Nissan are promising the NP300 Navara pick-up will offer significantly improved refinement and performance whilst remaining a dependable workhorse.

More efficient engines, suppler suspension and a greater sense of style promise to appeal to commercial and private buyers alike.

Add in reduced emissions and it seems Nissan are in with a shout of class leadership.

One of the big problems with using a pick-up as an everyday vehicle is comfort.

As vehicles of this kind are primarily designed to carry up to a tonne of weight in the bed, rear springs must be pretty industrial.

The issue is that when unladen, things can get pretty bouncy.

Due to this, the Double Cab Navara ditches old fashioned leaf springs for the back axle.

Instead, there’s a five-link rear suspension setup with coil springs to give a much plusher ride without sacrificing load capacity.

There was a time where pick-ups were square-edged things that you could never call stylish.

Nissan has been more daring with this improved Navara while incorporating its latest ‘V-motion’ grille and boomerang shaped daylight running lights.

Gone are the sharp creases and flat panels of the previous model, having been replaced by curves and contours.

From the confident nose rearwards, it looks much more modern while retaining a tough edge.

Nissan’s NP300 Navara goes up against some tough recently revitalised rivals - primarily Mitsubishi’s L200 and the Ford Ranger.

In comparison to these two key competitors, this Nissan’s clever five-link rear axle could give a clear advantage for those looking for a more car-like driving experience.

With no penalty on load capacity or towing ability, it could be the stand-out feature on this much improved pick-up.

That could mean little if this NP300 was ugly, or worse, dull.

With looks so important, Nissan should be commended for modernising the design without losing the butch appeal of the old model.

It won’t just be the more efficient engine that helps with running costs either: standard fit autonomous emergency braking not only makes the truck safe, it should help reduce insurance premiums too.

As an overall package, the NP300 will be hard to beat.