New tough ute arrives in Australia | Nick Tsagaris

 This new high-end workhorse ute has the ability to back up its rugged appearance.

Here is everything you need to know about the Nissan Navara PRO-4X.

VALUE

The new Navara PRO-4X is Nissan’s answer to high-grade machines such as Ford’s Ranger Wildtrak.

Priced from $62,290 drive-away in automatic trim, the PRO-4X costs about $4000 more than the well-equipped but less aggressive-looking Navara ST-X.

The Nissan Navara PRO-4X has the ability to back up its tough guy looks.

Cosmetic in nature, the PRO-4X treatment brings black 17-inch alloys with all-terrain tyres, along with dark treatments and red accents for the grille, bumpers, mirrors and sports bar, plus new logos inside and out.

It looks much more purposeful than chrome-clad models in the range.

Customers who want serious hardware can grab the Navara Warrior with fat tyres, body armour and reworked suspension for a further $11,000 or so.

As with all new Nissans, it’s backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Capped price servicing for the automatic model tested here averages about $600 per year.

The Navara interior has all the mod-cons you’d expect.

COMFORT

The PRO-4X has modern luxuries such as smart keys, dual-zone climate control, and leather seats with embroidered logos.

Road trips are made easier by an 8-inch infotainment screen loaded with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite navigation, and a handy 360-degree camera.

The steering wheel looks and feels great but lacks reach adjustment, and flat seats aren’t the last word in comfort. It also misses out on heated seats offered by popular alternatives at this price.

That said, Navara’s car-like coil spring suspension delivers a more accommodating ride than most utes.

The PRO-4X isn’t cheap. Photo by Thomas Wielecki

SAFETY

The recently updated Navara has a decent array of safety gear including auto emergency braking, lane-keep and blind-spot assist and rear cross-traffic alert, making it one of the safest utes on sale.

But it misses out on front centre airbags and adaptive cruise control, features that can be found in newer rivals.

DRIVING

Early examples of the current-shape Navara were undercooked, with steering and suspension settings that didn’t pass muster when put to work.

The latest machines are much better, with firmer suspension and more accurate steering. Able to carry more than a tonne in the tray, or tow 3500 kilos, the Navara matches the working claims of key rivals.

It is better to drive than previous Navaras.

But its 2.3-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel lets the side down with 140kW/450Nm figures that are less muscular than segment leaders.

It gets the job done without the effortless punch of powerful alternatives.

The Navara wins back points with a smooth-shifting seven-speed automatic transmission and multiple drive modes that work well on sealed roads and dirt. Rugged tyres on our PRO-4X were surprisingly grippy on tarmac while lending extra purchase away from sealed roads.

VERDICT 3.5/5

Running changes make the Navara a solid option, but cosmetic tweaks here don’t rewrite the rule book.

ALTERNATIVES

Ford Ranger Wildtrak auto, from $71,992 drive-away

The category benchmark is a winner, though significantly more expensive and due for imminent replacement.

Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain, from $62,990 drive-away

The D-Max is our pick of the ute class at the moment thanks to superior safety features and clever tech such as wireless smartphone mirroring.

Mitsubishi Triton GSR, from $59,490 drive-away

The Triton is a sensible pick with more equipment for less money. But it can’t match the performance or payload of key rivals.

NISSAN NAVRA PRO-4X VITALS

Price: $62,290 drive-away

Engine: 2.3-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 140kW/450Nm

Warranty/Service: 5-year/unlimited km, $2971 for 5 years

Safety: 7 airbags, auto emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert

Thirst: 8.1L/100km

Towing: 3500kg

Spare: Full size