The Nissan Navara has emerged victorious in the 121 - 150kW category of the inaugural ‘Bakkie of the Year’ contest. The accolade comes following a vigorous judging process done by the experienced team at Bakkie of the Year, including legendary South African rally icon, Sarel van der Merwe.
The Navara continues to redefine the 4 x 4 Double Cab segment with its load-carrying capacity and powertrain which has been engineered to perform on the most rugged of South Africa’s terrain. The tough contest put each bakkie through its paces in several tests, namely 4×4 driving and capability, off-road performance, and towing performance on and offroad.
“We are very proud of the Navara’s ongoing performance in these tests by experienced South African motoring teams. After winning Car of the Year in the 4x4 Double Cab category last year, this achievement is testament to the consistency and competitiveness of the Nissan Navara. The locally produced Navara, with features such as the 5-link rear coil suspension, our bakkie is designed to take on the toughest of African terrains – sparking the need for adventure within those behind the wheel,” commented Stefan Haasbroek, Chief Marketing Management Director, Nissan Africa.
For Nissan South Africa (NSA), this recognition is testament to the quality local production stemming from the Rosslyn plant in Pretoria, and the commitment of employees who are involved in the various stages of bringing the rugged and redefined Navara to market. “Nissan South Africa congratulates all the participants in the first edition of the Bakkie of the Year competition. It is an honour to continue collaborating in developing our country’s auto-sector,” concludes Haasbroek.