CDN photo/Lito Tecson
We’ve already done a couple of articles about the Nissan Navara NP300 since it was launched last month.
We know that it is one heck of a vehicle that is about to spice up the Philippine pickup truck market. We also know it looks good, has a strong engine, cool air conditioning (of course, it’s a Nissan), spacious interior and a comfortable ride, thanks to its five-link, coil spring with stabilizer rear suspension.
The Navara was put to the test in a major motoring event in Laoag, Ilocos Norte last month and we were there to witness its toughness at the sand dunes of La Paz and its smoothness on the highway en route to the Bangui Windmills.
It is indeed a great vehicle that has raised the standards of the pickup truck segment in the country. But is it fit for Cebu?
We borrowed a test unit from Nissan Cebu Distributors Inc. to find out.
The unit lent to us was the top-of-the-line 4X4 VL variant and here’s what we liked about it after a weekend of driving around Cebu.
The only pickup truck in the Philippine market with a five-link coil-spring rear suspension system. Perfect for our pothole-ridden roads.
CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON
GREAT RIDE
The coil-spring rear suspension works very well for the Navara in Cebu’s (mostly damaged) streets. Nissan made a bold move by putting this new suspension system in the Navara, making it the only pickup truck in the market with this kind of combination. The new suspension gives the truck an SUV-like ride but still maintains the toughness it needs in rigorous situations. And since most of the roads here in Cebu are really in a very sorry state, the softer ride is a huge help for passengers, especially for those seated in the rear.
KEEPING COOL
Traffic is a huge problem in Cebu. Getting stuck really sucks. But not too much when one’s aboard the Navara, thanks to its really cool air conditioning system that is a well-known Nissan trait. So even if you’re stuck in traffic at the North Reclamation Area at noon, we’re sure you won’t end up being a hot-headed freak.
Staying behind the wheel is exciting with the Navara’s powerful 2.5-liter CRDi diesel engine with variable turbocharger.
CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON
POWERFUL BEAST
There are a lot of great places to go in Cebu, but getting there may entail some tough climbing. No problem for the Navara as its 2.5-liter common rail direct injection diesel engine with variable turbocharger and intercooler is capable of producing 190 PS of power and a whopping 450 newton meter of torque. That’s a lot of pulling power that can help you conquer the Transcentral Highway and breathe in the clean air and perhaps sample the fresh vegetables available at the roadside.
Roomy rear cabin space with its own air-conditioning vent makes the Navarra a great ride for long drives.
CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON
SPACIOUS AND COMFORTABLE
Long drives are also common in Cebu, especially because of our scenic coastal roads. The Navara takes good care of passengers in long drives. The zero-gravity seats, the same found in the Nissan X-Trail, give passengers a stress-free ride, even if it’s a long haul to Santander town at the southernmost tip of Cebu. Space also isn’t a problem as the Navara boasts of increased legroom and headroom that won’t make you feel cramped like what most of the old pickups offer.