AUTONEWS - AA CLUB OF KENYA MAGAZINE
LOCAL
CAR REVIEW
Nissan’s tough as nails
NP300 ‘Atoti’ soldiers on
By Trevor Lamenya
There’s an old saying that, ‘if it ain’t
broken, don’t fix it’. One of the tougher
and more reliable pick-ups in the mar-
ket, the Nissan NP300 aka ‘Atoti, truly
lives up to this adage. It has been on
our roads for over 15 years and shows
little sign of retiring. It faithfully serves
its customers diligently by traversing
the country taking chores and tasks in
its stride.
During its one and half decades of ac-
tive service, at least two generations of
pick-ups have emerged, as manufactur-
ers struggle to meet the ever changing
demands of consumers globally.
Just like fine w ine, the Hardbody has
matured gracefully into a formidable
and durable workhorse. With cheaper
Chinese variants readily available, Nis-
san has extended the shelf life of the
NP300, retaining its relevance in the
segment.
Exterior
The front end has received a ‘nip and
tuck’ with a slightly modified head
lamps and bumper. Subtle changes in-
clude 15-inch wheels, differential lock
and tubular rear bumper as standard for
the mid-range single and double cab
derivatives.
For those who are looking for more
the higher spec models feature body
colour over fenders and front bumpers
as well as side steps and a tourneau
cover
Power
The NP300 Hardbody range is pow-
ered by an economical 2.5 litre com-
mon rail diesel engine. This unit churns
98 kW at 3 600 rpm and 304 Nm of
torque at 2 000 rpm. Mated to this
engine is a 5-speed gearbox that allows
you to sample the available torque
ensuring the NP300 returns an average
fuel economy figure of 8.9L/100KM.
Comfort
Step inside and you will notice that
Nissan upgraded the cabin with air-
conditioning as standard, a new dash-
board layout, vinyl carpeting, a stylish
four-spoke steering wheel and a decent
in-car entertainment system with USB
and MP3 functionality as standard.
Safety
Today safety should be a key decision
in every vehi-
cle purchase
and Nissan
has ensured
that the
NP300 Hard-
body meets
and possibly
exceeds
global safety
standards.
Driver and
passenger
airbags are
standard
in certain models, while collapsible
steering column, side impact protection
bars, integrated front crumple zones
and Anti-lock Braking System com-
plete the list or standard features.
Summary
Nissan has enhanced the winning for-
mula it offered consumers at the turn of
the century with the NP300. Updated
to meet current consumer needs, it of-
fers an affordable, reliable and durable
alternative to the Chinese options sold
locally. With a starting price of Ksh.
2.6 million for the base 4x2 single
cab, the NP300 offers great value for
money.
Details: www.nissankenya.com
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