Driven. 2026 Nissan Navara ST-X
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
I’ll confess, I slung a fair bit of the proverbial at Nissan Australia when I saw the latest Navara. It’s not from a bad place; as a Japanese car lover it was deeply saddening to see how little was done to differentiate this iconic nameplate from the Triton
It’s also not because I dislike shared platforms; that concept has been around for decades in the motoring world.
Given the well reported financial challenges the brand faces, in many ways we should be happy as car people that Nissan is still able to bring cars to the market. It was with this positive sentiment that I approached a week in the Navara ST-X.
It’s a mid-spec model, sitting just below the range topping Pro-4X variant. I’m not really a fan of red on cars, but the Outback Red was the perfectly vibrant hue against the attractive charcoal coloured 18-inch wheels and gloss black front grille.
Despite mild differentiation, which includes 3 faux vents above the grille which Nissan dub a “hark back to the D21 Navara”, it’s hard not to see the Triton lineage.
Ultimately, it’s not a bad thing to look at, but the extended overhang behind the wheels could become an issue when offroad.
Inside there's even less differentiation to the Triton I reviewed a couple of years back. It’s basic in design when compared to competitor offerings nowadays, but that’s not really something that bothers me a great deal.
Surfaces are of a good enough quality, with plenty of charcoal coloured soft touch surfaces, and cloth for the seating in this grade. The latter is a preference in these parts, because the comfort afforded by a cloth seat can’t be matched by leather alone in my eyes.
The front row offers 8 points of electric adjustability, along with heating. Whilst the steering column also offers adjustment, which makes getting comfortable easy.
Infotainment controls are via a 9-inch screen that takes pride of place in the centre of the dashboard. The operating system is simple and easy to navigate and is supported by a range of buttons for easy manipulation of key functions.
A 6-speaker sound system plays your favourite tunes via wireless and wired Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, whilst charging is via USBC ports and a wireless charger located at the bottom of the centre stack.
The gear shifter is flanked by piano black and silver trims which also house a rotary dial to select high and low range, along with a dedicated button for drive modes.
The centrepiece of the Navara’s utilitarian roots lies in the tub, accessible by a manual tailgate which revealed a plastic-lined space. It made good storage for vitals on a trip up to Stockton beach, an exercise we undertook as a family in the Triton.
With a sunny weekend in the making, it was a good opportunity to gauge how the Navara fairs in comparison to its long-lost-cousin in this setting.
Hitting the dash mounted starter fires up the exacting 2.4L bi-turbo diesel four cylinder found in the Triton stablemate. It’s agricultural when compared to others, with plenty of noise and vibration through the cabin. It’s backed by a 6-speed automatic which does its best to provide the right ratio for the conditions.
Developing 150Kw and 470 newtons of twist, it deployed around-town work with ease.
On the freeway with 6th gear selected and the speedometer reading 110km/h it just chugs along, with an overall tested consumption of 9L/100km. One particularly impressive feature was ECO mode in this car; which dulls things down as it should, but actually makes a marked difference to fuel economy.
One of the key differences between the Navara and the Triton is the suspension tune, owing to fettling from the team at Premcar. I recall an overly compliant suspension setup in the Triton which lacked a little control in my eyes, with a bias too far toward comfort.
In contrast, the Navara was far firmer, which initially felt skittish. This changed markedly with a couple of extra passengers on board. The result was a ride that felt far more controlled and willingly responsive to driver inputs.
Piling up the tray with essentials such as recovery boards and a snatch strap, we pointed the nose toward Stockton Beach; an easy 1.5hr run up the freeway from home.
This trip punctuated what was an overwhelmingly frustrating driver monitoring system in the Navara. It would continually prompt me for not paying attention, even when looking at rear view mirrors or the infotainment screen.
I even tried to block its view with a $5 note out of sheer frustration. The joy was short lived, because when the Navara realised what I’d done, it started pinging me for blocking the camera itself.
With the Maxxis all-terrain rubber aired down it was onto the beach and to our favourite section to setup for some lunch and R&R.
In this setting the revised suspension tune made no notable difference to the experience, but what was still evident was the stress on the drivetrain. Sand driving can be rough on a vehicle, especially through softer sections. On this day the sand was at its softest, so the same attributes I felt in the Triton presented.
To be clear, the Navara made it out there and back, no problem. But it just felt as if it needed to work harder than I’d like to get the job done.
After a picnic lunch in the winter sun, afforded by a vehicle that could take us away from the city, it was back down the freeway home.
Nissans’ Navara continues to be a solid option for those seeking a humble vehicle to either work out of or make memories as a family. But with a sticker price of $63,177 plus on roads, it’s positioned above its Triton cousin.
Resultingly, it finds itself in a meaty low-to-mid-range price point compared to other dual cab utes on the market.
Ultimately given the minimal differentiation, the decision may come down to basics like visuals, or for the sentimental types, brand loyalty.
Like: Controlled ride compared to Triton, ECO mode isn’t lip service
Dislike: Drive Monitoring system is ridiculously over vigilant, drivetrain was stressed on soft sand, overpriced
Car Guy Rating – 7.5
The Navara is a humble but solid option for those wanting a ute that can take them off the beaten track, or to be a humble servant for work purposes. Ultimately though, in a space that is so hotly contested, it is just bland in its offering, particularly for the price. That overhang worries me as a four-wheel driver, and the drivetrain just lacks polish and punch. Would Not Buy
Comments