Manufactured between 2005 and 2015, the Nissan Navara D40 represents the perfect middle ground between a conventional car and a 4WD pickup truck. It was initially developed alongside the Nissan Pathfinder and shares many of the same features but puts a greater emphasis on power and functionality.
With one of the more powerful engines on the 4×4 market (a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine producing 172hp) and a switchable 4WD system with high and low ratios, it’s a very capable off-road machine that can also perform well on-road. However, it could always be better and, thankfully, it’s a very easy machine to upgrade.
With that in mind, here are our top 5 upgrades for the Nissan Navara D40.
1. EVC throttle controller
The world’s best-selling throttle controller, the EVC device formerly known as the “iDrive” is a plug-and-play accessory that is very affordable and offers immediate performance enhancements. Just plug it directly into your D40’s pedal assembly and within a few minutes, you’ll be given access to 4 different driving modes and 20 levels of throttle adjustment.
2. Suspension kit
While it is quite a capable off-road vehicle right out of the factory, the D40 still ships with old-fashioned leaf-spring suspension on the rear. A suspension lift kit will provide higher articulation and better traction, helping you get the most out of a vehicle that seems to possess great potential as an off-road truck despite its size and weight. If you are looking for a decent lift with increased ride quality and load-carrying capacity, the OME suspension lift kit is probably your best bet but there are also kits from Terrain Tamer that offer everything from tapered springs to expanded body and bypass reservoir shock absorbers.
3. Heavy-duty brakes
A good brake upgrade will show you just how lacking in stopping power standard brakes really are. At least if you’re pushing them off-road, anyway. While it’s far from the most affordable upgrade on the market, replacing your brakes with a set such as the Powerbrake X-Line will provide you with significantly better braking efficiency. Indeed, the one area in which the D40 is often found lacking is in its safety features and braking efficiency.
4. Winches and hidden winch mounts
As a large and powerful vehicle, the D40 is naturally the ideal candidate for a winch system but it doesn’t need to be one that dominates the aesthetics of your vehicle. The ARB Sahara Winch Bumper, for example, is a solid piece of engineering designed to house and hide your winch where possible. It’s a design that facilitates airflow and looks completely natural on any Nissan Navara D40. A buffer kit is also included in the price, where required.
5. Clearview towing mirrors
The D40 is incredibly popular as a tow truck thanks to its heft and power. But if you are considering towing anything with the stock rearview mirrors then you’re asking for trouble. The Clearview towing mirrors are designed to offer a deeper field of vision of at least 4m on either side and 20m behind you, which will comfortably clear even the largest caravan and trailers.
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