Nissan Navara NP300

The Nissan Navara NP300 (sold in North, Central, and South America as the Nissan Frontier) is a midsized truck and one of the most capable vehicle platforms out there on the market today.

Nissan pickup trucks have always been regarded as some of the better options out on the road as far as power, performance, and fuel efficiency were concerned – but the Nissan Navara NP300 has taken those key features to entirely new levels in its 3rd generation.

Designated internally as the D 23 series, the 3rd generation of the Nissan Navara NP300 is actually the 12th generation Nissan pickup truck ever rolled off of the assembly line and it has learned a lot from its predecessors. Designed specifically for the non-US market, the first deliveries of this brand-new pickup truck will hit the marketplace in August 2014 – and consumers are going to be in for a pleasant surprise!

Technical specifications

As mentioned above, the Nissan Navara NP300 is one of the better midsized pickup trucks on the planet today. Nissan has been responsible for some of the best midsize trucks ever since their first one came out in 1985, and while they have explored the full-size pickup truck world (with the Nissan Titan), there midsized offerings are considerably better.

While the new Nissan Navara NP300 isn’t exactly a revolutionary model as much as an evolutionary model, it does offer some unique upgrades over its predecessor. These include the introduction of an in-line four-cylinder diesel engine (2.5 L, capable of 188 hp and 332 foot-pounds of torque), a new and overhauled suspension system, and increased payload, and a top speed of somewhere around 140 mph.

Maybe not the most capable towing truck out there on the market right now, the increased payload capacity is definitely going to be appreciated by those that expect to use their new truck as a "workhorse" – and not just something to throw a lifted suspension under excavation point

• Body style - 2 door/4 door pickup truck
• Engine type - 2.5 L in-line gasoline/2.5 L in-line turbodiesel engines
• Transmission - 6 speed manual/6 speed automatic
• Horsepower and torque - 188 hp/332 foot-pounds of torque
• 0 to 100/top speed - 10 seconds/140 mph

Interior and exterior styling

The exterior and interior styling of the Nissan Navara NP300 isn’t all that different from the earlier generation of this pickup truck. It keeps many of the same aggressively styled lines as its predecessor, though it has a bit of a curvier and more futuristic appearance – especially upfront in the grill and the headlights.

The interior, however, has received a considerable upgrade. All new interior materials, and overhauled and simplified dashboard system, LED lighting, and the availability of a navigation and Bluetooth connectivity “command center” are pretty new for this pickup truck and come standard across multiple trim levels.

Drive performance and ride

As far as midsized pickup trucks are concerned, it just doesn’t get much better than this when it comes to drive performance and write ability.

The Nissan Navara NP300 is responsive as far as acceleration is concerned, and thanks to its top-end speed north of 140 miles an hour (the fact that it can get from 0 to 60 in 10 seconds or less) you’ll definitely have a responsive vehicle on your hands.

Towing isn’t going to be as easy or as effortless in a midsized pickup as it would be in a full-size one, but that doesn’t mean that the Nissan Navara NP300 is incapable. You’ll have to be careful with overloading the midsized pickup, but the increased payload size and torque definitely give you some room to play with.

Final Verdict

You would be hard-pressed to find a better midsized pickup truck available on the market right now than the Nissan Navara NP300. Nissan continues to push forward and innovate in this lineup on a regular basis, and while this might not be a major leap forward it’s definitely a step in the right direction.