Nissan Navara Stealth Review: The Pothole Hunter That Turns Heads

The Nissan Navara Stealth was the first bakkie I’ve ever received to review, and honestly, my first thought was, “Why on earth is a Stealth edition white?” Surely the whole point is to look like it’s about to disappear into the shadows, not glow like a lighthouse. But once I got over that, I realised something: this thing actually looks good. Really good.

The front end has that aggressive, transformer-esque face that makes you feel as if the car is sizing you up instead of the other way around. And people do double-take at it, which I wasn’t expecting at all. Though to be fair, the white paint was so bright it attracted every bug and insect in Gauteng, so maybe the double-takes were a whole ecosystem reacting.

Hop inside and you sit properly high, like a king on a throne with ground clearance as your crown. The road presence is real, and for a first bakkie experience, it set the tone immediately: big, bold, and surprisingly attention-grabbing.

Exterior: Aggressive Presence with Classy Accents

The exterior of the Navara Stealth genuinely surprised me. In my eyes, it looks better than the Isuzu D-Max, and I’ll even take it a step further, I prefer the Stealth’s front end to the Ford Ranger’s. The face has this sharp, confident design that feels premium without trying too hard.

Being the Stealth derivative, you get several blacked-out elements: the door handles, the mirrors, front bumper, roof rails, and the NAVARA lettering at the rear.

The gloss-black wheels elevate it even further, giving the whole car a cleaner, classier look. All of that leans into the “Stealth” identity beautifully, which is why I’m still baffled by the existence of a white Navara Stealth. It’s a gorgeous shade of white, sure, but stealthy? Not a chance.

The DRLs are another standout. They’re angular and modern, giving the front end an aggressive edge that ties the look together perfectly. Overall, it’s a very good-looking bakkie, and one that turns more heads than I would have expected.

Interior: Comfy & Functional

The interior of the Navara Stealth is fine. Just fine. And I don’t mean that in a bad way; it’s exactly what it needs to be.

The seats are genuinely great. They’re leather, properly comfortable, and the hexagonal stitching immediately reminded me of Lamborghini’s cabin detailing. It’s a nice touch in a segment where comfort can sometimes feel like an afterthought.

Beyond that, you’re mostly met with hard plastics. In any other type of car, I’d call that criminal, but in a 4x4 it makes complete sense. This is a vehicle that’s going to see farms, dirt roads, and muddy boots. You want surfaces you can wipe down without crying.

There isn’t a lot happening in the cabin in terms of design flair, and that’s okay. What matters is that it’s spacious, both for the driver and passengers, and it offers adequate storage for bottles, phones, and whatever bits you carry around.

The steering wheel is also fine. Nothing special, nothing offensive. It all just works, which is what you want in a bakkie like this. The seats, though, are worth mentioning twice. They’re really that comfortable.

Tech & Features: Outdated but Forgivable

This is where the Navara Stealth starts to fall behind. Its infotainment system is really outdated; the 8-inch screen does the job, but there’s no wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Step back and take in the cabin, and it feels a little old-school, especially at a time when competitors like the Isuzu D-Max or Ford Ranger Wildtrak offer interiors that feel much more modern.

The Stealth does come with reverse cameras that work fine, though it would’ve been nice to have front cameras or a 360-degree view as well. Dual-zone climate control is a welcome addition, but I found myself wishing for a wireless charger. There’s cruise control, but not adaptive, and no heated or ventilated seats.

I get it, you don’t need all the luxury gadgets when a bakkie is built to tackle farms and dirt roads. The Hilux, for instance, also has a dated interior yet continues to sell like hotcakes. So maybe 4x4 drivers don’t care that much about tech. That said, the Navara Stealth does have one piece of technology that genuinely transforms the experience.

Performance & Drive: The Pothole Hunter

The Stealth’s standout piece of technology is its unique five-link rear suspension system with coil springs, standard on this model, replacing traditional leaf springs. Recalibrated dampers with faster rebound recovery allow the rear suspension to return to its normal position quickly after compression. This means superior comfort and handling, significantly reducing fatigue over long trips or rough terrain.

Honestly, this is the most comfortable 4x4 I’ve experienced. Even more comfortable than certain SUVs. Everyone who has driven it says the same thing about the suspension and comfort. I found myself searching for potholes rather than avoiding them, because the suspension so effortlessly swallowed them up. I might just nickname this car the “Pothole Hunter.”

Under the hood, the Stealth is powered by a 2.5-litre DDTi diesel engine delivering 140 kW and 450 Nm through a seven-speed gearbox. Peak torque arrives at 2,000 rpm, with maximum power at 3,600 rpm. In practice, the engine feels a little underpowered at higher speeds. Press the accelerator and there’s a moment’s hesitation before it responds. For a car with such road presence, that was slightly disappointing, though not a deal-breaker.

Fuel consumption is similarly modest. Nissan claims 7.2 L/100 km, but in my experience, the best I achieved was 9.6 L/100 km, with an average of 10.1 L/100 km, which is understandable given the car’s size and heft.

Price & Verdict

The Stealth sits strategically between the Navara LE and PRO-4X variants, starting from R695,200. On its own, that’s not a bad price for what you’re getting. However, when you take a broader view, it doesn’t give Nissan much of an edge. Competitors are pricing similarly, and some Chinese brands are even undercutting Nissan. If other brands want to challenge the Hilux, pricing is definitely where the battle starts.

That said, for the person who ends up with a Navara Stealth, you can expect a capable 4x4 that delivers enough low-rev power, a supremely comfortable ride, and undeniable presence on the road. It’s a bakkie that impresses more in experience than on paper.

Final Scorecard: 6.7 / 10

Category	Rating out of 10	Notes
Design	8	Aggressive, eye-catching design with tasteful blacked-out accents
Performance	7	Engine slightly underpowered at high speeds, torque is fine at low revs
Tech & Features	4	Outdated infotainment; no wireless CarPlay/Android Auto or advanced tech
Drive	8	Suspension excels, very comfortable ride
Price	6.5	Fairly priced but competition undercuts; decent for what it offers