On The Road
With ‘Outlaw’ emblazoned down the side of the 4x4, tinted windows, chrome pipes, roof bars, and a quality CD player, the overall impression is all-American.
And if this isn’t enough then it’s the high road position that gives you an air of authority on the road. Unfortunately, it’s the road (normally the M25) that eventually levels the playing field with its heavy traffic delays.
The engine is extremely powerful on the road and while it bubbled away quietly on the first flat, it rose easily to the challenge of its first real hill climb on the M20 before settling back down again. Even Titsey Hill failed to provide a stern test, and only the recently installed roundabout at the top forced us to ease back. Maybe we need to look at even sterner challenges?
The five-speed overdrive gearbox can be a little jumpy and uncoordinated at times due to its flexible mountings and a pretty sharp accelerator response under foot. The throw is not quite long enough and not always as accurate as we would like.
The Navara has such a well sound-proofed cab – or it could have been us playing Billy Ray Cyrus’ Achy Breaky Heart at full volume – that it can be difficult to hear what the driveline is doing without constantly looking at the dials.
The unladen ride can be a little bouncy with the strong suspension, a common enough trait for 4x4s, and there is evidence of body roll into sweeping bends. The rear end has practically no weight on it when empty so if the road is slipper, or covered in mud as we found on an A3 roundabout, traction in two-wheel-drive will falter – another feature of the breed.
However, if these are the only criticisms we can find then it’s fair to say that overall the driving experience impressed us. It can more than keep up with traffic, the ride is relaxing and only the choice of music left something to be desired.
Cab Comfort
The “unique” interior is essentially the Navara Double Cab with some subtle changes but, having said that, Nissan hasn’t missed a trick here. Although a six-disc multi-changer CD would have let us add Johnny Cash, Barbara Streisand and Christina Aguilera to the mix, there is always a limit to how much American culture one can absorb.
Standard Outlaw features include leather steering wheel, and gear lever gaiters, heated electric wing mirrors, electric windows and twin cup holders.
From behind the steering wheel the driver can see all – except the end of the bonnet and objects close to the vehicle. For example, parking in Safeway’s means travelling to the furthest part where no one else parks for fear of damaging the sides, front or rear by trying to squeeze it into a limited space. It’s something that you would get used to, but there are still sizeable blind spot areas at the extremities of the vehicle.
The main reason for these blind spots is the low car-like seating position in the cab. While it offers impressive legroom for the front occupants, even the tallest person in the highest possible seat position struggles to look out over the door.
Another drawback of the low seating is that it reduces the legroom for rear seat passengers. But all five-seater double cab pickups suffer in this department to some extent. Owners who drive pickups for a living normally spec the bigger interiors, like the double cab, for storing equipment and belongings inside rather than because they regularly travel with a full complement of passengers.
The dashboard is black with white dials, although there is a faux-metal centre console that breaks it all up nicely. It’s not so functional in appearance as to put off the parents doing the school run, and neither does it smack of a ‘lifestyle’ vehicle, which would adversely affect VAT-registered customers.
The dials are clear and easy to ready with a quick glance, and the electrics on the door for wing mirrors and windows are simple to use.
Internal storage facilities in pickups are normally quite minimal, as there probably isn’t much an owner would need to carry bar site equipment, packed lunch, maps and some paperwork.
But in the double cab there is plenty of space, with nooks and crannies around the steering wheel and dash and wide side pockets. There is also a glove compartment, and plenty of space behind on the unoccupied rear seats.
