MY17 NISSAN NAVARA IIPAYLOAD TEST
078
Hard
Yakka
WORDS AND PHOTOS FRASER STRONACHHave the Series II revisions
to the Navara’s coil-sprung
rear end made it any better for
carrying heavy loads?
N
ISSAN’S NP300 (D23) Navara arrived in 2015, but it was
revamped just over a year later as the Series II. Along
with a new model in the dual-cab 4x4 range and some
spec changes, the rear suspension was revised for what
Nissan says is “more refined ride and handling with
improved lateral stability, especially when carrying a
load in the cargo area or towing”.
In what was unfortunate timing, the changes were announced
just after we had conducted and published a seven-ute tow and
load test (see ‘On the Job’), which saw the Navara disappoint.
Nissan said it had made the changes off the back of customer
feedback, among other things.
Given the changes we thought it only fair to retest the Navara,
at least its ability to cope with the same payload we used in the
original test – namely 800kg in the tray plus driver, passenger
and other payload additions such as the towbar (so effectively a
maximum payload).36 http://www.4X4australia.com.au