Finally, after six years in the market, the mother trucker has gotten a major revision. Though only the Pro-4X variant is previewed, the new 2021 Nissan Navara NP300 (D23) has received some truly A+ grade action-packed looks – keeping it as up-to-date as its rivals.

Almost all its rivals were given an update or a refresh in the past three years: the Isuzu D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton were updated in 2019, while Malaysia’s pick-up king, the Toyota Hilux received new engines and features in 2020.

The refreshed Navara made its debut last year in Thailand and Australia. After a few units were spied here in Malaysia, it seems that Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has decided that now would be the right time to introduce the refreshed mother trucker but is it enough to convince Malaysians to say “Truck yeah”?

Exterior – Mighty mother trucker

The refreshed Navara sports a completely redesigned exterior with a more rugged version of Nissan’s signature V-Motion front fascia.

Even though ETCM will only announce the rest of the variants on 16-April 2021, the Pro-4X that was previewed will be the range-topper in the Navara's line-up.

If being a macho mother trucker is what you’re after, Pro-4X will suit you. It comes with all-terrain tyres, black wheelarches, and black-painted 17-inch alloy wheels.

At the back, the Navara’s tailgate has the model’s name being embossed across it, making it more obvious that this is no “Hailak”. The Pro-4X has black Nissan badges with red accents, adding more badassery than Keanu Reeves with a pencil.

Interior – Mother trucking comfort

Though the outside looks like a blockbuster action flick, the interior has a sense of comfort and familiarity, especially if you’ve sat in one of the regular Nissan vehicles. The refreshed Navara gets the same Nissan family steering wheel as seen in the X-Trail and the Almera.

The Pro-4X, gets an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display that supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This unit also displays the feed from the 360-degree camera which Nissan dubs the Intelligent Around View Monitor (i-AVM).

The Navara also comes with Nissan’s comfortable Zero Gravity Seats but also enhancing further levels of comfort and quietness are the increased amounts of sound-deadening insulation as well as the laminated windshield and front windows. We’ll have to put that quietness to the test when the Mother Trucker faces our own sound level meter in a review.

Rear bed - Ready for trucking anything

The Navara is a pick-up truck and besides its off-road capabilities, the updated Mother Trucker also receives some neat features that will certainly help those who want to load it up for their next escapade.

There is a rear integrated bumper step which would certainly help to make getting into the bed easier as well as Tailgate Assist which helps lighten the load when opening the rear tailgate.

Then, there is the Utili-Track Channel System which consists of 2 channels and 4 heavy-duty forged aluminium cleats that lock anywhere along the channel to firmly secure heavy-duty loads easier and faster. So, you can load up a motorbike in there easily or any heavy items with ease.

Nissan claims the improved Mother Trucker can hold up to 1.1 tonnes of payload. Not bad for a trucking beast.

Powertrain – Some things don’t trucking change

While the Thai and Australian versions of the Navara get a new and improved 2.3-litre twin-turbocharged diesel engine (190 PS/450 Nm) on their version of the Pro-4X, Malaysians are stuck with the familiar 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel carried over from the pre-facelift. This is mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission.

The enhanced twin-turbo unit produces the same output as the single turbo engine but no doubt that the larger engine would lose out in terms of efficiency.

Safety – Truckload of ADAS

Though it looks like it’s on #BeastMode every day, the Navara Pro-4X is equipped with a host of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that includes:

• Blind Spot Warning
• Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Intelligent Emergency Braking (AEB)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• High Beam Assist
• Intelligent Driver Alertness
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)

Conclusion – One mother truckin’ pick-up indeed

Compared to the outgoing Navara, the facelift definitely enhances the looks of the Navara, especially in Pro-4X guise. While the powertrains remain unchanged in Malaysia, that isn’t really a let-down.

The facelifted Navara has a presence that you certainly don’t want to mess with on the outside, but with its abundant safety features and expected comfort, it’s more of a friendly beast, wouldn’t you agree?

Also read: Old vs New: 2021 Nissan Navara (D23) Pro-4X facelift vs pre-facelift, like the new rugged looks?