Nissan NP300 Navara 2.5L DDTi 4×4 VL

The Intelligent Choice

When we were younger, Pickups were workhorses for small to medium businesses. As time went on, they got better looking, adopted more car-like comforts, performance and durability, it wasn’t long before more Filipinos realized they were perfect for daily use, what with Metro Manila’s poor road conditions and the part we like, its infinite possibilities for customization. Just in case you didn’t know, pickups are exempt from the excise tax on automobiles meaning their prices didn’t or should NOT have increased when the TRAIN law was implemented.

360 visibility

This 2018 Nissan Navara 4×4 VL has more tech than its predecessor with features usually found on higher end vehicles. Most notable of Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility technologies is the Around View Monitor. Pickups are admittedly a bit tougher to park than your sedan or SUV and this feature lets you see 360 degress around the Navara by giving you a bird’s eye view of your immediate surroundings with four cameras mounted underneath each side mirror, under the Nissan badge on the grille and next to the handle of the tailgate. The composite image is shown on the screen of the entertainment system. It displays this along side the back-up camera image making parking and precise maneuvering easier.

Under the Hood

This VL variant is the top of the line 4×4, automatic transmission variant, and still has all the features carried over from previous year’s model. Under the hood it’s still got the same YD25DDTi 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine equipped with a variable geometry turbocharger that puts out 190Hp and 450 Nm of torque mated to a 7-speed automatic. It has a shift-on-the-fly 4×4 system.

Interior Amenities

To gain access, you use the intelligent key, which allows you to use the push button start/stop button, you also get quite a few creature comforts, including the very comfortable leather Zero Gravity Type seats for the driver and front passenger with the driver getting 8-way power adjust. The steering wheel is leather wrapped, with buttons for audio, cruise control, and hands free controls for your paired smartphone. The rear view mirror auto-dims, both sun visors have illuminated vanity mirrors, there’s a 12v power outlet on the center console and another 12v outlet on the center upper tray of the dashboard. There are 4 cup holders in front and 2 in the rear and also 2 bottle holders in the front and rear. The 6 speaker entertainment system has a 5″ QVGA screen with CD/Tuner, MP3, AUX, USB, Audio Streaming, Call Function, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.

Safety features

Aside from the Around View Monitor, The Navara there are technologies like has Hill Start Assist (HSA), Hill Descent Control (HDC), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Brake-Limited Slip Differential (B-LSD) and Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)with Brake Assist (BA) to make sure you’re always in control. But there are only two airbags, one for the driver and front passenger.

The Navara still has one of the more comfortable rides by far, for a pick up and the Zero Gravity seats actually work. Power on tap is more than adequate and with Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility technologies, has the edge over its competition by giving the driver better all around visibility and control over his vehicle on the road. Priced at Php1,459M, its well below other top of the line models of other brands making it a good choice, make that, an intelligent choice for your hard earned peso.

 

Words and Photos – Neil Pagulayan