Nissan Navara 2020 Review

In recent years, the competition in Malaysia's pickup truck market has become increasingly intense. Consumers are no longer just satisfied with utility attributes, and their demand for comfort and intelligent configurations continues to rise. As a popular model in this market segment, the 2020 Nissan Navara focuses on balancing durability and passenger car-like experience as its core selling points. Many family users and small-to-medium business owners are concerned about whether it is worth purchasing. This time, we got a Navara test vehicle, and the core purpose was to evaluate its overall performance in daily commuting, cargo carrying, and light off-road scenarios, providing potential buyers with a clear reference.

In terms of exterior design, the 2020 Nissan Navara continues Nissan's rugged family style with high recognizability. The front features a large V-motion chrome-plated grille paired with sharp-looking LED headlights on both sides, creating a strong and imposing presence. The side profile features smooth lines running from the front to the rear, enhancing the muscular feel, while the black plastic cladding around the wheel arches retains the off-road characteristic of a pickup. At the rear, the LED taillights echo the front design, and the chrome "NAVARA" badge on the tailgate further enhances the refined feel. Regarding the lighting system, the headlights support automatic lighting and height adjustment, which is quite convenient for daily use.

Stepping inside, the interior layout leans towards practicality, without excessive flashy designs. The dashboard is wrapped in soft-touch materials and accented with silver trims, giving the cabin a mid-to-upper-level quality compared to others in the same pickup class. The central touchscreen is 8 inches in size and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, offering decent smoothness in operation, though the interface design appears somewhat conservative. The seats are wrapped in leather, with the driver’s seat supporting 6-way manual adjustments. The seating comfort is adequate, and even during long drives, it doesn’t feel too tiring. In terms of features, the car is equipped with practical functions such as automatic air conditioning, keyless entry, one-button start, and a reverse camera, which suffice for daily use.

In terms of space, the 2020 Navara measures 5255mm×1850mm×1790mm, with a wheelbase of 3150mm. The front-row seating space is spacious, and for a 180cm tall tester, there is still a fist and two fingers of headroom after adjusting the seat. The rear-row space performs quite well for a pickup; a tester of the same height sitting in the rear has a fist of legroom and a fist of headroom. However, the center floor has a certain amount of protrusion, which might cause some discomfort for the middle passenger over extended periods. Regarding storage capabilities, the interior is equipped with multiple storage compartments, including door pockets and a central armrest box, suitable for placing small items. The truck bed size is 1510mm×1560mm×475mm, providing strong cargo capabilities, which is enough for daily hauling needs.

As for power, the test vehicle is equipped with a 2.5L diesel turbocharged engine, delivering a maximum power of 140kW and a maximum torque of 450N·m, paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission. The power response in the starting phase is fairly positive; a light touch on the accelerator produces a good torque output without feeling underpowered. During acceleration, the transmission shifts smoothly without noticeable jerks. When deep pressing the accelerator for overtaking, the transmission downshifts promptly, and the power reserve is ample. In terms of driving modes, the car offers three options: Eco, Standard, and Sport. In Eco mode, the power output is relatively gentle, suitable for daily commutes; in Sport mode, the throttle response becomes more sensitive, ideal for quick acceleration scenarios.

In terms of handling and chassis performance, the 2020 Navara uses a combination of front double-wishbone independent suspension and rear leaf spring non-independent suspension. The steering wheel has moderate steering effort, precise directionality, and no noticeable play. The suspension system handles bumpy roads adequately; the rear leaf springs may cause some bounciness, but the overall filtering effect is acceptable and won't make passengers feel overly jostled. When driving through curves, body roll is well controlled, providing good stability.

In the special performance tests, we conducted fuel consumption tests. Driving 100km under mixed road conditions, with 60% in urban roads and 40% on highways, the measured fuel consumption was 7.8L/100km. The fuel economy performance is average, falling within normal levels among diesel pickups in the same class. In terms of braking performance, the brake pedal feels linear, and the braking effect is stable. During emergency braking, the body posture is well controlled, and there is no noticeable nose-diving phenomenon.

Regarding driving comfort, the noise control of the 2020 Navara is average. The diesel engine noise is quite noticeable at idle, and wind and tire noise become somewhat pronounced at high speeds, though still within an acceptable range. The seat comfort is decent, with average wrapping but good support. The suspension system adequately filters small bumps, but larger bumps lead to more pronounced vibrations in the rear seats.

In summary, the core strength of the 2020 Nissan Navara lies in its balanced performance. It delivers both the cargo-carrying capacity and mild off-road capabilities of a pickup truck while also offering a certain level of ride comfort. Compared to the similarly ranked Toyota Hilux, the Navara has a slight edge in features, such as a central control screen supporting smartphone connectivity and keyless entry, though Hilux surpasses it in brand influence. Overall, this vehicle is suitable for consumers who need a balance between family use and cargo-hauling needs, such as small business owners and families who enjoy outdoor off-roading. If you are looking for a durable and well-rounded pickup truck, the 2020 Navara is worth considering.