Nissan South Africa has unleashed its latest off-road warrior, the Navara PRO-4X Warrior, a purpose-built bakkie designed to tackle some of the toughest terrain the country has to offer. Developed in partnership with Australian engineering specialists Premcar, this locally assembled beast delivers enhanced off-road prowess, rugged styling, and improved utility over the standard Navara.
There was plenty of anticipation around this launch, especially since the Warrior nameplate has gained quite the following in Australia. However, many South African fans were left slightly disappointed that the local version doesn’t quite resemble its Australian counterpart. While the styling differences are notable, the good news is that it shares the same off-road engineering pedigree, as Premcar also had a hand in fine-tuning this version for our unique driving conditions.
A tougher Navara, but at a price
Under the bonnet, the Warrior sticks with Nissan’s trusted 2.5-litre DDTi high-output diesel engine, pushing out 140kW and 450Nm of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via a 7-speed automatic transmission, ensuring solid towing capability and confident off-road performance. The combination of low-end torque and a robust drivetrain makes it particularly suited for tackling technical trails and towing heavy loads, an essential trait for adventurers who like to head into the unknown.
One of the Warrior’s key upgrades is its suspension setup, featuring a lifted ride height, revised dampers, and recalibrated springs for better articulation. Ground clearance is now 232mm, up from the standard PRO-4X’s 221mm, allowing for greater capability when tackling obstacles. To further enhance stability and grip, the bakkie is fitted with LT 275/65/R17 MAXXIS RAZR all-terrain tyres. However, this does come at a slight trade-off – on-road comfort takes a bit of a hit, with a firmer ride and increased road noise, likely due to the aggressive tread pattern of the tyres.
Styling and interior upgrades
In terms of aesthetics, the Navara Warrior gets a more aggressive makeover, with blacked-out details, red accents, and Warrior-branded badging. The rugged look is carried through to the interior, where you’ll find black seats with red contrast stitching, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a configurable 7-inch driver display, and dual-zone climate control.
While the cabin certainly feels premium, it doesn’t quite exude the same level of refinement as some of its rivals, particularly the Ranger and Hilux.
Safety and warranty
Nissan hasn’t skimped on safety features either. The Warrior comes equipped with the brand’s Intelligent Mobility suite, including forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system with an off-road mode. Hill descent control and hill start assist further enhance driver confidence on tricky inclines.
Backing up its rugged credentials, the Warrior is covered by Nissan’s standard 6-year/150 000km warranty, with Premcar matching that coverage for all Warrior-specific enhancements. Service intervals are every 15 000km, and Nissan’s extensive dealer network ensures ease of maintenance across South Africa.
Off-road dominance, but where does it rank?
We put the Warrior through its paces at the Piesangkloof 4×4 trail, where it performed admirably on a route that was technically quite challenging. The combination of its lifted suspension, improved wheel articulation, and serious all-terrain rubber made light work of obstacles that would leave lesser bakkies scrambling for traction.
While the Navara Warrior is undoubtedly a capable machine, it finds itself going up against some serious rivals. The Toyota Hilux GR-S, Ford Ranger Raptor, and Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 all bring their own flavour to the performance bakkie arena. The Hilux GR-S boasts Toyota’s bulletproof reliability and an aggressive stance, while the Isuzu AT35 leans heavily into extreme off-road modifications, particularly with its Arctic Trucks enhancements. Then there’s the Ford Ranger Raptor, arguably the most well-rounded of the bunch, with its twin-turbo petrol engine and advanced suspension system that makes it as comfortable on tar as it is on dirt.
At R924 000, the Navara Warrior undercuts the Raptor’s price tag, which sits north of the R1-million mark, and is also more affordable than the Isuzu AT35. However, the Hilux GR-S remains the most competitively priced of the lot. This raises the question: does the Warrior offer the best bang for your buck? If your priority is outright off-road ability, the Warrior holds its own, but those looking for a balance between daily comfort and rugged capability might be tempted to explore other options.
The verdict
The Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior is a solid addition to the local off-road scene, offering a capable and tough-as-nails alternative to the more mainstream performance bakkies. While it doesn’t quite bring the same visual drama as its Australian namesake, and the on-road ride may be a bit on the firm side, its off-road capability is undeniable. Whether it’s the best choice in its class will ultimately depend on what you’re looking for.
If sheer off-road ability is your top priority, the Warrior is hard to beat. However, if you need a more well-rounded package for everyday use, the competition might offer a better compromise.
