Nissan Navara pickup - Interior & comfort

Nissan has worked hard to complement the Navara’s car-like driving experience with a car-like interior, and the effort has been largely successful. It’s pretty common for pickup trucks to feel just as utilitarian inside as they are to drive, but the Navara is an exception to this rule.

Its seats are also very comfortable (they were designed with the help of NASA), the raised ride height means you get a fantastic view ahead, plus the driving position is spot-on; this makes up for the fact that the steering wheel can only be adjusted up and down, but not in and out.

Nissan Navara dashboard

Much of the NP300’s switchgear has been taken straight from the Nissan X-Trail crossover. And make no mistake, this is largely a good thing. All the controls are well placed and easy-to-use, while build quality feels as strong as it needs to be in what’s meant to be a working vehicle. However, the X-Trail is no spring chicken, and so the Navara too is starting to feel slightly dated too.

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However, the higher trim levels make things perhaps too plush for a work truck. The chrome and piano-black trim pieces look and feel like they could scratch easily – especially if you’re getting in and out with tools and other pieces of equipment. The Volkswagen Amarok and latest Toyota Hilux manage to look more upmarket without the use of shiny plastics.

Equipment

There are five trim levels available: Visia, Acenta, N-Connecta, Tekna and N-Guard– all of which come with DAB radio, Bluetooth phone connectivity and three 12v power sockets. They also get a five-inch colour infotainment screen, USB port, automatic headlights, cruise control and a speed limiter. All models, including the two-wheel drive Visia, also feature air-conditioning.

Stepping up to Acenta brings 17-inch alloys, rear electric windows, some chrome interior trim and extra safety equipment in the form of autonomous emergency braking (AEB).

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You can also get the N-Connecta, which adds the more powerful engine, 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, keyless go, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an upgraded eight-inch touchscreen with sat nav, a reversing camera that displays in the rear-view mirror, side steps and power-folding heated door mirrors.

The Tekna trim has proved popular with buyers, which gets rear parking sensors, heated leather seats and LED headlights. This model also features Nissan’s Around View Monitor, which uses cameras dotted around the car to give a bird’s-eye view, making parking and manoeuvring in tight spaces easier.

For those wanting more style, there’s the N-Guard trim level. It’s essentially a black styling pack, with paint, 18-inch alloy wheels, rear step bumper, grille, door handles, side steps, roof rails, door mirrors and fog light surrounds all finished in black. Additional features on this trim level include a sunroof, a spray-on bed liner, half leather seats with blue stitching, black N-Guard carpets with blue stitching, as well as footwell illumination.

Options

There’s not much in the way of optional equipment for the interior. Only the top-spec N-Guard or Tekna can have a sunroof and most of the extras aim to make the Navara a better pickup. Rear parking sensors are very useful in parking such a long vehicle, costing £300. These include aluminium and plastic load-bay liners, a hardtop for the back and a sliding floor that allows you to slide heavy items in and out. A rear differential lock is offered for £450. You can also specify a folding tow bar – an essential item for most pickup owners.