Nissan Navara Warrior Engine, Ride and Handling, and Safety Review
What’s the Nissan Navara N-Trek Warrior engine like?
The 2.3-litre twin-turbo engine is unchanged compared with the regular Navara. It’s a sequential turbo setup whereby a smaller turbo spins up quickly to provide boost lower in the rev range before a larger one chimes in for an additional punch.
There’s a modest 140kW but it’s the 450Nm of torque doing most of the work. It’s very accessible and flexible and makes for solid acceleration.
We only tested the seven-speed automatic (there’s also a six-speed manual) and it’s honest but uninspiring.
That said, it’s slightly slower than a regular Navara. Blame that on the additional 193kg of extra bits (steel bulbar, 3mm steel bash plate, larger tyres, etc) and what is effectively taller gearing. While the gear ratios are unchanged, the circumference of the tyres is larger, so with each rotation, they go further. So you’ll be travelling fractionally quicker in each gear.
That slight drop in performance is more noticeable when on bitumen; once you’re on gravel roads and four-wheel-driving there’s ample torque to get the job done.
Nissan Navara Warrior fuel economy
It’s also worth noting the Navara is one of the most economical dual-cab utes on the market; while in the real world the Warrior will likely use a fraction more diesel than other Navaras, the official fuel consumption claim remains at 7.0 litres per 100km on the combined cycle for the automatic transmission.
What’s The Nissan Navara N-Trek Warrior like to drive?
The suspension is the big drawcard with the Warrior.
As with the regular Navara there are coil springs front and rear, each of which has been raised 15mm. Combined with the larger diameter tyres the overall ride height is increased by 40mm, increasing claimed ground clearance to 268mm.
The Cooper tyres also play an integral role in the way the car behaves. Engineers took into account the added sidewall flex of the tyres, something that reduces initial load impacts into the suspension system.
They also chose softer springs that make for better comfort over larger bumps, something noticeable on rough roads. That said, the jagged rocks common in the Victorian High Country (where our drive took place) still jiggle things around.
But it’s the extra control that characterises the Navara Warrior. Even on paved roads, it sits flatter in corners with added confidence. Just keep in mind that the tyres will start to squeal a tad sooner due to lower grip levels compared with the more on-road focused hoops on regular Navaras.
Impressively, though, the Cooper rubber doesn’t significantly increase tyre noise at freeway speeds. That’s important given the big kays you often need to travel between off-road adventures.
But it’s off-road where the Warrior does its best work. Those tyres not only provide extra reassurance against punctures but also better claw rocks and dirt for added traction.
Additional ground clearance helps with sneaking over tough obstacles without scraping the underside. If you do, though, there’s a solid 3mm-thick stainless steel bash plate up front to fend off any big hits.
The core of the Navara is also enhanced by the Warrior’s tyres and suspension. Locking centre and rear diffs provide excellent traction for ascending steep, challenging climbs.
All the modifications to the Warrior add 193kg of weight, which must be subtracted off the payload. That makes it about 724kg.
You’ve also got to keep that in mind with loading a trailer, too. While the Navara is rated to tow 3500kg, if you have a towball download of 300kg Nissan says you must subtract 410kg from the payload. So that leaves a little over 300kg for luggage and people.
How safe is the Nissan Navara N-Trek Warrior?
The Warrior should be just as safe as a regular Navara, which received a five-star ANCAP rating in 2015 (when active safety features such as autonomous emergency braking weren’t required for the top rating).
However, that ANCAP rating doesn’t officially translate to the Warrior because of its metal front bumper.
Still, you’re protected by seven airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag and full length curtain airbags for head protection in each of the outer positions).
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