Test drive: Nissan Navara AT32 190 CV AUT., off-road beast 4x4

Pick-ups have made a comeback in the market. With the end of the restrictions that treated them as industrial vehicles and given their versatility, they are a real option for those who want a car for both leisure and work. There are several pick-ups available, but without a doubt the one we have tested here is one of the most radical in terms of off-road behaviour, it is a preparation by the Icelanders at Arctic Trucks who take the Nissan Navara to the extreme.

Design: exterior with 4×4 preparation and an interior typically Nissan

The Navara AT32 stands out externally thanks to a series of elements specific to this preparation, all of them geared toward extreme 4×4 use. In terms of dimensions, thanks to a specific suspension, it increases its ground clearance by 18 mm compared with the traditional version; its tyres (Nokian Rotiiva Plus AT, 17 inches) are special for off-road use and have two valves.

In addition to the above, this AT32 version also has a snorkel to improve its wading capacity up to 80 cm, and a metal underbody protection so that we don’t have to worry, whatever terrain we drive on.

From the side, not even the side steps are able to overcome the enormous ground clearance, although they are practical for getting into the vehicle. The rear is formed by the open load bed (which can be complemented with accessories), very easy to clean thanks to its interior material (just pass a hose over it).

Inside, there are no changes compared with a conventional Nissan Navara; the dashboard has a typically Japanese design and the materials are correct but without great displays of quality, since hard plastics abound, though with good fit. There are two details that this AT32 version has, namely the leather seats and special-design rubber floor mats.

The front seats are spacious, with an elevated seating position (electric and heated) with everything within reach, the various controls spread around the interior (mainly on the left and the central console). Meanwhile the rear seats are less comfortable due to the low position of the bench; however, it does have rear air vents.

Engine and performance: 190 CV of pure power

What moves this pick-up is a four-cylinder 2.3-litre diesel engine with 190 CV of power, figures that may seem high but aim to move the Navara with some ease and strength, though its performance is modest in dynamic terms. The 450 Nm of torque from low revs stands out, since it starts pushing at 1,600 rpm, and just above 3,500 rpm it begins to fade.

It is a rough engine, but with bite, that moves this Navara AT32 with some ease, both on the motorway and when tackling tracks or off-road routes. Paired with the engine is a seven-speed automatic gearbox, which is not notable for speed but works correctly. It does allow, however, sequential shifting from the gear lever itself.

The steering has a hard and imprecise feel, although the most striking feature is the brakes. Only the front ones are discs and the rears are drums; if we add to that the dimensions and the weight, which exceeds two tonnes, you have to be gentle with the pedal because miracles don’t exist, (and if they do, let’s save them for more important things), although overall the braking capacity is adequate.

Behaviour: 4×4 without limits but surprising on the road

One of the strong points of pick-ups is their versatility; they are vehicles designed for work or leisure use more demanding than any other vehicle, but that doesn’t mean giving up certain levels of comfort or on-road behaviour. During the first kilometres on the motorway on our typical route between Madrid and Vigo, this Nissan surprises with its good interior sound insulation, on a par with a passenger car. Furthermore, it moves with some ease on the motorway, with no problems when tackling an overtaking manoeuvre or a merge.

On country roads it responds with energy and composure, but only as long as we don’t have a mountain pass or a stretch of bends, because its inertia is considerable. In town it is a cumbersome vehicle given its size, although the camera system helps with manoeuvring and parking in the city.

Off-road behaviour: unstoppable thanks to Arctic Trucks

To test this Nissan Navara AT32 in a demanding way, we headed to an area that is especially tough, near where the Portugal WRC is held, an area with broken tracks where an SUV cannot get through and where “street” 4x4s have difficulty getting around.

Traction alone is not enough; a good ground clearance and good tyres help you get through any complication.

As was to be expected, our Nissan Navara AT32 had not the slightest problem getting through those areas. Besides the low-range gearing, it has front and rear differential locks, as well as hill descent control, locks that were hardly used during the test, which gives an idea of the capability of this 4×4.

It didn’t matter that the track was broken, or that we came in through a firebreak where the uneven ground made it hard to continue; this Japanese vehicle’s good approach and departure angles and dimensions allowed us to carry on without any trouble.

Among the improvements this Navara AT32 brings is a 80 cm wading depth, an increase in ground clearance of 1.8 cm (up to 24.1 cm), widened wheel arches and the high-performance Bilstein suspension, as well as underbody protection and front differential lock, all added to the off-road characteristics of the conventional Navara.

That said, its dimensions (specifically its length, which exceeds five metres) make it not very practical for manoeuvres in the countryside; even its width is considerable when driving on narrower tracks.

Consumption: reasonably moderate

As many of you may imagine, the consumption of the Nissan Navara AT32 is high, but not outrageous. Considering that this vehicle, over five metres long, weighing over two tonnes and with 190 CV, on the road settles for 8 litres per 100 km, which is a very reasonable figure. A figure similar to what we achieved on our usual motorway route, with an average of 8.5 litres per 100 km.

In town, however, the average consumption figure rises to 12.3 litres per 100 km.

Equipment

The equipment of the Navara AT32 is very complete; it does not forget the safety features typical of an SUV or passenger car (multiple airbags, stability control, VDC, electronic limited-slip differential, LED headlights, automatic emergency braking in frontal collisions, among other elements), as well as two-zone climate control, electric heated front seats for the driver and passenger, or the four-camera 360-degree package, very useful for manoeuvring.

The navigation system (NissanConnect) is old and it shows when using it, but it is very complete in functions, and the speakers deserve a special mention: with just 4 speakers the sound is really good (much better than the standard sound systems with eight speakers in general-purpose passenger cars).

Opinion and price of the Nissan Navara AT32

Unbeatable, the Navara AT32 goes straight into the select club of 4x4s that have no limits. Moreover, this ARCTIC TRUCKS preparation gives it an off-road design touch while maintaining the essence and elegance of the Navara, and with everything we could need to leave the asphalt without any fear.

As for the price, Nissan starts from the N-Guard trim, and on top of it two ARCTIC TRUCKS transformation packs can be fitted:

• The STANDARD AT32 PACK includes: underbody protection, specific wheels, specific Nokian tyres, Bilstein suspension, mudguard flares and skirts, side steps and AT32 badges on the exterior. Priced at 5,499 euros on top of the N-Guard trim.
• The FULL AT32 PACK includes the STANDARD items plus: safari snorkel, Eaton ELocker® front differential lock and off-road spare wheel. All for 9,499 euros.

That is, the starting price of the Nissan Navara AT32 is 42,863 euros with the STANDARD PACK, although our test unit came close to 50,000 euros. It is also only available in white, black and the grey of our unit.

Photos | Test team, Diego G. Moreira