2005 NISSAN Navara / Frontier Double Cab 2.5L dCi 6MT 4WD (174 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Nissan introduced the second generation of the Navara in 2005 and offered it in three versions: Simple, King, and Double Cab. Depending on the market, it named it Navara or Frontier.

While the first generation of the Navara was a true-to-the-bone workhorse, the second generation started a smooth transition toward a leisure vehicle. To further emphasize this, in some markets, the Japanese carmaker sold both generations in parallel, one as a work truck and the other as an upmarket pickup. It was an intelligent decision, and customers soon realized they might choose one of the 2005 Navara/Frontier instead of an SUV.

The double-cab version was aimed at families wishing for adventure, kayaking, off-road biking, and other outdoor activities. Moreover, the vehicle’s design was bolder, with a front fascia interrupted only by the V-shaped chromed trim on the grille. While the headlights looked small compared to the overall front design, they were actually big enough. Moreover, the body-colored front bumper was offered for most trim levels. At the same time, the additional fog lamps from the lower outer side were provided only for the higher versions. The profile revealed a four-door cabin with enough room for easy ingress and egress. That led to a shorter bed, which was no longer that useful as a work truck but big enough to carry all the camping gear someone would need for a weekend.

The cabin also was adequate for up to five passengers, but the straight-up rear bench’s seatback was not comfortable on long trips. Yet, the front occupants could enjoy enough room and a center stack that hosted the CD player and the HVAC controls. On the center console, a couple of cup holders and the shifter shared the space in front of a storage compartment.