2018 NAVARA NP 300 2.5 AT

The 2018 Nissan Navara NP300 2.5 AT is a rugged and premium midsize pickup truck designed for both daily driving comfort and serious utility usage. Known for its strong diesel performance, durable ladder-frame chassis, and surprisingly comfortable ride quality, the NP300 became one of Malaysia’s most popular pickup trucks for lifestyle users, business owners, and off-road enthusiasts.

Compared to many pickups in its segment during that period, the Navara NP300 stood out because of its SUV-like comfort, rear multi-link suspension, refined cabin quality, and powerful turbo diesel engine.

Core Specifications

Engine: 2.5L YD25DDTi 4-Cylinder Turbo Diesel

Performance:

• Standard variants (SE/V): 163 PS | 403 Nm Torque
• Higher VL/VL Plus variants: 190 PS | 450 Nm Torque

Transmission: 7-Speed Automatic Transmission with Manual Mode

Drivetrain:

• Rear-Wheel Drive (2WD) or
• Shift-on-the-fly 4WD depending on variant

Fuel Economy: Approximately 7–9L/100 km under mixed driving conditions.

Key Features (2018 Model)

The 2018 NP300 Navara carried a bold and muscular pickup truck design with a more premium appearance compared to earlier Navara generations.

Exterior:
LED headlamps with daytime running lights, chrome front grille, side steps, roof rails, fog lamps, sports bar, cargo bedliner, reverse camera, and 18-inch alloy wheels on higher variants. The NP300’s aggressive front-end styling gives it a strong and premium road presence.

Interior:
Push Start/Stop button, Smart Entry keyless access, touchscreen infotainment system, multifunction steering wheel, leather seats on VL variants, rear air-conditioning vents, and premium dashboard trim finishes. Compared to many pickups during its time, the Navara cabin felt more SUV-like and refined.

Cargo & Practicality:
The NP300 offers a spacious double-cab layout with excellent rear-seat comfort and a large cargo bed suitable for work, travel, and outdoor activities. Payload practicality combined with passenger comfort became one of its biggest strengths.

Safety & Technology

The Navara NP300 introduced several advanced safety features for a pickup truck during its era.

Safety Features:
ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Hill Start Assist (HSA), traction control, rear parking sensors, and ISOFIX child-seat anchors depending on variant.

Airbags:

• Dual airbags on lower variants
• Up to 7 airbags on higher VL variants

Advanced Features:
Higher-spec variants also included:

• Around View Monitor
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Reverse Camera
• Intelligent Around View Monitor on later updated units

Driving Experience

One of the biggest highlights of the NP300 Navara is its rear multi-link suspension with dual-rate coil springs, which delivers noticeably better comfort compared to traditional leaf-spring pickup trucks. This makes the Navara feel smoother and more stable during highway cruising and urban driving.

The 2.5L turbo diesel engine provides strong low-end torque, making towing, uphill driving, and overtaking effortless. The 7-speed automatic gearbox also contributes to smoother power delivery and better highway refinement.