Nissan Navara axed in Europe from next year

Thursday, 10 June 2021

Meet the new face of the Navara.

The Nissan Navara was updated late last year, but it looks like folks in Europe won’t have much time to buy one if they’re still on the fence. A statement from the Japanese manufacturer confirmed its Barcelona plant will be shut down by the end of 2021, marking the end of Navara sales in Europe.

'Production of the current-generation Nissan Navara for European markets will end when our Barcelona plant closes in December 2021, and sales will end in the course of 2022,' Nissan announced in a statement to Automotive News.

'This reflects the declining pickup segment in Europe and the switch many consumers are taking from pickups to our range of modern and efficient vans.'

The facelifted Navara won't be available in Europe from 2022.

Nissan could import the Navara from Thailand but its board of directors had previously decided against such a move.

**READ MORE:

The European ute market is so dominated by Toyota and Ford that smaller makers simply don’t have a chance.

* Is the Mercedes-Benz X-class ute for the chop?

* Tables turned: next-gen Navara to use X-Class chassis

The updated Navara gets a new design and a smattering of new tech.

* Nissan refreshes Navara to take on the new wave of utes

* State of origin: Your new ute comes from where?

In the meantime, it seems Nissan will still sell the pre-facelift Navara until the end of its life cycle, expected to be soon, considering that model has been around since 2014.

The ute market in Europe is dominated by Ford and Toyota, pushing out builders like Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and Renault. Volkswagen currently doesn’t sell the Amarok in Europe either but a partnership with Ford will see the eventual return of the badge in the Old Continent as a Ranger-based pickup.

Nissan New Zealand reaffirmed Navara’s presence in our market, as we use the Thailand plant for our utes rather than the Barcelona plant.

The refreshed Navara features a new front end, taking design inspiration from the North American Titan. There are new C-shaped daytime running lights and a chunkier nose, as well as a redesigned ute tub (with a nice little flare on the tailgate), wheel arch flares and taillights.

Under the skin has seen more changes, with a safety update and a more refined ride. Autonomous emergency braking and forward crash alert systems on the new Navara rely on a large rectangular sensor in the lower portion of the grille but, strangely, don’t include active cruise control in any capacity. There is lane departure warning and lane intervention on ST-X models, however, which uses the brakes to adjust lane positioning rather than nudging the steering.

Other mechanical updates include a stronger rear axle, more payload capacity (one tonne) and tray volume, better brakes and a new steering lock offering faster lock-to-lock turns and response. Better insulation means reduced noise, vibration and harshness.

Power for most of the range comes from the same 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel four-cylinder, producing 140kW/450Nm. The only model without this engine is the 2WD manual double cab SL, which gets a single-turbo version making 103kW/420Nm.

Prices start from $41,990 for the stripped two-wheel drive SL single cab/chassis while the 2x4 SL wellside double cab starts at $45,490, before extending up to the $57,490 4x2 ST-X double cab, set to be Nissan’s volume seller.