Nissan Philippines’ award-winning pickup, the Nissan NP300 Navara, celebrates its first year of ruling the Philippine road network. To commemorate this milestone, select members of the motoring media drove the award-winning pickup truck to Sagada and Baguio via the Helsema Highway, dubbed as one of the world’s most dangerous roads.
Known for its Tough Yet Smart DNA, the Nissan NP300 Navara pickup made its mark on the growing local pickup market with its capable yet comfortable design philosophy. Combining the brute strength of a truck’s hauling capability via a 2.5-liter engine that delivers the highest output per displacement, with the comforts of a modern car and the use of the multi-link suspension system, the first and only in its class, the Nissan NP300 Navara offers a comfortable ride unrivaled in the segment.
Since its introduction to the market, the Nissan NP300 Navara has sold 4,173 units, contributing a total of 35% in the brand’s overall sales. In its first year, the Nissan NP300 Navara was named as the Truck of the Year 2015 by the Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI) for its pickup-meets-car riding comfort, among other factors. Overseas, the NP300 Navara also won the coveted 2016 International Pick-up Award (IPUA) in Lyon, France.
“Given the increasing popularity of the pickup as the vehicle of choice on most of the country’s roads, we are confident that our NP300 Navara has what it takes to deliver the goods, be for work or for play,” declared Antonio Zara, Nissan Philippines President and Managing Director.
To put the truck to the test, members of the media scaled the heights of rough roads to Sagada, where the mountain terrain served as a backdrop for the pickup’s hauling power and car-like driving comfort. The party tackled the Benguet route from Manila to Sagada via the Helsema Highway, and experienced the power of the pickup’s engine while traversing the twisting road under different conditions, all while carrying a full-load of passengers in the cab and gear on the truck bed.
Drivers had their hands full dealing with the challenges of the highway, such as rough, uneven road surfaces, low visibility from the mountain fog and mist, roads made slippery by rain showers, and hairpin bends compounded by steep inclines. Yet the NP300 Navara delivered by staying solidly onto the road, assisted by technical driving tools such as Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Assist, Traction Control, and Vehicle Dynamics Stability Control.
In Sagada, the NP300 Navara continued to shine as it played in its natural element, bringing the media around the great outdoors as they drove to Kiltepan Peak to camp and catch the sunrise, explore the area through spelunking, trekking, visiting the hanging coffins, and other attractions that the province is known for. Keeping the party comfortable all throughout while roughing it is Coleman, with the outdoors brand supporting the event through its line of camping tents, portable lights, camping tables and chairs, airbed mattresses and coolers.
From popular destinations to secret hideaways, the Nissan NP300 Navara is engineered to take one anywhere in comfort, style, and safety. Visit the nearest Nissan dealer today and check out the ride that can straddle both the urban road and the trail ways with ease. The NP300 Navara is available in Savanna Orange, Alpine White, Galaxy Black and Brilliant Silver, in seven different variants and price points (VAT inclusive): 2.5L 4×2 6MT model at 941,000; the 2.5L 4×2 6MT calibre model at P982,000; the 2.5L 4×2 EL 6MT calibre model at P1,075,000; the 2.5L 4×2 EL 7AT calibre model at P1,146,000; the 2.5L 4×4 EL 6MT model at P1,297,000; the 2.5L 4×4 VL 6MT model at P1,465,000; and the 2.5L 4×4 VL 7AT model at P1,536,000.
