Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior revealed

Nissan Australia has officially taken the wraps off its latest flagship 4x4 dual-cab ute – the 2021 Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior.

Again developed in Australia by Melbourne-based engineering firm Premcar, which earlier this week provided the first undisguised look at the new Warrior that’s based on the latest MY21 Nissan Navara, the mud-plugging range-topper has a brash new appearance thanks to the addition of several custom components.

Chief among those is a bold new bull bar, heavily modified suspension with a circa-40mm lift kit, LED light bar and all-terrain wheels and tyres.

Set to launch imminently, Nissan still hasn’t released the nitty-gritty detail just yet, nor the price.

But considering the popularity of the previous Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior, with all 1400 selling out, it will follow a similar recipe, starting with suspension upgrades including larger-volume dampers (previously Monroe), dual-rate springs (previously Tenneco) and new front jounce bumpers.

Retaining its predecessor’s 275/70 Cooper AT3 all-terrain (A/T) tyres shod to unique 17-inch alloy wheels, we should see ground clearance lifted by at least 40mm, providing a ride height of around 270mm, improving its rough-terrain and water-fording capability.

Enhanced suspension will improve the Navara Warrior’s approach angle too, while the new hoop-less steel bull bar with integrated LED light bar is backed by extra underbody armour to deliver significantly improved off-road protection.

Expect to see the front and rear tracks increase by around 30mm as well.

No changes are made to the Navara’s 4x4 system, which continues with low-range ratios and a locking rear diff.

The 2.3-litre twin-turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine (140kW/450Nm) also carries over.

Backed by Nissan’s full warranty and available from Nissan dealerships, the new Navara Warrior is based on the PRO-4X model, and although pricing has not yet been revealed, the Toyota HiLux Rugged X and Ford Ranger FX4 Max competitor will likely attract a circa-$7000 price premium.

The 2021 Nissan Navara PRO-4X dual-cab 4x4 pick-up currently costs $60,630 plus on-road costs for the auto version, or $58,130 for the manual.

Premcar says the new Warrior ute has been 12 months in the making, and as demand for aftermarket off-road upgrades on modern-day utes continues to expand, and ute owners seek models that stand out from the crowd, the new Navara Warrior is likely to find lots of new friends in Australia – and possibly overseas.

As carsales has reported, Nissan Australia is negotiating with overseas affiliates to have the butch Navara Warrior exported to other markets.

As the Nissan-Premcar relationship continues to deepen, with a beefed-up Nissan Patrol Warrior the next vehicle to emerge from the partnership in 2022, the latest Navara hero truck is also carrying a new name honouring the crew that converted the ute – Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior by Premcar.

“Nissan chose Premcar as its core partner to produce the first Navara N-TREK Warrior in 2019, a vehicle we believe set a new benchmark for locally developed dual-cab utes in Australia, and the first of what will soon be several exciting new Warrior models in our line-up,” said Nissan Australia managing director Stephen Lester.

“Australia’s unique landscape is both rugged and exhilarating, and the Warrior program is designed to deliver vehicles that share those attributes, without sacrificing safety, technology or on-road comfort. 

“The Navara PRO-4X Warrior by Premcar will continue to build on that legacy, and we can’t wait for our customers to experience it for themselves.”

Premcar’s engineering director Bernie Quinn said the new Navara Warrior takes “everything we learned on the first Warrior, and the feedback we’ve received from customers and the media, to create a tough, capable and refined vehicle that we think will be unrivalled in the dual-cab ute market in this country”.

“It doesn’t just look the part: the Warrior is the real deal,” he said.

“Australia is a vast and truly unique place, and so the Warrior’s extensive engineering and testing program was designed to make sure it hits every requirement the Aussie ute owner has. 

“That testing is now nearly complete, and that means a new Warrior is coming soon.”