The What Van? Road Test: Nissan Navara (2019)

Date: Friday, January 17, 2020 | Author: Steve Banner

Nisnav Cabin

Interior and equipment

The Navara Tekna’s dashboard is dominated by an 8in touchscreen that gives access to a NissanConnect 2.0 entertainment and satellite navigation system. The package is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Bluetooth connectivity is included in the deal, as is a DAB digital radio,

We found the satellite navigation system to be a little confusing, especially when it came to triggering the verbal instructions that tell you when to turn left or right.

Air-conditioning is installed as are electrically adjustable and heated exterior mirrors, electric windows in all four doors, driver and front passenger airbags, curtain airbags and a driver’s-knee airbag. Also on the list are a heated rear window and cruise control with a speed-limiter.

The radio’s remote controls are mounted on the height-adjustable steering wheel. The driver’s seat is electrically adjustable for height, reach and rake.

Storage facilities include a lidded bin between the front seats, which plays host to a 12V power socket. The bin is accompanied by a couple of cupholders. Another 12V socket plus a USB socket are mounted on the dash while a third 12V power point sits in a shelf on top of the dashboard.

Provided too are a lidded glovebox, bins and cupholders in all four doors and a cubbyhole at the bottom of the fascia. A holder for your sunglasses is mounted above the windscreen and you will find small pouches each side of the gear-lever console.

The seats are leather-trimmed and the ones in the front are heated. All five seats are equipped with headrests and lap-and-diagonal seatbelts. Legroom for the middle passenger in the back of the cabin is a little restricted, but the other two rear passengers should have less cause for complaint.

Chrome exterior door handles are fitted along with a chrome front grille and combined rear step and bumper, and the electrically folding exterior rear-view mirrors are housed in chrome casings.

The body is finished in metallic paint. Other exterior features include sill guards incorporating steps and front fog lights.

Intelligent Trailer Sway Assist is now fitted as standard across the range and responds if a trailer being towed starts to snake and looks as though it might turn over. It makes small corrections to the brake force applied to individual wheels and reduces engine torque at the same time, with the aim of bringing vehicle and trailer back under control.

Other safety features include brake assist, vehicle dynamic control (more usually referred to as an electronic stability programme) and a traction control system, which can be switched off. So can the truck’s stop/start system. Fitted too are intelligent emergency braking, hill-start assist, hill descent control and intelligent around-view monitor, which is invaluable.

Combined with the reversing camera, it gives you a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle to help prevent you from bumping into any obstructions during low-speed manoeuvring.

The Navara’s rear drum brakes have been scrapped in favour of 308mm discs and the front discs have been enlarged from 296mm to 320mm. Both sets of discs are ventilated. Double wishbone suspension is installed at the front along with a stabiliser bar while a five-link set-up with dual-stage springs and another stabiliser bar help to support the rear.

Our demonstrator vehicle sat on 18in black and silver alloy wheels shod with Continental ContiCrossContact LX 2 255/60 R18 tyres. The Navara’s rack-and-pinion steering is power-assisted.

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