Buying Used: Nissan Navara for under R400k

The Nissan Navara will soon become an import model again, but the used market still offers the locally-built models. Should you consider it?

Nissan Navara front

Image: Nissan

In early 2026, South Africa’s motoring landscape was jolted by the announcement that Nissan South Africa would cease local production at its Rosslyn plant and sell the facility to Chinese automaker Chery. This seismic shift marks the end of an era for the locally-built light commercial vehicle hub and carries significant implications for the Nissan Navara.

While international markets are beginning to receive the all-new, fourth-generation (D27) Navara – a vehicle co-developed within the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and heavily based on the new Mitsubishi Triton – South Africa has been excluded from this rollout. Instead, Nissan SA will transition to a sole-importer model, continuing to sell a heavily updated version of the existing, D23 model. For local Navara fans, this means the bakkie must now soldier on as an import, competing against newer products from Ford and Mitsubishi using refined versions of its existing mechanical DNA.

The technical core of the D23 has always been defined by its five-link coil-sprung rear suspension. While rivals like the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger utilised the tried-and-tested (but often harsh) leaf-spring arrangement, Nissan engineered the D23 to offer a ride quality that was less workhorse and more lifestyle SUV. By replacing leaf springs with a coil setup, Nissan addressed the skittish behavior typically associated with unladen bakkies on corrugated roads. To retain its utility credentials, the D23 was built on a fully boxed, high-tensile steel ladder-frame chassis that provided the structural rigidity necessary for a 3 500 kg braked towing capacity and an approximate 1 000 kg payload, specification dependent.

Browse used Nissan Navara models right here on CARmag

When the current Navara first arrived in 2017, it was powered by a 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel engine. Though good, Nissan reverted to the proven 2.5-litre YD25DDTi turbodiesel unit when this model was first facelifted in 2021, as it was less complex and easier to maintain. Like the 2.3-litre, it was tuned to produce 140 kW and 450 N.m; the latter available from just 2 000 r/min. The 2.5-litre serves as the reliable, albeit older-tech, heart of the South African D23 Navara range, and this “high output” variant will see further use as the bakkie transitions to an import. A lower-output, 120 kW/403 N.m version is also utilised for workhorse and entry-level, SE six-speed manual derivatives. While the YD25 is slightly less refined and thirstier than its 2.3-litre counterpart, the seven-speed automatic transmission in high-end models help it achieve a claimed average fuel consumption of 8.1 L/100 km.

Nissan Navara rear

Image: Nissan

The D23’s 4×4 system utilises a “shift-on-the-fly” rotary dial, allowing transitions between 2H and 4H at speeds of up to 100 km/h. Technical prowess is further enhanced by an electronic locking rear differential and a suite of “Intelligent Mobility” features. These include a 360-degree camera array and a moving object detection system. Nissan is betting that the unique combination of the D23’s coil-sprung comfort and proven YD25 reliability will keep the Navara relevant in our market.

If a used D23 Navara is on your radar, the intercooler and turbocharger plumbing must be inspected. The technical integrity of the rubber hoses and plastic intercooler end-tanks is a known vulnerability, and the most obvious symptoms of failure include a distinct, high-pitched hissing or whistling sound during hard acceleration, accompanied by a sudden loss of engine power and thick black smoke from the exhaust. Additionally, the five-link coil rear suspension can present “rear-end sag” when the bakkie is subjected to its maximum rated payload or towing capacity. This could lead to premature wear on suspension components and uneven tyre wear on the rear axle, which suggests the geometry has been compromised by consistently overloading the coil setup.

Browse used Nissan Navara models right here on CARmag

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The post Buying Used: Nissan Navara for under R400k appeared first on CAR Magazine.


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