Nissan Navara vs GWM P500

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Includes an archived model

Current and archived cars are compared side by side. Archived models keep their verified historical specs, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Nissan Navara
Nissan Navara in South Africa

Nissan Navara

Archive reference
No longer sold new historical model
No longer sold new Specs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
VS
GWM P500 in South Africa

GWM P500

2.0T HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9HAT Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 999,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 255 kW 🔧 648 Nm ⛽ 9.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance P500
Fuel Economy Navara
🛡 Safety P500
📦 Practicality P500
🔑 Ownership P500

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Navara P500
Engine Power Not confirmed 255
Torque Not confirmed 648
Engine Size Not confirmed 2000
Claimed Mileage Not confirmed 9.8
Ground Clearance Not confirmed 224 mm
Boot Space Not confirmed Not Applicable
Airbags Not confirmed Not Available
Kerb Weight Not confirmed Not Applicable
Seating Capacity Not confirmed 5
Warranty Not confirmed 5

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

P500 holds a noticeable edge over Navara, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance P500 +48 pts
Efficiency Navara +2 pts
Safety P500 +9 pts
Practicality P500 +25 pts
Ownership P500 +15 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Navara

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

P500

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Navara

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

P500

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec Navara P500
Model Introduced Year Not confirmed Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Not confirmed Current South African P500 listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History Not confirmed Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since Not confirmed Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed Double-cab pickup
Body Type Cab Not confirmed Pickup
Color Note Not confirmed Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Not confirmed Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.0T HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9HAT
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed Pickup
Vehicle Type Not confirmed Pickup
Spec Navara P500
Ground Clearance Not confirmed 224 mm
Wheelbase Not confirmed 3350 mm
Length Not confirmed 5445 mm
Width Not confirmed 1991 mm
Height Not confirmed 1924 mm
Kerb Weight Not confirmed Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Weight Not confirmed Not Applicable
Seating Capacity Not confirmed 5
Boot Space Not confirmed Not Applicable
Towing Capacity Not confirmed Not Applicable
Front Track Width Not confirmed Not Applicable
Rear Track Width Not confirmed Not Applicable
Turning Radius Not confirmed Not Applicable
Load Bed Length Not confirmed Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Not confirmed Not Applicable
Front Legroom Not confirmed Not Applicable
Rear Legroom Not confirmed Not Applicable
Front Headroom Not confirmed Not Applicable
Rear Headroom Not confirmed Not Applicable
Front Shoulder Room Not confirmed Not Applicable
Rear Shoulder Room Not confirmed Not Applicable
Boot Space Seats Folded Not confirmed Not Applicable
Number of Doors Not confirmed 4
Max Payload Not confirmed Not Applicable
Boot Volume Not confirmed Not Applicable
Doors Not confirmed 4
Seats Not confirmed 5
Fuel Tank Capacity Not confirmed Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg Not confirmed Not Applicable
Ground Clearance Max Not confirmed 224 mm
Ground Clearance Min Not confirmed 224 mm
Ground Clearance Mm Not confirmed 224 mm
Height Mm Not confirmed 1924 mm
Length Mm Not confirmed 5445 mm
Loadbox Length Mm Not confirmed Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm Not confirmed Not Applicable
Payload Kg Not confirmed Not Applicable
Cargo Volume Not confirmed Not Applicable
Tare Mass Kg Not confirmed Not Applicable
Turning Circle Not confirmed Not Applicable
Turning Circle M Not confirmed Not Applicable
Width Mm Not confirmed 1991 mm

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

P500 leads by 21 points

P500 holds a noticeable edge over Navara, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 60 /100
Lead 21 points
Data 70% confidence
60
#1 Winner

P500

70% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Safety 9
Performance 98
Efficiency 48
Safety 9
Practicality 75
Ownership 65
Leads by 21 points
39
#2

Navara

11% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Performance 50 Check Safety 0
Performance 50
Efficiency 50
Safety 0
Practicality 50
Ownership 50
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance P500 +48 Efficiency Navara +2 Safety P500 +9 Practicality P500 +25 Ownership P500 +15

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

P500

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 48/100
Safety 9/100
Practicality 75/100
Ownership 65/100

Navara

Performance 50/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 0/100
Practicality 50/100
Ownership 50/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM P500 wins with 60 pts vs 39 pts for Navara

In structured scoring, P500 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Navara may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the P500 edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Navara 50 vs P500 48. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Navara 0, P500 9. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Navara 50, P500 65. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Navara 50, P500 75. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Navara 50, P500 98. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The P500 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The P500 scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Navara and P500 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Navara scores 50 vs 98.

Efficiency: Navara scores 50 vs 48.

Safety: Navara scores 0 vs 9.

Practicality: Navara scores 50 vs 75.

Ownership: Navara scores 50 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives P500 the advantage in this comparison.