Nissan Navara SL Warrior 2024 Review

Apart from the genuine all-purpose capability, one of the main drawcards is the price of the 2024 Nissan Navara SL Warrior. It is $61,750 before on-road costs (ORCs).

Direct competitors delivering a similar trail rating are hard to come by for the price. However, the box-fresh $69,690 Ford Ranger Tremor, the $63,840 Mitsubishi Triton GSR and the $71,530 Toyota HiLux Rogue 48V present as reasonable options.

The Navara SL Warrior is now an automatic-only proposition, so if you want the six-speed manual you’ll need to step up to the $68,765 PRO-4X Warrior – the range tops out at $71,265 for the seven-speed auto version.

The clear focus with the 2024 Nissan Navara SL Warrior is the componentry Premcar fits right here in Australia to make this a handy dual cab when you venture off sealed tarmac. An added benefit is that all the extra gear is designed, manufactured and tested in Victoria. It’s an arrangement both parties are keen to continue.

Beefing up the Navara SL’s aesthetics are bulging wheel-arch flares to accommodate the wider track and Cooper Discoverer all-terrain tyres, while the coil-sprung suspension benefits from a 40mm lift to the overall ride height. A winch-compatible bulbar with an inset LED light bar, a steel bash plate as well as Warrior-specific wheels and decals help complete the transformation.

Standard cabin equipment isn’t abundant, given the SL origins. You get vinyl flooring and rubber mats instead of carpet, and no leather-trimmed items to speak of – a plus for some, no doubt. The driver’s seat has four-way electric adjustment and old-school HVAC controls.

It’s key to mention that the Premcar treatment is covered by Nissan’s factory warranty, which is an industry standard five-year/unlimited-kilometre arrangement and includes five years of roadside assistance. Servicing intervals are lengthy at 12 months or 20,000km.

The 2024 Nissan Navara SL Warrior no longer carries an ANCAP safety rating, given the D23 was last tested in 2015 – at the time it gained five stars.

Along with seven airbags (front, side seat, curtain, driver and knee) the SL Warrior comes with forward autonomous emergency braking (AEB), hill start assist, hill descent control, trailer sway control, a rear-view camera and ISOFIX child-seat points.

If that’s looking a little sparse, it’s because you need to step up to the PRO-4X to gain safety tech such as radar cruise control, blind spot warning, lane keep assist, a 360-degree cameras and rear cross traffic alert, to name a few.

In 2024 it would also be nice to, ahem, see LED headlights as standard. The antiquated halogen items don’t really cut the mustard, which will be an issue for some driving at night in country areas.

If this is sounding like a broken record, then you won’t be surprised to find that the tech features of the 2024 Nissan Navara SL Warrior are also quite sparse.

Still, there’s a bright 8.0-inch infotainment screen that’s relatively intuitive to use with dedicated dials and controls surrounding it. You can stream audio and make calls wirelessly with Bluetooth or access Apple CarPlay and Android Auto via the wired USB-A connection; both USB-A and C ports are also available for charging.

The small digital screen within the instrument cluster displays useful information and is easy to navigate via the buttons on the steering wheel. The graphics of the central touch-screen are somewhat dated, while the quality and clarity of the rear-view camera can be grainy, especially at night.

The 2024 Nissan Navara SL Warrior uses the trusty 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel four-cylinder engine.

Premcar doesn’t upgrade the unit, meaning the standard figures of 140kW and 450Nm carry over from the Navara range. The boosted oiler gets the job done with minimal fuss, but there is some initial turbo lag.

The four-cylinder is endowed with just enough torque, despite offering up fewer Newtons than some rivals. It’s a shame that the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 offered in the D40 Navara 550 is no longer available, especially with the likes of Ford and Volkswagen using a bent-six powertrain to great effect.

The official combined-cycle fuel consumption for the 2024 Nissan Navara SL Warrior is 7.9L/100km. However, after some moderately challenging off-roading and highway/city driving, our figure came in at 10.4L/100km. While that sounds like a failure on paper, given the conditions throughout the test, that number is respectable.

The Navara SL Warrior doesn’t require AdBlue and the tank is 80 litres, meaning the maximum theoretical range is 1194km.

Despite the extra ground clearance, in terms of the on-road behaviour, the 2024 Nissan Navara SL Warrior is all the better for its trip to Premcar.

The upgraded suspension improves body control and reduces roll, resulting in the Navara SL Warrior being one of the more dynamic dual cabs in the segment. Unladen, the ride quality leans towards the firm side, especially at lower speeds. However, it rarely crashes over imperfections as the suspension recovers from gnarly city speed bumps with sophistication.

Braking power is positive, despite retaining drum brakes at the rear, and while the steering is a little heavier at slow speeds, due to the chunkier tyres, it isn’t obtrusively so.

As you’d imagine, given all the Premcar tooling focussed on off-road capability, the 2024 Nissan Navara SL Warrior is adept when the track becomes beaten.

With dual-range four-wheel drive (including 2H, 4H and 4L), a rear differential lock, Cooper Discoverer all-terrain tyres (with a full-size spare) and the uprated suspension, the Navara SL Warrior has a go-anywhere ability. The SL Warrior doesn’t come with a snorkel, yet there is still a wading depth of 600mm.

It also boasts an approach angle of 36 degrees, departure angle of 19 degrees (including the towbar) and a breakover angle of 26.2 degrees. These angles, combined with better than standard articulation and ground clearance help the SL Warrior get through tough conditions.

Off-road, the slower rack and heavier steering feel instils confidence when covering ground at pace, while the electronics are well calibrated to catch you if needed. The cabin NVH even remains relatively low on unsealed roads, with the suspension soaking up corrugations with aplomb.

We put the Navara PRO-4X Warrior long termer through its paces at a challenging off-road park and it proved more than capable.

Despite the rugged theme, the 2024 Nissan Navara SL Warrior can still haul loads.

The official braked towing capacity is a segment-standard 3500kg (750kg unbraked) with a payload of 1026kg. Overall GVM increases by 100kg over the non-Warrior spec SL Navara to 3250kg, while the towball weight is 350kg.

Unlike the Ranger/Amarok twins, the load bay can’t handle an Aussie-grade pallet between its arches, but it will accept Euro versions. And if you’re looking to conceal expensive gear, the optional lockable roller-style cover is a must – it’s also a cinch to use, as it’s operated by the key fob or dedicated buttons on the outside of the tray.

To see the Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior in action towing a caravan, check out our detailed tow test.

Fit for purpose comes to mind when opening the door of the 2024 Nissan Navara SL Warrior.

Don’t expect to be pampered with soft materials like leather or have your posterior warmed by heating. Remembering the SL part of the nomenclature is key. On the flip side, many will see the swathes of cloth, vinyl, rubber and durable plastics as a boon. Even the manual climate controls can be operated with gloves. After all, this is a dual cab that’s meant to be used.

However, there isn’t as much adjustment in the seating position for some and the lack of rear head and legroom for tall occupants is an issue if you often need to travel four-up. There is a handy USB-A port beneath the rear air vents and the central fold-down armrest reveals an additional two cup holders for back-seat passengers.

Despite the interior being the example of where money has been saved – there are no Warrior decals to signify you’ve bought something better than the base SL specification – the Warrior’s cabin remains a nice place to be.

For those who deem exterior bling and interior frills as inconsequential, then the hardwearing 2024 Nissan Navara SL Warrior will be right up your alley. We certainly like the ‘tougher’ looks of the base model.

Yes, you can step up to the fully kitted PRO-4X Warrior to live out your Baja dreams in leather-clad ‘luxury’, but you’ll be paying at least $10k more for the extra accoutrements. Doing so will be easily justifiable to some.

While the fifth-generation D23 Navara has seen a decade of service, the SL Warrior still feels fighting fit thanks to the Premcar tune-up. No matter your budget, if you live by the mantra of work hard, play harder, then this capable dual cab needs to be on your shopping list.

2024 Nissan Navara SL Warrior at a glance:

Price: $61,750 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.3-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel
Output: 140kW/450Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 208g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not rated

Related: Nissan Navara Warrior 2023 long-term review

Related: Nissan Navara Warrior 2022 tow test