Fighting fit

Nissan has reworked the Navara with chunkier rubber and upgraded suspension so it can take on those 4x4 obstacles with confidence.

- Cyril Klopper

The Warrior package for the Nissan Navara debuted in Australia four years ago but only reached South Africa in March 2025. Is it merely a cosmetic update, or does it genuinely improve the standard Navara?

What have we got here?

The Warrior package is the brainchild of Australian vehicle modifier Premcar, which has been in business since 1996. Nissan approached Premcar in 2019 to create a special version of the Navara, and what you see here is broadly the result.

We say “broadly” because the Warrior sold locally differs somewhat from the one the Aussies enjoy. The Australian Warrior is based on the Thai-built Navara with a 2.3 ℓ twin-turbo diesel engine, while South Africa gets the Rosslyn-built model powered by the older 2.5 ℓ turbodiesel. There are visual differences too, especially up front: the Australian version wears a steel bumper that’s winch-compatible and features a serious bash plate under the engine. Ours retains the standard plastic bumper instead.

On both sides of the Indian Ocean, Navara Warriors share the same key upgrades: 17-inch alloy wheels fitted with Maxxis RAZR all-terrain tyres, uprated coil springs that add 40 mm of ground clearance, wider wheelarch protection and a sports bar on the loadbin as standard.

Premcar currently builds two versions for the Australian market. The flagship model is based on the Navara Pro-4X, but gains enhanced off-road ability thanks to wheel, tyre and suspension upgrades, extra underbody protection, a stronger towbar and a 100 kg GVM increase.