Gutsier Navara? Now you're torqueing

Nissan Pathfinder-10. Photo / Supplied

Revised turbo-diesel firmly regains most powerful Japanese ute title for Nissan, says Phil Hanson.

A small convoy of the upgraded Nissan D40 Navara ST-X utes snakes along narrow scree trails near the banks of the Rakaia River and the interesting thing about this scene is that nobody's getting stuck.

Every few hundred metres, the trail suddenly pitches down, then sharply up again. The steep approach and departure angles and the need for smooth effortless torque to clamber up and out of the loose footings are hazards lying in wait for unsuspecting drivers.

Some of the Navaras are still in high range; others have low gearing engaged that drops drive to the wheels by more than 2.5 times, so they can crawl along, if necessary, at no more than a walking pace.

But the chosen gearing doesn't seem to matter much to this group whose trucks are equipped with the latest version of Nissan's 2.5 litre variable-vane turbo diesel, now upgraded to deliver 450Nm of torque at 2000rpm and 140kW of power at 4000rpm.

The torque is the hero number here. Previously producing 403Nm, the Nissan engine last year lost its crown as New Zealand's torquiest Japanese ute when Mitsubishi's latest Triton was upgraded to 407Nm and 133kW. Nissan was unhappy about being toppled and suggested at the time that it would not be long before it put Mitsi back in its place.

Torque is important because it's a measurement of the twisting force being applied to an object. For example, your mechanic may have to apply considerable torque to his spanner to loosen a rusted bolt. If he's been working out, he'll have the arm power (translate that to read horsepower or the metric kilowatts (kW) to provide a massive dose of torque to the spanner and loosen the bolt.

Off-road, lots of torque is good because it helps allow vehicles to easily scramble up loose banks like those on our track a stone's throw from the Rakaia. Using a gentle gear ratio that barely disturbs the scree, the Navaras simply dismiss the day's obstacles, whether they're in high- or low-range, elegantly driving up and over and on to the next nasty spot.

Good torque helps a vehicle perform in all sorts of other ways, too, including pulling a boat from a steep-ish ramp. So the engine's upgrade adds a layer of capability to the ute, whether it's being used as a farmer's friend or a suburban family runabout, although on paper both the payload and the 3000kg braked towing ratings remain unchanged.

Urban and suburban buyers continue to be key utility customers, so other parts of the Navara D40 ST-X's upgrade were to make it yet more car-like. These include soft surfaces for the door panels and dash, a new centre console, a different instrument panel design, different seat and door fabric, six airbags, Bluetooth, a trip computer, dual zone climate air, and an auxiliary input.

Outside, the facelift comprises a softer, more rounded front end including a new grille, bumper and bonnet. If you're still not sure it's the new one, look for the "450" badge.

Other features on 4WD diesel versions include stability control and Active Brake Limited Slip that replaces a conventional limited-slip diff (LSD). This electronically manipulates the rear brakes to mimic the traction-enhancing effect of an LSD.

The extra engine performance has been obtained by using a major increase in fuel injection pressure to 2000 bar which improves ignition characteristics, modifying the turbocharger and exhaust gas cooling, along with a new head and other tweaks.

Two-wheel drive diesel ST-Xs receive a milder version of the new motor, with 120kW and 403Nm of torque.

The newfound prowess of the 4WD ST-X comes at a price. The five-speed automatic version crosses the $60,000 barrier to $61,450 while the six-speed manual is $2000 less. Cheapest in the ST-X range is the manual 2WD diesel at $48,600 while V6 petrol models start at $49,850.

By comparison the top GLS Triton that lost its top torque crown to the ST-X costs $54,990 in auto.

Because the Navara and Pathfinder SUV are similar, the new engine and most of the interior/exterior design changes are also found on that vehicle, now badged as the 450T. It gets some upgrades to call its own, including Xenon headlights with washers and costs $76,800.

The press introduction drive through picture-postcard Glenfalloch and Lake Heron stations included several Pathfinders. Although generally similar, their coil-sprung ride on rough surfaces was far superior to the rear leaf springs and solid rear axle of the unladen utes.

The previous day, Nissan showed another upgraded vehicle, the Qashqai 2.0 litre hatchback that looks like it might be an SUV, but isn't - at least in this market. The briefing included an overview of the forthcoming seven-seat Qashqai+2 model due in July or August. It has a wheelbase stretch to accommodate the extra seats, which fold away into the floor if not needed. It's also slightly taller.

Although meant as a seven seater, Nissan will also pitch it as a station wagon with a generous cargo space of 1520 litres when the third row of seats is folded away. It'll be sold in the base ST configuration but with roof rails and 16-inch alloy rims.

The general appearance is similar to the five-seater, but photographs suggest its longer profile and different window line may make it better looking. Nissan expects it to account for 20 per cent of Qashqai sales, to bring them to more than 100 a month.

Nissan's head of marketing, Peter Merrie, reckons the +2 will hit the right note with buyers because, "at the moment if you want to drive a seven-seat vehicle you have to almost always buy into a 4WD, some of them over $100,000".

The regular Qashqai, which Nissan New Zealand sources from the English factory in Sunderland (after receiving early shipments from Japan), gets a new bumper, grille, fenders, bonnet, headlights and LED tail lights. Inside is a new instrument cluster. Sound insulation and ride quality have also been addressed.

Prices have risen slightly and the top Ti-spec is now up $1600 at $39,900 while the ST costs $35,900. The +2 is expected to come in close to the Ti's price.

"Hero" feature of the Ti is a panoramic glass roof that's fixed in place, with an electric shade. The car also has 18-inch alloys, dual-zone air conditioning, an "intelligent" key and different seat cloth.

Mechanically, the revised model is as before, but overall fuel consumption is down slightly to 7.6 litres per 100km due to minor aerodynamic alterations.