Shortly after our first drive of the new Nissan NP300 Navara in Spain, the new pickup has been crowned as the 2016 International Pickup of the Year. Up against the 2015 Mitsubishi L200 and 2016 Ford Ranger, the superior on-road and off-road capabilities and strong engine performance was enough to win it for the Spanish-built vehicle.
New Nissan NP300 Navara
A number of Nissan’s crossover team were involved with the development of the NP300 Navara, which gives the new pickup car-like qualities previously unseen in the sector. Nissan is adamant that the superior levels of comfort and refinement haven’t compromised the off-road ability, durability or load capacity.
Towing capacity is now joint best-in-class at 3.5t, along with the Isuzu D-Max and Ford Ranger, and the robust chassis introduces a host of new features. This includes an all-new five-link rear suspension for the Double Cab model and an impressive load bed, which is 67mm longer than the previous model.
Among the new safety and comfort systems is the Around View Monitor (AVM) and Forward Emergency Braking (FEB), designed to further improve driveability and practicality, are also unique to the pick-up market.
Nissan Response
“Nissan is best known by its customers in Europe as the maker of capable 4x4s and breakthrough crossovers. This new Navara represents the fusion of those two realms of excellence to deliver a truly breakthrough pickup truck that combines rugged 4×4 toughness with the sophistication and efficiency of a Crossover”, added Ponz Pandikuthira, Director of Light Commercial Vehicles for Nissan Europe.
“It is truly an honour to be selected as the International Pickup of the Year by a panel of the most experienced commercial vehicle journalists across Europe. Thank you to the IPU jurors for this award and for this powerful endorsement of the new Nissan Navara’s product excellence”.
