IN MARCH this year Nissan updated its Navara pick-up, dropping petrol-powered variants and tweaking its suspension set-up following feedback from customers and the media.

Punters weren’t happy with the way the rear of the vehicle sagged as well as some of its on-road manners, so the boffins at Nissan went about rectifying the double-wishbone front and five-link rear coil suspension featured on the majority of the Navara line-up.

The amendments have resulted in a supple and comfortable ride that puts the Navara at the top of the pack for ride comfort in a segment that is largely dominated by leaf-sprung rear suspension set-ups, such as the ones in the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.

However the suspension configuration is only one of many factors when choosing a pick-up, and sales would suggest the Navara has more improvements to make before catching the likes of the Ranger and HiLux.

In the first half of 2017, the Navara has claimed an 8.9 per cent share in the 4x4 pick-up market, trailing the Ranger (22.3 per cent) and HiLux (20.6), but still enough for fifth behind the Mitsubishi Triton (12.4) and Holden Colorado (11.6).

With a more impressive package and a rich pedigree of tough off-roading in Australia, what more can Nissan do to help the Navara make up ground on its more popular rivals?

Note: Some images are of the Nissan Navara ST-X Dual Cab 4x4