After six years, the Stealth nameplate is back, and we were invited to the distant Karoo land in Magaliesburg to not only test drive it on tarmac but to experience what goodies Nissan has to offer when tossed onto the beaten track.
A special edition is often just a bunch of badges slapped on a normal production unit, and they call it a day, but Nissan assured us that the changes are more than just aesthetic and that there are some enhancements made to the suspension to improve ride quality and capability. However, let’s start with what we can see, shall we?
The “Stealth” gains a lot of black accents and bits to maintain its stealthy appearance; you have gloss black alloys wrapped in ample rubber for various terrains, black window seals, roof rails and mirror caps, a black sports bar with “Stealth” badging embossed on it, a front nudge bar, and some decals to remind you that you’re looking at a Stealth and not an LE Navara.
Inside, the only visual change I managed to find was floor mats with “Stealth” embossed on them and some leather seats, which are a well-welcomed feature, but besides that, the car is pretty much a familiar affair for the average Navara owner, though it feels dated for someone who will scrutinize; I mean, phone connectivity still needs a wire in order for it to happen.
Word on the updated Navara is that they are looking into introducing a new one; however, it is most likely in the development and study phase, meaning nothing has materialized yet due to how well the current vehicle or model is performing in sales, etc.
The Stealth did have a trick up its sleeve since it was tried and tested for our South African roads; the Nissan team developed and introduced a five-link coil spring suspension setup, which lowers the rate of stiffness and distributes shock evenly throughout the chassis. In English, the really smart suspension ensures the ride is less hard and bumpy but smooth, and this adaption made sure the car can go over all types of rough surfaces and handle them quite well which it did.
The Navara Stealth is powered by the robust 2.5 DDTi engine, producing 140 kW and 450 Nm, paired to a seven-speed autobox, which should provide enough power to propel, go over, and climb various terrains as it should. Notably, the vehicle still has safety systems to boot, such as seven airbags, hill start assist, hill descent control, 360-degree around-view monitoring, and forward collision warning, which all fall under NISSAN INTELLIGENT MOBILITY.
Nissan has implemented a global restructuring strategy named “re-Nissan,” where they will study all of their products and production in various plants to ensure that the mentioned focus points are running smoothly and as they should.
Now, this does spell a big yikes for our local Rosslyn Plant, which has been in the news due to a rumored shutdown after a “production disturbance” was announced in the month of May. When asked about the situation, Jordi Vila, the president of Nissan Africa, spoke cautiously and stated that the Rosslyn Plant is currently “under study.” On a lighter note, Nissan will focus on launching new models as well as developing new technologies that will be introduced in newer models having also expressed their commitment to the African continent, which might be the light at the end of the tunnel.
The Magnite Move is a key model this year for South Africa, as it will exist in the delivery segment to compete against the Hyundai Venue Cargo and the soon-to-be-introduced Citroën Hola. The current available lineup is small, but fear not, as the Nissan team has announced that the Patrol will be arriving in South Africa. They also claim to have two SUVs incoming to capture a potential market, as SA is known for its love of SUVs.
When asked about the emerging Chinese competitor in the market, Nissan Africa President Jordi Vila said “I’m not looking at competitors but focusing on the customer, this is the obsession.”
The Navara Stealth comes in at R 695 200 and tops out at R779 200 which is right under the top of range Pro 4X model and will feature a six-year/ 150,000 km warranty and which will be available nationwide. it will be available in either 2WD or 4×4 setup.