VIDEO: New and old Nissan Navara go head to head

It should come as no surprise that a newer, more powerful vehicle will get a leg up on its predecessor, speed-wise. As we can see in the case of the NP300 Nissan Navara, the 190 hp VL variant outruns the 174 hp D40 Navara LE in the quarter-mile standing start sprint by a whole second – 17.33 seconds to 18.33 seconds.

However, what if the less powerful, 163 hp NP300 Navara V goes up against the same D40 Navara LE in a drag race? A 11 hp deficit is made up for with a newer, seven-speed automatic transmission, and – the telling one – a power-to-weight ratio of 88.2 hp per ton versus the older truck’s 85.9 hp per ton.

Which one wins, and what does the resulting margin look like? Watch the video to find out.

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • Taking a workhorse for a drag race? No wonder there’s so many idiots driving trucks as if it’s a racing machine.

    BTW how come both the V and VL wear the same plate number?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2
  • UMW TOYOTA on Nov 21, 2016 at 7:42 pm

    navara D40 5speed gearbox is lousy gearbox..change gear very slowly than hilux 4speed.. even add transgo programming kit into gearbox still slow than 4AT..but the new 7speed quite good compare to toyota 6speed that cheating us(manual mode at 6th gear box dint not engage..still at 4th gear)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
  • Bernard on Nov 21, 2016 at 8:28 pm

    The old one looks much better than the new one. Obviously the designers have taken a step backwards…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5
  • dragggggg on Nov 21, 2016 at 9:03 pm

    This test shows brute strength is useless if the vehicle’s too heavy… andddd…. a venue for drag racing at an abandoned airfield in putrajaya???? Thanks guys!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Tracks on Nov 22, 2016 at 8:29 am

    Interesting comparison. But is the actual power rating quoted in the video correct as HP is slightly less than PS. Bases on the catalog, the power quoted for VL Spec is 190PS.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Ben Yap on Nov 22, 2016 at 9:49 am

    the white navara has better initial pickup.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Shahril Surim on Jun 22, 2017 at 1:08 pm

    This test is sucks.
    I drive Navara SE and still beat the new Navara VL and V on Kimanis to Keningau Road. It’s uphill course but on straight road like this maybe old Navara lose.
    by the way the test between Navara LE and Navara V, it like fake.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Gumbuk on Jul 12, 2017 at 6:55 am

      You can beat any car if the driver of others car is not skillfull, but if the opponent driver crazy type, using kancil 850 also they can beat your navara SE.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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