2017 Nissan Navara dual cab v king cab v single cab review video

Between the different drivetrain options, trim levels and cab styled there are 27 different Nissan Navara variants a buyer can choose from.

All that choice means there’s a Nissan Navara to perfectly fit your needs, but which one is it? We assembled a cross-section of the range to break down the major differences.

Nissan Navara ST dual cab 4x2

In sales terms, dual cab utes are going from strength to strength right now. It’s hard to ignore the everyday practicality of having room for five people as well as the ability to both carry and tow a decent load.

This is the mid-spec Navara ST, and this one’s a two-wheel drive version though you wouldn’t really know it from first glance.

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The ST uses a 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel to make 140kW and 450Nm. Payload, including passengers, is just over a tonne depending on whether you opt for the 6-speed manual or 7-speed auto.

Towing is 3,500kg with trailer brakes.

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All save one dual cab Navara variant uses a five-link coil sprung rear end. This improves ride and handling when empty but in the real world, it can’t compete with the loaded performance of steel leaf springs. However, the dual-cab remains the best compromise between work and play and even as back-up family transport.

| WATCH: 2017 Nissan Navara range review video

Navara ST-X 4x4 king cab

There’s a lot of kit hiding inside this Nissan Navara ST-X. This is the king cab version, which offers extra space behind the front seats.

Access to the extra cab space is by rear-hinged doors, and there’s some handy yet squeezy seating on offer back there for smaller people on short trips.

Power is supplied by the top-of-the-range twin-turbo version of Nissan’s 2.3-litre diesel power plant. Outputs are 140kW and 450Nm. Towing is 3.5 tonnes braked.

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Gearbox options are either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic.

Being an ST-X you get all the fruit like leather heated seats, some chrome highlights, 18-inch alloy wheels and a sports bar.

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One of the big plusses of a king cab is the extra load space out back compared to a dual cab, and like the single cab range it sits on leaf springs out back. Payload is just under a tonne and depends on transmission choice.

If you’re not lugging people around on a regular basis and a decent load area is your thing then it’s hard to ignore the King Cab option. You can still get all the creature comforts with some practicality on the side.

Nissan Navara RX 4x4 single cab

If your taste in wheels is work-focused, the Nissan Navara RX 4x4 may be just the thing for you.

Under the bonnet is a single turbo version of Nissan’s 2.3-litre diesel engine that makes 120kW and 400Nm of torque.

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Its 4X4 mode is selected via a shift on the fly dial on the console.

Transmission wise there’s a choice between a 6-speed manual or 7-speed auto. Its rear suspension is old-school steel leaf springs. Payload is a whisker over 1200 kilos while braked towing is 3.5 tonnes.

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As for the interior, it’s pretty basic and clearly made to get dirty with hard plastics and removable rubber floor mats.

The RX is a no-frills off-road workhorse that fits the bill for the building site or the rural back blocks. It offers both rugged practicality and business efficiency. And nobody will notice if you don’t wash it on the weekends!