More Nissan Navara variants arrive

NISSAN has filled out its Navara pick-up range with the addition of 13 new single-cab, king-cab and dual-cab variants, bringing the NP300 workhorse line-up to 27 variants.

While the rest of the range went on sale in June, the latest additions are set to lob in local dealerships by November, just after the launch of rival Toyota's all-new HiLux.

The single-cab is offered in DX and RX grades, but any tradies after a pick-up body style are out of luck, with Nissan confirming that single-cabs are offered as a cab-chassis only.

Powertrains for the single-cabs include the 122kW/238Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol unit for the 4x2 DX only with fuel economy of 9.9 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle, while the other grades use a 120kW/403Nm 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel unit that sips 6.4L/100km in 4x2 guise and 6.6L/100km with 4x4.

A six-speed manual is standard, but buyers of the 4x4 RX diesel can opt for a seven-speed automatic transmission. All single-cabs get Nissan's leaf spring rear suspension set-up and maximum payload varies from 1196kg to 1362kg, depending on the powertrain and grade.

Standard gear for single-cabs includes seven airbags, Bluetooth audio and phone streaming with steering wheel controls and hands-free, six-way adjustable driver's seat with manual adjustment, CD player, auxiliary and USB jacks, four-speaker stereo, three 12-volt power sockets, full-size spare wheel and 15-inch steel wheels on DX and 16-inch hoops on RX.

The single-cabs become the new entry variants in the NP300 Navara range, with prices kicking off from $19,490 plus on-road costs for the DX 4x2 petrol cab-chassis, before hitting $35,490 for the RX 4x4 diesel cab-chassis optioned with the $2500 seven-speed auto.

The range then steps up to the king-cab which is a two-door body style with seating for up to four occupants, and is available in RX, ST and range-topping ST-X specifications.

There is no petrol engine on offer in king-cab, with the 120kW/403Nm in RX 4x2 cab-chassis and 4x4 RX cab-chassis and pick-up matched with the six-speed manual, while the ST and ST-X are pick-up only and use the twin-turbo 140kW/450Nm unit with the auto available as a $2500 option.

Fuel economy ranges from 6.4L/100km for the 4x2 RX manual up to 7.0L/100km for the 4x4 ST-X auto, and payloads range from 969kg to 1261 depending on the variant.

Pricing for the king-cabs start at $28,490 for the RX 4x2 cab-chassis and top out at $51,490 for the 4x4 ST-X pick-up with an auto.

Some of the king-cab standard equipment for ST includes NissanConnect smartphone integration, a reversing camera, LED headlights, a 12-volt socket in the cargo area, rear airvents and 16-inch alloy wheels, while the ST-X adds dual-zone climate control, sat-nav with 3D mapping and a touchscreen, leather-accented upholstery, eight-way adjustable driver's seat with power slide/recline/height adjustment, keyless entry and 18-inch alloys.

Nissan has also added a cab-chassis version of the Navara RX 4x4 diesel dual-cab, priced from $38,490, powered by the 120kW/403Nm diesel that consumes 6.6L/100km matched with the standard manual gearbox.

The payload is 1151kg and the equipment list matches that of the 4x4 king-cab RX.

In June, Nissan just launched the dual-cab body styles for the Navara, which kicked off in 4x2 DX petrol manual guise from $26,490, and hit $54,490 for the 4x4 ST-X diesel auto.

Sales of the Navara are down so far this year, perhaps unsurprising given the old model was in run-out and half the variants are arriving in the coming months.

The 4x2 variants are down by 61.3 per cent to 376 sales, while 6962 4x4s have found homes, a 22.8 per cent dip.

The sales success of the Navara is unlikely to be measured properly until next year when all variants are on sale.

This year marks a huge year for pick-ups in Australia, with new or heavily revised versions of the Mazda BT-50, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton and Toyota HiLux all on sale by the end of October.

2015 Nissan NP300 Navara pricing*

Single cab
Single cab DX 4x2 petrol cab chassis	$19,490
Single cab RX 4x2 diesel cab chassis	$25,990
Single cab DX 4x4 diesel cab chassis	$31,990
Single cab RX 4x4 diesel cab chassis	$32,990
Single cab RX 4x4 diesel cab chassis (a)	$35,490
King cab
King cab RX 4x2 diesel cab chassis	$28,490
King cab RX 4x4 diesel cab chassis	$35,490
King cab RX 4x4 diesel pick-up	$36,990
King cab ST 4x4 diesel pick-up	$42,990
King cab ST 4x4 diesel pick-up (a)	$45,490
King cab ST-X 4x4 diesel pick-up	$48,990
King cab ST-X 4x4 diesel pick-up (a)	$51,490
Dual cab chassis
Dual cab RX 4x4 diesel cab chassis	$38,490

*Excludes on-road costs