Nissan Navara joins Hilux, Ranger and D-Max in singles club

With the announcement of pricing a week ago, the locally built single cab Nissan Navara enters a segment not only foreign to it, but one which has been steadily decreasing over the last few years.

Once the backbone of the local bakkie market, the popularity of single cabs has dwindled as more and more buyers opt for double cabs in order to strike a balance between workhorse and leisure vehicles.

As such, the Navara joins the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Mahindra Bolero and Pik-Up, the GWM Steed and the P-Series as the sole models to offer space for two at the front and a long loadbed at the back.

ALSO READ: Nissan Navara line-up completed as single cab touches down

In effect, it also means the Navara replaces, until the depletion of stock, the decades old NP300 Hardbody from a workhorse perspective. This is in addition to being the first single cab model as neither the pre-facelift D23 nor the previous generation D40 offered a single cab locally.

Despite its decline, the segment still rates as an important one from a hauling and out-and-out work bakkie perspective. These aspects saw the dated NP300, which carried the Navara name in some markets since its debut in 1997, flourish ever since the range’s downscaling in 2005 when the D40 Navara debuted.

Set to challenge its old rivals, here is how the single cab Navara compares against the top three, as well as the Pik-Up and the P-Series.

Engines

Navara

• 2.5 L petrol (133kW/233Nm)
• 2.5 L turbodiesel (120kW/403Nm or 140kW/450Nm)

Hilux:

• 2.0 L petrol (102kW/183Nm)
• 2.7 L petrol (122kW/245Nm)
• 2.4 L turbodiesel (110kW/343Nm or 110kW/400Nm)
• 2.8 L turbodiesel (150kW/500Nm)

Ranger

• 2.2 L turbodiesel (88kW/285Nm or 118kW/385Nm)
• 3.2 L turbodiesel (147kW/470Nm)

D-Max

• 2.5 L turbodiesel (58kW/170Nm or 100kW/320Nm
• 3.0 L turbodiesel (130kW/380Nm)

P-Series

• 2.0 L turbodiesel (120kW/400Nm)

Pik-Up

• 2.2 L turbodiesel (103kW/330Nm)

Driveline

In a return to bakkies of the past, the Navara only comes with a single transmission; a six-speed manual with the petrol being rear-wheel-drive only and four-wheel-drive optional on the diesel.

The standard transmission on the Hilux is a five-speed manual on the 2.0 and 2.7-litre petrols as well as the low-output 2.4 GD oil-burner.

A six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic are available on the 2.4 GD-6 with the latter being the sole option for the 2.8 GD-6. Four-wheel-drive can be had on the 2.4 GD-6 and the 2.8.

Aside from the entry-level 88 kW model sporting a five-speed manual only, the 118 kW Ranger can be specified with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. It also offers the further option of rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive. The all-paw system and self-shifter are however standard on the 3.2.

Like the Navara, the aging D-Max also only comes with a manual gearbox with the five ratios featuring on the 2.5 and six on the 3.0-litre. The former is however the only model to offer a choice of either rear-or-four-wheel-drive with the latter being rear wheel driven only.

The newest kid on the block, the P-Series is outfitted with a six-speed manual only with the only other choice, apart from trim level, being rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive.

Locally made, the Scorpio Pik-Up mirrors the P-Series by having a six-speed manual as the sole transmission, while offering buyers the choice of either rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive depending on the trim level.

Payload

Pricing

In total, the Navara line-up spans six models and three trim levels (XE, SE and LE) with pricing from R316 700 to R534 000

The Hilux range is made up of 16 models over four trim grades (unbadged chassis cab, S, SR and Raider) with stickers starting at R301 200 and ending at R629 900

Consisting of ten models, the Ranger comprises four trim levels; base, XL, XL Sport and XLS with pricing from R339 000 to R552 500.

Seven models make up the single cab D-Max range with trim grades comprising five; C, C Fleetside, Fleetside Safety, LE and LX. Prices kick-off at R318 800 and end at R507 000.

For the P-Series, two trim grades feature; SX and DLX with the four model range starting at R347 900 and ending at R412 900.

Spanning six models, two trim levels (S4 and S6) and three bodystyles (chassis cab, dropside and regular cab) is the Pik-Up with pricing from R214 999 to R326 999.