Nissan NP300 test drive since 2007 pickup

Nissan NP300: Main trump card

So far only an open side! Nissan employees cut off when I asked if the kung is supposed to the cargo compartment of the new NP300 pickup. Here are the times! Or the Japanese never read the weather forecast for Russia, where the rain from the sky replaces snow, and often without a break, or the new all -terrain vehicle has other, more significant, trump cards in the sleeve. Or maybe in the back?
Here he is, parked at the entrance to the hotel: unremarkable, tall, with square forms. Against the backdrop of a 17-story glass of glass under construction, the Nissan NP300 pickup is in the center of Moscow, to put it mildly, foreign. There is no place for him in the city of Gromil on wide tires with the 70th profile, flat sides of the sides and deliberately simple optics.
It is more familiar to us to see a pickup in a throw and aggressive (but sometimes useless) body kit, with a massive kangaroo and a chandelier on the roof. But I leaf through the list of options for the NP300 and I do not find either one or the other or the third.
But already in the database a second airbag for a passenger, ABS, EBD and belt pretense are spelled out. The footboard, a 2-din radio, air conditioning for a fee for a fee, all other comfort elements are ruthlessly abandoned on the altar of savings: in the database for Nissan NP300 they ask for from 607,580 rubles: less than American, Japanese and Korean competitors.
It’s great still invented to hook such a small steering wheel on top of the plastic massif of the front panel! Such a landing in a pickupa with one jump, without fear, fill the bump on a narrow doorway or kick the steering wheel with his foot already causes sympathy.
Of course, the NP300 salon is rustic. In an attempt to slam the door, I hardly squeeze my fingers into a tiny handle of the handle on the inside of the door is something from Logan in this penny economy
 
And then I take my words back: be in the place of a formal handle with a narrow armrest a sealing poker, not to see the Nissan spacious driver’s place, but I have a healthy knee. After all, the salon of the car as a battlefield for the interior. You will begin to evaluate this from the point of view of aesthetics and the interior of the pickupa will fall, incorporated by the fire of uncomfortable cup holders, meager ashtrays located in such a way that you will not reach the cigarette there, or ancient and uncomfortable slider control of the stove and air conditioning.
But, tell me the mercy, how, without drowning the climate block deeply below or not eelled with doors with the handles of the doors, release sufficient legs for the legs? That sliders and ashtrays against a good 15 cm to the shoulder of a neighbor! Perhaps the only way to understand what is more important to change the business suit to special forces and toich the day between the warehouse and the object.
Do you need to get into the body in place? Not a problem: an optional footboard is located under the rear folding side. The cargo platform itself is not so large 1,395x1 390 mm, but it is the only option: Nissan comes to Russia only with a long cab; The salon will take three more.
Surely they will not like the almost vertical backs of the seats and a small angle of opening of narrow doors, but here NP300, perhaps, is no better, but no worse than their competitors.
Twisting a 133-horsepower diesel is neither a desire nor needs, the motor and so begins to confidently carry after 2,000 rpm. Of course, there is no tangible pickup, but a very flat acceleration dynamics are pleased.
I open the specification as it is: Nissan NP300 issues all its 304 Nm traction, starting with a couple of thousand. With a flat, restrained rumbling, you can easily begin the movement with both the second, and at the same time, the long first step allows you to accelerate the frolic without the lightning -to -light departure of the tachometer arrow into the red zone.
That's a paradox: I write about the engine, and a worthy dynamics merit of the box! It is she who is clear, well -balanced is perfect for this machine and fully realizes the potential of not the most powerful motor.
Short sprint, second-third-fourth, and now the speedometer of the hard workers NP300 shows 110. I don’t want to drive a heavy car further the dense suspension perfectly damps hefty bumps, but on a flat road the rear bridge with leaf springs has to be tight: unloaded, it has been stroked now and then jump off the trajectory. And with a light steering wheel to catch an empty car at high speed is not easy.
Although, in comparison with the same Ford Ranger or Mazda BT 50, the Nissan NP300 suspension is perhaps perhaps more comfortable, not so mowing on bumps and withstands the optimal balance of energy intensity and rigidity.
Having wound up on highway asphalt, I accepted with some gloating the organizers' proposal to go to an off -road plot. It’s one thing to look at high clearance and harsh tires, simultaneously discussing the advantages of a strictly connected all -wheel drive, and try to bury almost two tons in the sand, blurred by a recent rain.
I put the handout lever in the middle position (4WD) and go to the slope, which is indicated by the instructor. The arsenal has only a rigid connection of the wheels and the motor. Here you count on your experience more: no electronic assistant will pretend to be slipping, but he will not stupid when connecting the axes. Old School!
On steep slopes of the NP300, it confidently climbs without turning on the reduced row, and descends, effectively brakes with the engine. Under the wheels, you can skip everything that below 235 cm means that the passage is open to all nearby summer cottages.
Only mud porridge sobered up: when the rear wheels of the pickupa began to break into the skid already at minimum engine speeds.
Still, no matter how pleasant the control may seem, do not forget that the weight of the unloaded car is far from the ideal and shifted towards the front axle. But after all, not for races, in the end, are 0.85 cubic meters of useful space from floor to side!
How we used them can be viewed in the photo, and for cross -country ability and behavior on the asphalt we will simply put the Nissan NP300 offset.
When the text was almost finished, my friend looked at me, a jipper with experience. You will give you the impression that you are talking about the good Japanese rogue of the old school, he said.
And I realized: here he is the main trump card of the truck. Close the cargo compartment with a good kung or make the body with a double -hobby and will turn out a solid and pleasant in communication SUV classic forms and non -blind capabilities. And a very pleasant price as compensation for some outdated solutions. Here, you look, Nissan NP300 would repeat the success of the classic Patrol, but so far only an open side! At dinner, Nissan representatives remained adamant.
It is hoped that the firms specializing in the kuns are already working on drawings in order to correct this annoying injustice.
We thank the Nissan Motor Rus for help in organizing the test.
 
Text: Alexander Mikhailov

 
 
   
 

Source: Wheel magazine [August 2008]