Nissan Navara D40 2005-2015 used ute review
When it was launched in 2005, the ‘D40’ Nissan Navara offered a bigger, more passenger-friendly cabin than other utes.
When it was launched in 2005, the ‘D40’ Nissan Navara offered a bigger, more passenger-friendly cabin than most other utes. Ten years on, issues with the engine, transmission and chassis are beginning to show.
The Nissan Navara was the first vehicle in the ute segment to pitch as much for the lifestyle buyer as the commercial market. It was bigger with more interior space and offered some previously rare convenience features. Two body shapes are available: a ‘King cab’ with rear opening doors to access an occasional back seat and a full double cab. Our review vehicle is an entry-level RX double cab.
Inside and out
This generation Nissan Navara was originally designed for the North American market. As a result, the double cab version we reviewed is much bigger than the previous generation model: up to 160mm wider, 80mm in height and 250mm between the wheels. That all adds up to significantly more passenger space. The new styling is less rounded with its flat chunky front and bold squared-off wheel arches.
Tray size is important in a ute. The Navara’s tray is 1,513mm long on the floor and 1,555mm wide. The floor is not flat and intruding wheel arches narrow the width to 1,134mm in places. That means it can take one standard size pallet in the back, plus a load of extra gear or tools. With a manual transmission, our Navara can carry up to 953kg (you do need to take the driver and passenger into account). Four-wheel drive versions take less, at 853kg.
Our review vehicle features an aftermarket plastic tray liner. These are not standard and we highly recommend finding a ute that has one fitted for the protection it offers. You can buy a new plastic liner from $400. Our vehicle also features an optional canopy over the tray. It offers protection and security for your load and costs from around $3,500.
Shorter people will find it a little bit of a climb into the Navara. Although it’s two-wheel drive, the modern trend is for these utes to all ride at the same height as the off-road oriented four-wheel drive versions, mostly for cosmetic purposes.
Once in, it is striking how wide the cabin is. There is plenty of space for the front seat occupants and a large gap between their shoulders. The seats are broad and comfortable. Our review ute has had more than 150,000km of hard tradesman use and while the fabric is showing some stains, it is holding together and not showing any tears or frays. Rear seat space is also great for a double cab ute, with room for three adults to ride in comfort.
The backrest is more upright than in most passenger cars, which some passengers could find less comfortable. The centre passenger does not have a headrest and could bump the window close behind on occasion. The door trims and dash are made from a solid, durable-looking plastic.
The steering wheel features a leather-like finish with metallic spokes and is adjustable for tilt. The cruise control system can be found on one of the spokes. The stereo in this Navara features a CD player, radio and a port to plug in a 3.5mm socket to play music from phones.
The controls for the manual air-conditioning system are very chunky knobs and are easy to turn when wearing work gloves. Storage is plentiful, with two gloveboxes, a storage tray forward of the transmission shifter, a large centre console storage unit and bottle holders in the doors.
On the road
Nissan offered a broad range of engine options in the Navara. The only petrol engine available was a 4-litre six-cylinder unit. There are two diesel options. A 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine offers two different power outputs, and the third is a range-topping 3-litre turbocharged six-cylinder.
The standard transmission is a six-speed manual, with a five-speed automatic an optional extra. The 3-litre diesel is matched with a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting only. Our two-wheel drive RX features the least powerful version of the four-cylinder engine.
It produces 106Kw and 356Nm of torque. That’s still on a par with, or better than, most other utes of the Navara’s era. Under acceleration, it feels quick enough to keep up with busy city traffic and gets up to motorway speed easily. It is noisy - it makes a loud roar when taking off and a typical diesel grumble at idle. The six-speed transmission is impressive, direct and easy to shift. The clutch is heavy, although easy to engage smoothly.
For a ute, the Navara is rather nice to drive. The steering does not feel vague and has a nice weight to it. The ride is comfortable and, with no load on board, it is not as bouncy as some utes can be. There is some body roll and in damp conditions, it is possible to break traction with the rear wheels. That’s common to all two-wheel drive utes. A limited-slip rear differential helps with traction on slippery surfaces such as work sites.
You change between two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and low range using a dial fitted forward of the gearshift. That’s easier to use than the manual shift levers found in some utes. The Navara is very capable off the tarmac in the right conditions. Rutted tracks, beaches, dunes and paddocks can be tackled with the appropriate caution. Proper off-road tyres are needed to take on very difficult conditions.
The RX has a relatively low tow rating for a ute at 750kg (unbraked), a small trailer, and 2,000kg (braked), a medium trailer boat. Four-wheel drive versions can pull up to 3,000kg.
Visibility from the driver's seat looking forward is excellent in the Navara. However, a 13.3-metre turning circle – one metre larger than a Toyota Hilux – makes it hard to manoeuvre in the city.
Huge wing mirrors and straight vehicle sides make for acceptable visibility to the rear. Our review vehicle is fitted with parking sensors. With the canopy installed, vision directly behind the ute is restricted. We recommend you fit a reversing camera, which costs from $50 to install yourself and from $200 if fitted professionally.
Safety
According to RightCar, our 2012 RX model Navara carries a four-star Used Car Safety Rating based on real-world crash results. Standard safety features include driver and passenger airbags, anti-lock brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution.
After an update in mid-2012, the Navara was given a four-star ANCAP rating. The update added electronic stability control as standard across the Navara range. Before this, only ST-X models had the feature, along with side and curtain airbags.
The centre rear passenger gets a lap-only type belt, which offers less protection than a full shoulder-type. There are no ISOFIX child seat mounting points.
Reliability
This generation Navara has suffered from some concerning issues, particularly with the 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine. It has a reputation for injector failure. That issue will present as hard starting, reduced power and exhaust smoke. It can happen even to lower mileage vehicles. Reconditioned injectors cost from $200 while brand new units can cost up to $2,000. Those symptoms can also be a sign of a failed suction control valve. A replacement unit can cost $300 to $500.
High-mileage Navara engines are known to suffer from failed timing chains. These usually result in the need for a partial engine rebuild or a replacement engine. A second-hand unit will cost around $6,000 and is very labour intensive to install.
In diesel models with manual transmission, there are numerous reports of clutch and flywheel failure. A dual-mass flywheel is used to dampen the impact of the diesel engine and this does not appear to handle heavy use well. A replacement unit will cost between $1,200 to $2,000, depending on the model. Some repairers now recommend switching to a more traditional clutch setup for reliability, at the expense of smoothness.
In some automatic versions, the transmission cooler is situated inside the lower portion of the radiator to aid cooling. This plastic unit is prone to cracking, allowing the entry of coolant into the automatic transmission which causes significant damage.
Chassis corrosion has become a concern for early Navaras, particularly if the vehicle has been driven on beaches or used to tow boats in and out of the sea. Overseas there have been such bad cases of corrosion the chassis of the ute has bent, leaving it looking like a banana. When buying a Navara, it is important to carefully inspect the frame.
Look through the rear wheels and get underneath to search for bubbles and holes in the metal. Areas that look recently painted should come under extra scrutiny. If you see anything of concern or are unsure, have the vehicle professionally checked because significant chassis corrosion could leave the vehicle worthless.
Cost of ownership
Nissan recommends servicing the Navara every 12 months or 20,000km, whichever comes first. The services alternate through two types: a standard service costs $470 and a larger one, which includes changing transmission and differential oils, for up to $1,000.
RightCar estimates that over 14,000km of driving a year, a Navara will cost $2,570 for fuel and Road User Charges. The 80-litre fuel tank will cost $116 to fill at $1.45 per litre of diesel and should take you 815km before the fuel light comes on.
A vehicle licence for the Navara costs $198.08 a year, with the ute in the second cheapest ACC levy group for non-petrol vehicles.
Trade Me Insurance estimates insurance for a Navara valued at $18,860 will cost $60.45* per month. This is $4 more than a Toyota Hilux
Buyers’ guide
This generation of Navara RX is available on Trade Me priced from $11,000 to $47,000 for later and lower mileage vehicles.
A small number have been imported from the United Kingdom. Although these are essentially the same as New Zealand-sold vehicles and can offer good value, it is essential to check them for chassis rust as mentioned in the reliability section. UK roads are salted in winter, which can make the corrosion issue worse.
Two types of Navara were sold at the same time. This version is the D40, and because it was larger and more luxurious than its predecessor, the older model was kept on the market as an alternative for farmers and fleet operators. The older version is known as the D22.
If you can stretch to it, it’s worth spending more for a post-2012 vehicle. They have electronic stability control as standard and three shoulder-type belts in the rear seat, and the ST-X models have more power. The high-powered four-cylinder ST-X model is known as the ‘450’ while the six-cylinder diesel is known as the 550. Four-wheel drive is an option on all grades.
Variants
- RX – Standard model. Features CD player, Bluetooth audio, cruise control, vinyl floors, electric windows, manual air-conditioning and steel wheels.
- ST – Adds alloy wheels, side steps, carpet, a chrome rear bumper step, power mirrors and body colour mirror shells.
- ST-X – Adds electronic stability control, side and curtain airbags, tray tie down system, three child seat anchorages in the rear seat, premium stereo with USB port, high-grade cloth trim, leather steering wheel and rear heater vents.
- ST-X 550 – Adds six-cylinder engine, seven-speed automatic transmission, driver’s seat height adjust and lumbar support, fog lamps and a lockable tailgate.
Timeline
- 2004 Revealed in the United States
- 2007 Launched in New Zealand
- 2005 Receives a minor cosmetic facelift, six-cylinder diesel option added
- 2012 Specification update, including electronic stability control for all models
Details
2012 Nissan Navara D40 RX double cab
$21,000 to $40,000 for models which have travelled 70,000 to 120,000km
2.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged, 106kW/356Nm (claimed)
Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Four-star Used Car Safety Rating
12,000km or twelve months
Full size wheel
9.2-litres per 100km (claimed)
Diesel
5125mm
1850mm
1780mm
750kg (unbraked), 2000kg (braked)
13.3m
This review covers the Nissan Navara D40 for model years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Review vehicle supplied by Turners Cars.
*Our insurance estimates are based on a 35-year-old male with no accidents in the last two years, garaging the car in Mission Bay, Auckland. The car is not used for business and will cover 10,000km to 20,000km a year. We estimate with no option add-ons and $500 excess. Customise your estimate at Trade Me Insurance.
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