Motoring

By EWAN KENNEDY

Nissan Australia was ahead of the feld in realising that dual-cab pickup trucks were going to be major sellers in Australia. Many are being used as family cars, not just working vehicles. From November 2005 it began importing a second Navara model, the D40. It sold alongside the D22 Navara which was a hard-working model loved by tradies.

The Navara has built up an excellent reputation over many years as a tough, no-nonsense vehicle when worked hard in rugged Aussie conditions.

Nissan D40 Navara is sold in

a variety of bodies, everything from a bare cab-chassis, though single cab and extended cab to a full four-door. We are concentrating on the four-door models in this used vehicle feature.

These are large vehicles so the rear seats can take three adults, though, as is generally the way, two and a child will be more comfortable. There’s good head and legroom in all seats.

Comfort isn’t to sedan standards but the ride is generally fne on good roads. However, Navara can be bounced around on worn bitumen or dirt, particularly if lightly loaded. They

have been improved over the years as suspension tuners have worked on it.

Navara is sold in 2WD and 4WD, the former makes sense if you really only want a family truck, but most people tend to go for the ‘tuff’ look they feel the 4WD provides. See some tips in our What To Look For section on how to spot possible off-road damage.

Power for D40 Navaras comes from 4.0-litre V6 petrol or a pair of turbodiesels; 2.5-litre four or 3.0-litre six.

May 2015 saw the introduction of Navara pickup D23 series. It was offered with two rear suspension systems: a low-cost leaf-spring one for the lower cost working vehicle, and a sophisticated fve-link setup that forms the basis for the dual-cabs we are reviewing here.

Large mudguards which are widened in some versions of the Navara to cope with larger tyres and add to

the

sporty appearance.

Inside, the big Nissan looks more car-like than pickup with a dash design that wouldn’t be out of place in a car. Quality materials are used throughout, certainly not the sort of low-grade plastics once seen in light trucks.

A Navara Series 2 version was introduced in March 2017. It featured the Nissan V-motion motif in the grille and the bold look. A major improvement was ‘spinal support’ front seats that reduce fatigue by distributing body pressure on the

seating surface. Work a try if your back, like mine, isn’t as good as it used to be …

An Advanced Drive Assist Display provides multiple screen options in the centre of the dashboard.

All fve seats in dual cab models have threepoint emergency locking retractor seatbelts. The front seatbelts have height adjustment, again as a variety of different sizes of family members are going to sit there. A sliding glass panel in the rear cabin window is a handy feature – dogs just love being able to stick their noses into the cabin.

Insurance is about average for the class and we don’t know of any great variance from company to company. We suggest that it’s not a good ideal to change insurers too often as it’s wise to set up an extended relationship with anyone.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Off-road use isn’t common though we have seen a quite a few on beaches. Look for sand and dried salt underneath.

Bush driving may be indicated by scratches in doors, sills and on the corners. Some may have minor dings and scratches in the tray. One that’s is heavily damaged may be an indicator of heavy-duty commercial use.

Check over the interior of the cabin for signs of hard use.

An engine that’s reluctant to start when it’s stone cold could be on its way out.

If you have any doubts after these basic inspections get the truck up on a hoist and look for damage in all areas. Radiators seem to suffer as their mounting is rather low.

Listen for rattles from the front of the engine that may indicate a loose timing chain – valves hitting pistons can cost a lot of money!

On a manual feel for a slipping clutch and/or gears that bind or crunch during changes. A quick change down to third is often the frst to suffer.

2014 Nissan Navara

2008 Nissan Navara

NISSAN NAVARA 2005 - 2020

2018 Nissan Navara

HOW MUCH?

Expect to pay from $3000 to $5000 for a 2005-2007 Nissan X-Trail Ti; $5000 to $8000 for a 2008 ST-L; $9000 to $14,000 for a 2010 Ti or a 2012 ST-L; $12,000 to $18,000 for a 2014 Ti or a 2015 ST; $15,000 to $22,000 for a 2015 Ti Ntrek or a 2018 ST; $17,000 to $23,000 for a 2016 TL; $21,000 to $29,000 for a 2017 Ti; $25,000 to $34,000 for a 2019 TL; $30,000 to $41,000 for a 2020 Ti; and $32,000 to $43,000 for a 2021 Ti.

CAR BUYING TIP

Spend as much time checking out the best deals on insurance and fnance as you do on the vehicle itself.

RECALLS: To browse recalls on all vehicles go to the ACCC at: www. productsafety.gov.au/ products/transport/cars/

Lismore BUDGET TRUCKS

Automatic. Tailgate lift. Cheap long term rates. LISMORE TRUCK RENTAL. TRUCK FOR RENT

Phone or text Bill Sloman on 0417 813 344.

Grille design melds the air intakes with the bumper and sleek headlights 2022 HONDA HR-V Vi X

By EWAN KENNEDY

Honda has been a major player in SUVs for many years and the HR-V is a small to medium sized model that is being chosen by quite a few buyers in this burgeoning market segment.

The third generation of the HR-V is offered with a two-motor e:HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) powertrain technology for the frst time on this model.

It comes in two specifcation levels with two different powertrains starting with the Vi X that’s powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine, and the HEV L hybrid powertrain. Our test was the petrol-only model.

STYLING

The new grille design melds the intakes with the bumper and when combined with the sleek headlights, gives the HR-V a futuristic look. The rear is a cross between an SUV and a coupe in its lines. It has an attractive look that pleased those who we asked to give their opinions.

The lower-side panels are painted in black which makes them harder to see and therefore adds to the apparent ground clearance and SUV look.

An interesting feature is that it appears to have no rear-door handles. There are handles, but these are blended into the dark side-rear window glass.

INTERIOR

The dashboard has the instruments in a binnacle with a curved top. The nine-inch central screen is landscape and shape and therefore doesn’t give you a view ahead as is offered in a portrait screen.

Honda’s versatile ‘Magic Seats’ allow you to fold the base of the rear seats up to take taller objects.

The rear seatbacks fold completely fat which is a surprisingly rare feature in SUVs. Indeed, the Honda HR-V was on our short list of vehicles to buy because we wanted to be able to carry our dog Bailey in the back. (We tossed in a fair bit of extra cash and bought a Volvo XC40 instead, but it was a relatively close call.)

This is a four-seat vehicle as it has two bucket seats in the rear and therefore does not have a seat belt in what could have been a rearcentre seat. Between the twin back seats there is a padded armrest.

GIBBO’S

AUTOPARTS

Mon - Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-1pm , Sun 9am-12pm

nine-inch touch unit but rather too shallow to give a long view ahead when using the satellite navigation. The problem for the interior designers is that there simply wasn’t isn’t enough room in the lower dash area for a better screen.

It has wireless Apple CarPlay, but Android users will need a cable to make use of Android Auto.

ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS

The four-cylinder engine isn’t turbocharged and has capacity of 1.5 litres with 89kW of power and 145Nm of torque. It is happy to run on standard unleaded petrol which can make a real difference given some of the crazy prices being asked for petrol at the moment.

It drives the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission.

SAFETY

The Australian ANCAP safety rating gives the Honda fve stars. The Honda suite of driver-assist and safety technologies includes forward collision warning, collision, mitigation braking system, lane keep assist system and lane departure warning.

DRIVING

The engine is relatively small and doesn’t produce as much power as we would like. It’s a typically Honda unit in that it

likes to have a plenty of revs on board before it really likes to get up and boogie. As keen drivers we actually like that and once it’s given a bootfull it’s a really pleasing unit.

Handling is excellent, with plenty of feel through the steering wheel. It’s able to easily take corner at speeds far higher than those who would be done by the typical family driver.

But if you want a sporty machine to fang around in it might be better to have a look at competitors.

Ride comfort is a little on the frm side but after a couple of hours on our extended-drive part of our road test review the Honda HR-V we still felt comfortable so, again, the designers have done an excellent job. while it doesn’t have the straight-line performance that we like it does have handling that we really enjoy. However, the lack of three seats in the back could make it diffcult to sell when the time comes to do so.

AT A GLANCE

MODEL RANGE

HRV 1.5 Vi X: $36,700 HRV e-HEV L: $45,000 Note: These are driveaway prices.

SPECIFICATIONS (Honda HRV Vi X

1.5-litre petrol fve-door wagon)

ENGINE:

Capacity: 1.498 litres Confguration: Four cylinders in line Maximum Power: 89 kW @ 6600 rpm Maximum Torque: 145 Nm @ 4300 rpm Fuel Type: Standard unleaded petrol Combined Fuel Cycle (ADR 81/02): 5.8 L/100km CO2 Emissions: 133 g/ km

DRIVELINE:

Continuosly variable automatic

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:

Length: 4335 mm Wheelbase: 2610 mm Width: 1790 mm Height: 1590 mm Turning Circle: 11.0 metres Kerb Mass: 1267 kg Fuel Tank Capacity: 40 litres

BRAKES:

Front: Ventilated disc Rear: Solid disc