2023 Nissan Navara 2.5 V Black Edition Review

The pickup truck market in Southeast Asia has always been dominated by practicality, and the Nissan Navara, a regular in this segment, enters the field once again with the 2023 2.5 V Black Edition, featuring more balanced configurations and a blacked-out exterior. Targeting users who require the practicality of cargo transportation along with everyday home-use comfort, we tested this model to evaluate its dynamic performance and spatial practicality to see if the RM 137,900-priced vehicle can stand out in its class.

From a distance, the 2023 Navara 2.5 V Black Edition retains the rugged silhouette of a pickup truck, but the detailed blacked-out accents give it a touch of sportiness. The front V-Motion grille uses gloss black trim, complemented by LED automatic headlights on both sides, which enhance its recognition compared to standard versions. The wheel arches, side steps, and 17-inch wheels on the sides of the body are also treated with a smoked black finish. Combined with the body’s flowing waistline, the vehicle does not appear overly bulky. The rear LED taillights have a simple design, and the black protective plate under the rear bumper echoes the overall style while retaining the towing capability essential for pickups. The lighting system deserves a mention; the LED headlights provide a sufficiently wide range of illumination, ensuring good road visibility during nighttime driving. The front fog lights also offer extra penetration in rainy or foggy conditions.

Step inside the vehicle, and the interior design leans more towards functionality, avoiding overly fancy elements, but the materials and configurations are noticeably improved compared to the previous generation. The top of the dashboard is covered with soft-touch plastic, and the central area is adorned with silver accents. While the tactile feel isn’t particularly premium, the durability should hold up well. The 8-inch touchscreen at the center serves as the visual focal point, with a clean interface layout and smooth operation. The standard Sound Plus feature combined with six speakers is clear enough for daily music listening. The physical buttons below retain controls for air conditioning and volume, making blind operation very convenient. There are quite a few configuration highlights: the 7-inch digital instrument cluster displays information like fuel consumption and four-wheel drive status in an intuitive way. The driver’s seat supports 8-way electric adjustment with 2-way lumbar support, ensuring reduced fatigue during long drives once the seat is adjusted to a comfortable position. The passenger seat is manually adjustable in 4 directions, while the rear row is equipped with a foldable bench seat. With an almost flat floor in the middle, three passengers can sit without feeling too cramped. As for storage space, the door panels’ storage slots can hold two large water bottles, the deep central armrest box can fit a folded umbrella, and there are two front cup holders, meaning small everyday items can all find a designated spot.

In terms of dimensions, the vehicle measures 5260mm in length, 1850mm in width, 1860mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3150mm, placing it at mainstream levels within its class. For actual seating comfort, a 175cm passenger sitting in the front row has two fist-widths of headroom available. The rear row offers one and a half fist-widths of legroom and one fist-width of headroom, ensuring that even long-distance journeys wouldn’t feel too restrictive. The rear row is equipped with air vents and USB ports, catering to passenger needs in the details. Although the dimensions of the cargo bed are not specified, tests showed that it can easily accommodate two standard-sized suitcases. Furthermore, with the rear seats foldable, the vehicle offers good adaptability for occasionally transporting larger items.

Powertrain-wise, it is equipped with a 2.5L turbocharged diesel engine, delivering a maximum power of 190PS and a peak torque that kicks in at 2000rpm. It is paired with an AT transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system. During daily driving, the power response at the start is not particularly swift, but once the RPM exceeds 2000rpm, the thrust from the turbo becomes noticeable. When overtaking, stepping hard on the accelerator will prompt the transmission to quickly downshift, ensuring smooth power delivery without noticeable jerks. Driving modes include Eco, Normal, and Sport. In Eco mode, the throttle response is softer, making it suitable for congested city roads, while Sport mode is more aggressive, ideal for high-speed overtaking or uphill driving.

The handling and chassis performance exceeded expectations. The front suspension is a double-wishbone independent suspension, and although the rear suspension uses a leaf spring, its tuning is much softer compared to the previous model. When driving on bumpy city roads, the chassis absorbs most of the small vibrations, and the impact when crossing speed bumps is not overly harsh. On mountain roads, the steering wheel’s weight feels just right, with precise handling, and the body roll is well-controlled. Together with the added support of the four-wheel-drive system, the vehicle remains very stable during cornering. We also tested its off-road capabilities. On unpaved roads, switching to four-wheel drive noticeably improved tire grip. It can easily handle light mud and uneven terrain without requiring additional intervention, making it suitable for occasional off-road needs.

As for fuel consumption, we drove 100 km in the city and 100 km on the highway, achieving an overall fuel consumption of approximately 8.5L/100km. This figure is acceptable considering the vehicle's weight of 2.006kg. Noise control is also commendable. During highway driving, wind and tire noise are kept within reasonable levels, and the noise from the diesel engine is barely audible inside the cabin, with only a slight rumble entering the cabin during hard acceleration.

In summary, the core strength of the 2023 Nissan Navara 2.5 V Black Edition lies in its "balance" — the blacked-out exterior combines individuality with practicality, the interior features are more comprehensive than those of competitors in the same class (such as the mid-range version of Toyota Hilux or Ford Ranger), and its dynamic performance strikes a balance between comfort and off-road capabilities. With a suggested retail price of RM 137,900, when compared to the Hilux 2.4L SR5 (approximately RM 145,000), it offers better features at a lower price, making it highly cost-effective.

This vehicle appeals to a very specific group of people: those who need a pickup truck for its cargo capacity but also want to consider everyday family transportation. For example, small business owners who use the truck bed for transporting or delivering goods during workdays and need it to serve as a comfortable family vehicle on weekends will find it suitable. Alternatively, for consumers who enjoy occasional off-road adventures, the full-time four-wheel-drive system can handle light off-road scenarios with ease.

Overall, the 2023 Navara 2.5 V Black Edition has no significant weaknesses and serves as a practical pickup truck that "does a bit of everything." If you’re looking for a pickup truck that goes beyond solely being a work tool, it stands out as a top choice in its price range.