I have only one criticism against the Nissan Navara 2.5 dCi XE 4x4 King Cab, but it is a biggy: its huge turbo delivers almost no power under 1600 rpm, which caused even expert four-by-four drivers to repeatedly stall the Navara while trying to idle over obstacles at high altitudes like what we have on the mountains around Waterval-Boven. The same applies to its main competitor, the VW, Amarok,
but in the smaller 2.0 bi-turbo the turbo-lag is more controlled.Otherwise the Navara King Cab was SA's strongest, lowest-priced, four-door, 4x4 in 2010… great for farm work, fantastic on dirt roads and with more space in the extra length cab than you’ll find in a rear of most hatch backs.
The only way around this turbo lag issue is to rev the diesel to 2000rpm and slip the clutch. With 403 Newton Meters then doing their best to twist the plate into a pretzel, you will either spin the rear wheels or ruin the clutch over time.
Other than this, the Navara King Cab really is a great bakkie. For farmers it also has a bonus feature: you can claim back the VAT, which on its 2010 selling price of R320,900 was just shy of R45,000. The reason why the tax man is willing to give you back the VAT is because the King Cab copied the "suicide-doors" on Ford’s Super Cab. These doors are smaller than normal doors and opens to the rear. As far as Mr Taxman is concerned, they aren’t real doors, hence on paper the King Cab is a two door, two-seat, VAT-deductible commercial vehicle.
There you have it. If you are in the market for a really, really good bakkie which you actually want to use for work and not as, say, a penis extender, forget the rest and buy a Navara King Cab. Just don’t try to idle over mountains with it, the turbo lag will make you look a real tit. Race it uphill, and you'll be fine.
