Nissan’s NP300 Navara Awarded 5-Star ANCAP Safety Rating with Bullbar: UPDATED
Nissan have produced four bullbars for the NP300 Navara, and the ute maintains its 5-star safety rating.
NISSAN HAS DEVELOPED four separate bullbars to work specifically with its all-new NP300 Navara range; two made from steel and two from aluminum to suit both the standard and wide-body cabin designs. We have asked Nissan, but none look like they are winch-capable.
Nissan say they spent two years developing the NP300 bullbar range, with engineering and design work completed during with the vehicle’s final development prior to its market launch earlier this year – although these bars come months after the vehicle’s release, and well behind the aftermarket options from the likes of ARB, TJM and Ironman (we have a list here).
The bullbar styling was done locally, in conjunction with Nissan’s Global Design Centre. The engineering work, including assessment of engine cooling performance and the multitude of necessary tests to ensure these accessories met Nissan’s strict internal durability standards, was done in Australia, with some additional testing completed at Nissan’s proving ground in Tochigi, Japan. There was also significant testing to ensure the airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners and the like still functioned as they should. The NP300 scores a high 35.01 out of 37, unaffected by the fitment of the bars.
There is no word whether a suspension change is required given the additional weight on the front end, as is usual with aftermarket bullbars, pricing or what mounting points are available for accessories. We will update this post if we get the information.
Nissan also took the opportunity to say “genuine is best” which support the carmaker’s campaign to promote original equipment accessories and parts over aftermarket. That’s not as simple as it seems, and we have more on that topic here. Either way, it is good to see other bar options and one that will appeal to fleet users as it will be supported and warranted by Nissan.
UPDATE: Nissan didn’t get back to us about the questions, but we have seen a letter from them to aftermarket companies dated 7th September asking that for front loads in excess of 65kg the front springs are swapped for stiffer units, as per general good design. The timing is interesting – if all this development work was carried out, then how come such an obvious point was missed until early September? Any 4WD shop worth its salt would certainly recommend stiffer springs when you fit a front bar, especially a steel one. Anyway, good that Nissan are working with the aftermarket.
