GRAB a slightly aged dual-cab ute, slide in a cracking new V6 turbo-diesel and seven-speed auto combination then put a fat sticker price on it and you have the makings of a image-leading premium model to – hopefully – create a bit of a bank up in showroom traffic and rev up some sales.

This is the Navara ST-X 550, Nissan’s stop-gap solution to new competitors while it sees out the final years of its now six-year-old D40 Navara range.

Is this new king of Navaras worthy of the title?