Nissan Navara

The Nissan Navara blends rugged utility with modern comfort, making it one of the most refined pickup trucks in the Philippines. Whether for work, adventure, or everyday driving, the Navara's interior is designed to be practical, comfortable, and surprisingly upscale for a pickup. Nissan has done a great job of balancing durability and comfort inside the Navara. The materials used throughout the cabin are robust. But soft-touch elements placed in key areas, lend the interior a more premium look and feel. Higher trims like the Pro-4X get leather seats with contrast stitching. The dashboard layout is clean and user-friendly.  The lower trims get more hard plastic elements to feel solid and durable. 

The Nissan Navara’s seats are among the best in class. The front seats with Nissan’s ‘Zero Gravity’ technology is designed to reduce fatigue on long drives. Theses seats offer good lumbar support and cushioning, making them comfortable even on rough terrain. The higher trims get eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seats. In the twin-cab version, rear passengers get decent space. Taller occupants may find legroom a bit limited compared to the Navara’s competitors. The seatback angle is more reclined than most pickups, making long rides in the back more comfortable. The cabin’s noise insulation is top-class.

Pros: Comfortable seats

Cons: Lower trims get more hard plastics

Features and Technology

The Nissan Navara comes with a 7.0-inch (8.0-inch for higher trims) touchscreen infotainment system. It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing seamless smartphone integration for navigation, music, and calls. The unit is paired with a six-speaker premium sound system that delivers crisp audio. The display itself is bright and easy to read. The physical buttons enhance usability. The higher trims get built-in navigation with voice control as an option. The pickup truck comes with a 5.0-inch or 7.0-inch advanced drive-assist display unit that provides real-time vehicle information like fuel economy and off-road data. The convenient intelligent key system allows for keyless entry and push-button start, adding a layer of convenience to daily use. There are multiple USB ports along with 12V power outlets that make it easy to charge devices on the go.

Higher models get dual-zone climate control that allows both the driver and front passenger to set individual temperature preferences. Higher models get acoustic windshield and improved sound Insulation.

Pros: Modern infotainment unit

Cons: Lower trims get very basic features

Boot Space and Storage

The Navara comes with large door pockets, a deep central console, a decent-sized glovebox, and cup holders, providing ample space for small items. The under-seat storage (in the double-cab) offer flip-up functionality, useful for tools or valuables. Higher trims come with a second glovebox, offering additional enclosed storage.

The Nissan Navara offers a generous cargo bed, with dimensions varying slightly by model. The double-cab typically features a 1.5m load length, while the King Cab version is a bit longer with 1.8m.

Pros: Spacious cargo area

Cons: No factory-fitted tonneau cover

The Nissan Navara’s front fascia features a large, commanding grille, which varies in finish depending on the trim, chrome for a premium look or blacked-out for sportier and rugged aesthetics. The grille seamlessly integrates with the truck’s headlights that have signature C-shaped daytime running lights (DRLs). The pickup gets all-around LED lighting. The headlights not only enhance the truck’s appearance but also improve visibility in low-light conditions. The sculpted hood gives the Navara a powerful presence. Air vents and subtle contours add to the aerodynamics and aggressive styling.

From the side, the Nissan Navara boasts of a high ground clearance, large 17-inch wheels (18-inch optional), and strong character lines that emphasize its capability and toughness. The flared wheel arches add a robust stance, giving it an off-road-ready look. The side steps (available in higher trims) make it easier to access the cabin, adding convenience, especially for off-road adventures.

The rear of the midsized pickup truck is designed with both form and function in mind. The tailgate is reinforced for durability, and higher trims feature the Navara badging embossed for a premium feel. The taillights have a sleek, modern design that enhances visibility and safety. The rear bumper gets integrated steps, making it easier to access the cargo bed. The tailgate-assist feature (in some variants) ensures smooth opening and closing, reducing strain when loading and unloading cargo.

The cargo bed itself is spacious and built to handle heavy loads, with tie-down points for securing cargo safely. Some variants even come with a bed liner for added durability, making it perfect for carrying tools, equipment, or recreational gear.

The Nissan Navara’s exterior features isn’t only about looks. It’s built for performance. It features several practical design elements for off-road capability and adventure readiness. The skid plates protect the underbody when tackling rough terrains. The Extended fenders for added protection against debris while the chunky tyres provide great traction irrespective of the surface. The pickup gets tow hooks for recovery situations.

The Nissan Navara is available in multiple colour options

Pros: Bold and rugged look

Cons: Bulky size for urban driving

For a midsized pickup, the Nissan Navara delivers impressive fuel economy. In real-world conditions, it averages around 9-12 kmpl in the city and 14-18 kmpl onthe  highway, depending on driving habits and traffic conditions. This efficiency makes it a practical choice for long-distance driving and daily commuting.

Pros: Diesel powertrain keeps fuel cost low

Cons: Urban fuel-efficiency not good

One of the standout features of the Nissan Navara is its multi-link rear suspension with coil springs, which is a rarity among midsized pickup trucks. This setup provides a smoother and more comfortable ride than traditional leaf-spring suspension found in many rivals. It absorbs bumps and road imperfections well, particularly on a long drive or on rough terrains. Lower trims with leaf-spring rear suspension tend to be stiffer and bouncier, particularly when the cargo bed is empty. 

On the highway, the Navara remains stable, with minimal body roll. The steering is well-weighted, though slightly on the heavier side, which can be an advantage for better control at high speeds and off-road situations.

Pros: Comfortable ride for a pickup

Cons: Steering may feel heavy

The entry-level model of Nissan Navara is equipped with a liquid-cooled, four-cylinder, turbocharged 2.5L diesel engine that produces 161PS/403Nm. The motor is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. The Navara’s low-end torque makes it well-suited for off-road conditions and heavy hauling. This engine provides ample power for both city driving and highway cruising, with a responsive throttle and good acceleration, particularly in the higher trims. The gearshift is smooth in both manual and automatic versions.

Pros: Extremely potent powertrain

Cons: Not the fastest in class

The Nissan Navara is widely considered among the safest vehicles in its class. The higher models get a 360-degree camera system that make driving more secure and convenient. While it may not have semi-autonomous driving aids like some premium competitors, it offers excellent all-around safety especially for off-road and work-related use.

The midsized pickup comes with the class-leading Nissan Intelligent Mobility. It includes automated emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring (particularly helpful to prevent collisions in busy parking lots or when backing out of a driveway), lane departure warning, trailer-sway control, and hill-descent control, among other features. The Nissan Navara gets seven airbags for all-round protection.

Pros: Rear-view cameras

Cons: Limited features in lower trims

Competitor Comparison

Among the chief competitors of the Nissan Navara in the Philippines midsized pickup truck segment is the Toyota Hilux. It’s known for its durability, reliability, and off-road capability and is available in multiple variants. Other rivals include the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, and the Mitsubishi Strada. The Ford Ranger is arguably the segment leader. It’s available in multiple trims, including the high-performance Raptor model. The Ford Ranger is known for its advanced infotainment system, off-road features, and safety technology. 

Conclusion and Final Verdict

The Nissan Navara stands out in the Philippines' midsized pickup truck market with its balance of rugged capability, modern features, and competitive pricing. It’s extremely suitable for the challenging Philippine conditions, including floods and unpaved provincial roads. Its wide range of variants—from the budget-friendly EL to the off-road-ready PRO-4X—ensures there’s an option for different buyers, whether for work, adventure, or everyday use.