan. It gives our customers even more confidence and pride in owning the company's latest innovative product," added Najima.

Photos: Paolo Lesaca and Nissan Philippines
Video: Nissan Philippines