Used Nissan Navara review: 2005-2010

Bruce Alley can buy a 2007 Nissan Navara diesel for $17,000 and wants to know if it's a good buy. He also asks about the things he should be looking for when checking it. It's done 171,000 km and he wants to tow a caravan weighing 1.5 tonnes.

New

The Navara has long been a familiar nameplate on the local market, but the all-new D40 took it to a whole new level of comfort and refinement when the ute market was going through a major shakeup.

When utes were once regarded as blue-collar working class vehicles a new generation of models like the D40 Navara were being used in ways never before imagined.

Overnight they went from single-purpose tradie vehicles to multi-purpose models being used for family transport, recreation and holiday escape wagons in addition to being used for work. The D40 was a purposeful looking ute with strong lines and chunky proportions while still being stylish enough for the suburbs.

There were two body styles offered, one a dual-cab capable of accommodating five in pretty decent comfort, the other a large single cab Nissan called a King cab, which had space behind the front seats to carry tools or materials.

The power choices were a 4.0-litre V6 petrol engine that offered 198 kW and 385 Nm, amazing for a workhorse, and a 2.5-lite turbo-diesel that boasted 128 kW and 403 Nm. Both were available with either a 6-speed manual gearbox of a 5-speed automatic, and there were two and four-wheel drive models.

With almost 200 kW under the bonnet the V6 version was quite a performer, with plenty of punch available under your right foot and good torque for towing. The downside is the fuel consumption, which at 13.6 L/100 km it has to be said is high.

The turbo-diesel, while only having 128 kW, has 403 Nm across a broad rev range, which makes it ideal for towing. The upside for the diesel is the fuel consumption, which at 9.0 L/100 km, is a much more attractive proposition than the petrol V6.

Now

The sparkling performance and comfy cabin were particularly appealing to ute buyers the moment Nissan let loose the new Navara and they continue to be. Generally the Navara is robust and reliable, but there are a few issues buyers need to be aware of.

The diesel is a much better prospect when it comes to fuel consumption, and is generally a better choice all round

The most complained about thing with the V6 is the fuel consumption. The engine itself is a jewel, one that is widely used across the Nissan range in a number of models. It's smooth and pulls hard right through the rev range and really gets the Navara up and going; the problem with that is that it sucks fuel at a high rate.

The diesel is a much better prospect when it comes to fuel consumption, and is generally a better choice all round, but is does have a reliability issue.

The cam timing chain is a known issue and can break, which can lead to serious engine damage. Our Nissan expert tells us that it's much less likely to happen if the Navara is properly serviced as per the Nissan recommendation, so it's crucial to check for a service record that confirms regular oil changes.

Another issue to be aware of is clutch life with the manual transmission. The Navara, like other similar utes, has a dual-mass flywheel, and its clutch life is miserable. Clutches can require replacement anywhere from 40,000 km to 70,000 km, and they cost upwards of $3000 to replace. Most owners who have to replace the clutch do so with a heavy-duty clutch and replace the dual-mass flywheel with a solid flywheel and the problem is fixed.

While most Navaras are only used on sealed roads they are a capable off-roader in 4WD form, so it's worthwhile checking underneath a vehicle for evidence of off-road use. Look for a sandblasted underbody, bent and busted brackets and fittings, leaking seals etc.