A couple of weeks ago, Nissan gave us a pretty extensive first taste of its refreshed Navara pickup. The day after the vehicle was unveiled exclusively to the media, we took it on a rather long road trip to Ilocos Norte and back, totaling over 1,000km. Not only that, but the automaker let us play with the damn thing by giving it a workout on a sandy playground. It was a pretty comprehensive test drive to say the least—one that made us confident in saying that the wait for this truck was very much worth it.

Common among all Navara variants is the large new radiator grille. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: This truck now looks like the Titan’s plucky little brother. It makes the truck look bigger than it really is, which should significantly help it intimidate its competitors with similarly imposing faces. Except for the base EL variant, all Navaras get four-eyed headlights with split daytime running lights, and slightly revised taillamps.

There are significant changes in the cabin as well. Nissan Intelligent Mobility is standard equipment on the VE trim level and up, which features forward-collision and driver-attention alerts, and hill-start assist. VL and Pro-4X variants get more with blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and Around View Monitor. Except for the base grade, all Navaras get and eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The so-called Zero Gravity seats can now be had in leather for the VL and the Pro-4X. And the steering wheel now looks more car-like, which adds a sporty flair to the interior ambience.

All Navaras are still powered by the YD25 2.5-liter turbocharged diesel mill in two different tunes. Base and EL variants with the manual transmission get the more modest version of the engine with 161hp and 400Nm. The EL automatic and upper grades enjoy a healthy bump in performance with 187hp and 450Nm. Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual transmission and a seven-speed automatic gearbox, depending on the trim level. Four-wheel-drive versions get a shift-on-the-fly transfer case, a hill-descent control, and a locking rear differential.

Known for its coil-spring rear suspension that’s unique in its class, the updated Navara sports slightly upgraded springs. The dual-rate coils cleverly increase their spring rate when the load weight reaches a certain level. This prevents the rear end from sagging too much, and reduces harshness as the Navara carries heavier cargo. And speaking of payload capacity, automatic variants can accommodate just over 1,000kg on the bed.

The Pro-4X is the big daddy of the bunch. It is clearly aimed at the lifestyle crowd, and all chrome trim is ditched for black exterior accents. Worth noting are the alloy wheels and the badging that now sport the “Nissan” text in red. The Pro-4X also comes standard with all-terrain tires; out of the box, it should be locked and loaded for the rough stuff.

Colors for the new Navara are Stealth Pearl Gray, Aspen Pearl White, Forged Metallic Copper, Lunar Metallic Gray, Galaxy Black, Brilliant Silver, Alpine White, and Fiery Red. And as a first for Nissan Philippines, this vehicle comes with a generous five-year (or 150,000km) warranty.

See below the trim levels and the prices of Nissan’s refreshed truck. These are already inclusive of the provisional safeguard duties.

• Pro-4X AT 4×4 – P1,849,000
• VL AT 4×4 – P1,779,000
• VL MT 4×4 – P1,699,000
• VL Calibre AT 4×2 – P1,599,000
• VE MT 4×4 – P1,499,000
• VE Calibre AT 4×2 – P1,459,000
• VE Calibre MT 4×2 – P1,369,000
• EL MT 4×2 – P1,149,000

The Aspen Pearl White paint job adds a P15,000 premium, and is exclusive to the VL and Pro-4X variants.

The new Navara will be available at all official Nissan dealerships nationwide beginning April 14.