The 2021 Nissan Navara is Here, and Here's Everything You Need to Know (w/ Specs)

Nissan Philippines is aiming for the top step of the highly competitive pickup truck segment with the official launch of its refreshed 2021 Navara. The culmination of their 80-year history in the pickup truck segment, it features a stronger look, enhanced features, and a competitive price tag.

What’s standard across all 2021 Navaras?

Found across all variants of the 2021 Navara is the tougher-looking exterior. Despite being a “Big Minor Change” or facelift in Nissan-speak, the Navara has an almost entirely new front-end. The most iconic piece is the interlocking frame grille. Originally found in the North American Titan, it’s now integral to Nissan’s truck design DNA. Along with the larger grille, a taller hood gives added credence to the design; the front fenders, and in turn, the headlight size and shape remain the same. The pickup bed itself is taller, while the tailgate is now made of a single stamped piece with a built-in spoiler, and the words, “NAVARA” spelt out in the middle. Tailgate assist and an integrated bumper step is standard.

Underneath, the frame itself has been strengthened, while the unique five-link rear suspension now has dual-rate coil springs for increased payload capacity.

All power amenities—steering, door locks, and mirrors are standard, as is a Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming head unit with steering wheel switches, a trip computer, automatic headlights, variable intermittent wipers, and rear air vents. Ultra-comfortable Zero Gravity seats are standard, but new for 2021 are redesigned rear seats that better offer support thanks to a new material and construction.

Passenger safety is also very important for Nissan so all models (yes, even the fleet-friendly Navara EL) get 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, and Vehicle Dynamics Control with 4-Wheel Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS) and Trailer Stability Assist (TSA).

And for long-term peace of mind, all Navara pickup trucks benefit from a 5-year / 150,000-kilometer bumper-to-bumper warranty—the longest in the segment.

What do you get with the VE Grade?

Representing the bulk of Navara sales, it gets the biggest bump in specs compared to its predecessor.

Things standard with the powertrain. The Navara EL already gets the formidable 2.5-liter YD25 4-cylinder engine making 163 horsepower and 403 Nm of torque, but opting for the Navara VE AT already nets you the more powerful 190 horsepower, 450 Nm of torque version (the Navara VE MT shares the same engine as the Navara EL though). This is then mated to a 7-speed automatic with a manual mode. Among all Navara variants, the Navara VE AT has the highest payload capacity at 1,043 kilograms.

The Navara VE comes in both 4x2 and 4x4 flavors with the latter already getting an electromechanical rear locking differential. For those who do a lot of long-distance driving, cruise control is standard from this grade upward.

Exterior-wise, the Navara VE comes fully packed. It gets new quad LED projector headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED front fog lights, and LED taillights. It also gets 17-inch alloy wheels shod with all-season 255/65R17 tires.

Inside, the driver benefits from a 7-inch color TFT display and a leather steering wheel. It also gets dual-zone climate control with rear vents. For audiophiles and techies, the Navara VE immediately upgrades the infotainment system to the Nissan Connect system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. USB-A and USB-C charging ports—a total of four—are standard. The 8-inch screen also serves as the display to the reverse camera.

Aside from the reverse camera, the Navara VE gets two pieces of driver assistance tech: Intelligent Forward Collision Warning and Driver Attention Alert.

What do you get with the VL grade?

Once the fully-speced variant of the Navara, the Navara VL grade comes now in both 4x2 and 4x4 versions. The difference, as you guessed it, is the latter’s part-time four-wheel drive system also with a rear locking differential.

Compared to the Navara VE, the Navara VL nets you larger wheels—255/60R18s (up one inch from the Navara VE and Navara EL) and roof rails. In the pickup bed itself, it has the innovative Utili-Track Channel System which allows you to move and position its four tie-down points to just about the entire length of the loading bay.

When it comes to convenience features, the Navara VL is the most luxurious of the lot. It has an intelligent key system with a push-button engine start/stop, Zero Gravity leather seats with power adjustment for the driver, rain-sensing wipers, and an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

In the area of safety, the Navara VL gets the full gamut of Nissan Intelligent Mobility features such as Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, High-Beam Assist, and the 360-degree Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection (MOD). It also has parking sensors for the back.

What do you get the PRO-4X grade?

Sitting as the 2021 Navara’s top-tier model is the first-ever Navara PRO-4X. Available solely in 4x4 trim, the PRO-4X is tailor-fitted to real enthusiasts who want nothing but the best.

Outside, it has unique styling upgrades that give it a more menacing appearance. The Nissan logo has been re-colored to orange, matching the various orange accents found around the PRO-4X’s. Its formidable appearance has been matched by the decision to equip standard all-terrain tires (255/65R17) for added off-road grip, perfect for maximizing its 600-mm water wading depth.

The Navara PRO-4X’s interior is also decided more athletic with unique PRO-4X stitching on the leather seats and high-gloss black replacing most of the chrome accents. Surprisingly though, it drops the 8-way power adjust for the driver’s seat found in the Navara VL for a 6-way manual adjust, but its Intelligent Around View Monitor does gain an Off-Road Monitor function which engages the front camera automatically whenever the 4LO is engaged. Aside from that though, it’s pretty much the same as the Navara VL.