Nissan Navara 2019 review: RX 4x4 dual cab chassis

The Navara sets no standards in the ute class when it comes to cabin presentation or comfort, but nor does it offend with its design and usability.

Sure, in this spec there’s a plastic steering wheel and more than a few hard materials, but it’s built for work and is fit for purpose.

The seats are comfortable enough, though the adjustability could be better - as a six-foot (182cm) tall adult, I struggle to get the right spot when it comes to the seat and steering wheel, because the wheel doesn’t offer reach adjustment, only tilt/rake. 

Behind my own driving position there’s enough space for someone my size, though it’s not superb in terms of kneeroom. There are rear vents, though, which is terrific for back seaters, and unmatched by plenty of other utes out there.

I didn’t fit a child seat but I know from previous tests that the straps at the top can be annoying, though now there are ISOFIX child seat anchor points in the outboard seats, too. If you don’t have rear occupants, you can fold the seat base up for extra secure dry storage.

When it comes to other storage, there are bottle holders in all four doors, but the rear doesn't have any cup holders or map pockets. The front cabin has a pair of cup holders between the seats and a pair on the outer edges of the dashboard.

The Nissan Navara range has two engines available - both of them are 2.3-litre four-cylinder diesels, but this one is the lower-output version, a single-turbo motor with 120kW of power (at 3750rpm) and 403Nm of torque (at 1500-2500rpm).

The Nissan Navara range has two engines available - both of them are 2.3-litre four-cylinder diesels.

The upper grade versions get a twin-turbo engine, with 140kW/450Nm. It’s a good engine, for sure - but the ‘lesser’ Navara powertrain isn’t too bad at all.

There’s the choice of a six-speed manual if you prefer, but ours was the seven-speed automatic. And being a 4WD, there is a 4x4 shift on the fly system with 2H, 4H and 4L (low range transfer case). 

Towing capacity is rated at 750kg for un-braked trailers and 3500kg for braked trailers. That’s as good as you’ll get in the segment.

The official combined cycle fuel consumption claim for the RX dual-cab-chassis auto ute is just 7.1 litres per 100 kilometres, which pegs it as one of the best in the segment.

During our 370km of testing - which consisted of about half of that with more than 500kg in the tray and four adults on board - the dashboard readout was displaying 8.9L/100km. Our at the pump measurement was 9.4L/100km. That’s pretty good, in my book.

Fuel tank capacity is 80 litres.

I’m no tradie, but I had a good test to see how the Navara RX coped with some weight in the tray.

The seven-speed automatic was hard to fault on test, with or without weight.

I loaded the tray up with more than 500 kilograms of backyard refuse - bamboo shoots and roots, plus some soil and rocks - and took the lot with me for a big old drive up the Blue Mountains, for the sake of science. 

I did the initial part of the trip with just myself and my partner, but on our return (and while up in the hills) I had an additional two passengers and luggage with me. All told, I was close to the payload maximum of this spec of Navara, which is 1127kg. At the tip weigh in, the gross mass was measured at 2780kg, just 130kg short of the maximum permissible GVM.

With that amount of weight on board, the Navara coped very well with the demands of a highway drive. The way it handled itself over bumps and smaller road lumps was quite impressive, and while it doesn’t have excessive torque, it coped fine with ascents and overtaking moves.

The seven-speed automatic was hard to fault on test, with or without weight.

On this trip there was no need to engage 4WD.

While the mud at the garbage dump was thick and, well, gross, there was no need to engage 4WD - so therefore, this won’t include an off road review. But for those who are interested, here are its off road specs: ground clearance mm - 219; approach angle degrees - 32.5; departure angle degrees - 26.3; ramp-over/break-over angle degrees - 22.8.

The Navara range has five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty for all private owners, while commercial operators will only be eligible for five years/200,000km. There’s roadside assist for the duration, which is a nice touch.

Service intervals are every 12 months/20,000km - generous compared to the likes of the HiLux, which persists with six-month/10,000km service gaps. But the service costs are very high for the segment, with an average annual cost of $629. Ouch.