Nissan Navara N-SPORT Black Edition 2017 Review

What’s it all about?
Australia's four-wheel drive pickup and cab-chassis market was up by 10.2 per cent year on year at the end of August, but new registrations of Nissan's Navara were struggling, down by 7.5 per cent in the same period. The model is languishing in fifth behind Ford's Ranger, Toyota's HiLux, Mitsubishi's Triton and Holden's Colorado.

Whether the Navara’s downward trend triggered the arrival of the N-SPORT Black Edition model, or it's just co-incidental, either way the introduction of this limited-edition, blinged-out dual-cab ute is timely, and Nissan will be hoping the ST-X-based variant will claw back a few more sales.

Well, an extra 500 sales, actually, as that's number at which Nissan says production is pegged.

It's a well-trodden path Nissan is heading down here – most of the major brands have released dressed-up iterations of their popular pickups, like Toyota with its HiLux TRD, Ford with its Ranger FX4, and Mitsubishi with its Triton GLS Sport Edition.

The N-SPORT Black Edition is actually available in four colours: Cosmic Black, Brilliant Silver, Slate Grey and Diamond White (as tested). Of course the 'Black Edition' bit refers to all the blacked-out componentry, including the sports bar, nudge bar, fender flares, gloss honeycomb grille, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Rounding out the deal are 'smoky chrome' fog lamp surrounds, N-SPORT badging and Black Edition decals, a soft black tonneau cover and an LED light bar.

It’s a familiar package for Nissan, as evidenced by the earlier N-SPORT X-TRAIL SUV.

The Navara version is based on the ST-X model grade and mechanically, and in terms of standard features, the pickup remains unchanged. As such, power is provided by Nissan's 2.3-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo-diesel, good for a claimed 140kW and 450Nm, and the urge is fed to the rear or all four wheels via a seven-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

A switch-actuated dual-range transfer case alternates between high and low range, while there's Hill Descent Control and a locking rear differential for tricky terrain.

Other notable features include a multimedia system with a 7.0-inch colour touch-screen display, satellite navigation, a reversing camera and reversing sensors. On the safety front, this five-star ANCAP-rated ute scores myriad airbags, stability control, Hill Start Assist and Brake Assist, among other inclusions.

How much will it cost?
The Nissan Navara N-SPORT Black Edition is priced at $54,490 (plus on-roads) for the manual model and $56,990 (plus on-roads) for the automatic. That's essentially adding a $2500 premium for all the N-SPORT extras, while the auto transmission adds $2500 over the manual.

Why should/shouldn’t I buy it?
For anyone hunting for a new four-wheel drive dual-cab ute, the Nissan Navara N-SPORT Black Edition represents a capable and attractive option which will stand out from the dual-cab masses.

Substantial appointments and a high level of interior comfort are assured, however the Navara dual-cab's coil-spring five-link rear suspension does represent something of a double-edged sword. It provides a smooth and compliant ride when unladen, but falls short of traditional leaf springs when shifting or towing a heavy load, as we discovered during a tow test not long after the latest-gen model's launch in 2015.

However, over the course of this test – which comprised town duties and a bit of weekend four-wheel drive work – the Navara served as a modern and comfortable commuter and a fairly capable off-roader. It's a bit of a noisy beast when working hard, and we did bend one of the sidesteps during a steep off-road descent, but we doubt any other modern dual-cab would have fared any better.

Engine performance is adequate, if not exactly scintillating. There's plenty of urge, but it does require more revs than some rivals to access the best of it – there's usable go from below 2000rpm, but it doesn't truly hits its straps until you've pushed past 3000rpm.

Niceties include electric front driver's seat adjustment, a sturdy synthetic tub liner and an electric centre pane in the rear window. We like the dash-top tray with 12-volt plug (ideal for an off-road GPS) – there's a further 12-volt socket in the centre bin, and another one over the tray at the bottom of the centre stack (with a USB port and 3.5mm jack nearby).

Cab storage is modest, limited to a medium-size glove box, the small centre bin, and fairly compact door side pockets. There are four cup holders for the driver and front passenger, right where you want them.

Room for second-row occupants is reasonable, but the seat back is fairly upright – it's a ute, after all. There are no power sources in the back, but passengers do at least get their own heating and cooling vents.

Nissan quotes a combined-cycle fuel consumption of 7.0L/100km for this model. We achieved a real-world figure of 9.6L/100km.

The Nissan Navara N-SPORT Black Edition is available now. As mentioned, production is limited to 500 units.

So what do we think?
This is a comfortable and capable all-rounder. With its coil-spring rear-end it offers a ride which is surprisingly refined for what is, in essence, a ladder-frame light commercial ute. But if you’re often required to test the upper limits - 3500kg towing and 941kg payload (auto) for the Navara -  you might want to look at some of the 'gruntier' rivals.

Those scenarios aside, the Navara is a solid, dependable pickup which, let's not forget, also forms the basis of the imminent Mercedes-Benz X-Class.

In N-SPORT Black Edition form, buyers get an upgrade which seems quite generous in terms of bang for your buck – and all in a package guaranteed to turn heads and provoke compliments, as we found numerous times during the course of this test.

At this price and with these features, the Nissan Navara N-SPORT Black Edition seems like a fair proposition to us, and one we'd take over a standard ST-X without a second thought.

2017 Nissan Navara N-SPORT Black Edition pricing and specifications:
Price: $56,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 140kW/450Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.6L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 186g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP