Loving tarred and gravel roads

Top Revs was excited to take part in a recent 4×4 fun day, held at Klein Aub, to see, feel and enjoy the new range of 4x4s from Pupkewitz Nissan.Standing beside the Navara as the sales team took us through various obstacles, it was evident that the single turbo 2.5L diesel motor is well-powered. Off-road terrain, like steep uphills and downhills, axle articulation and even terrain where one needed a guide to manoeuvre safely, were no match for the Navara. Though Top Revs didn't take the car through the obstacles in person, the demo model handled with ease as it effortlessly glided across the course complete with four occupants inside. The Nissan Navara only comes in diesel, said De Wet, who added that the diesel consumption is good, while the high torque range from the 2,5 engine offers loading and towing capacity of 3,5 tonnes. This is almost hard to believe, as the vehicle hardly gives a clear impression of how robust it really is, epitomising the popular adage not to judge a book by its cover. Not to say the cover isn't outstanding, with the big, almost oversized grill and intimidating appearance, flanked by LED headlights which change the perception of an all-purpose family car. Like the front of the Navara, the rest is well-designed and soft on the eye, while still leaving room for a host of aftermarket accessories, which owners can use to customise the car. The interior is a place where any owner would love to spend time, with the steering wheel hosting most of the controls that make the drive safe and comfortable and ensure you never have to take your eyes off the road. When it comes to safety of drivers, passengers and fellow road users, Nissan certainly did their homework. Top Revs particularly liked the centre console and cup holders, which are a big plus for coffee lovers who travel a lot and cover vast distances. To keep your cameras and smartphones always charged, the Navara also has a 12V outlet in the centre console, which can accommodate carry-on luggage like a torch, road map, logbook and a big bottle of water.To facilitate an easy drive at night, the Navara is fitted with an auto-dimming rear view mirror that dims when a car with their brights on approaches from behind. Other safety and driver's assistance features come standard, such as rear cross traffic alert, which offers information about any cars, pedestrians or objects surrounding the Navara, as well as high beam assist, which automatically dims the car's lights when a vehicle approaches from the front. Once the car has passed, the high beams are automatically reactivated. The car will even warn you about driver fatigue and advise you to take a coffee break! Since the Navara is made for the off-road stuff we Namibians love so dearly, the car is fitted with an array of features such as hill start assist, hill descent control, and even intelligent around view monitor to help you enjoy more off-road tracks.“The chassis was reinforced at six different places to make it even stronger. And on the chase twister (articulation), there are no problems, while with two wheels in the air, all four doors and the tailgate open without any problems,” De Wet said.This is one of many changes on the new Navara, De Wet added. Nissan decided to go back to the leaf springs (from the coil springs) in terms of stability and loading capacity, and they wanted to use the original Nissan Navara engine which was already proven and tested, he said. When it comes to maintenance, Nissan offers a standard 6 year/150 000 km warranty and 6 year/90 000km/service plan with 15 000km service intervals. The car will also remind you when it's time for a service, and with seven agencies across Namibia, any Navara owner can be assured of professional back-up when they need it.

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