Nissan NP300 Hardbody vs Gwm P Series

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.

Nissan NP300 Hardbody in South Africa

Nissan NP300 Hardbody

2.5 TDi Double Cab Hi-Rider 4x4 Automatic Diesel Automatic
ZAR 529,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 98 kW 🔧 304 Nm ⛽ 11.4 km/l
VS
Gwm P Series in South Africa

Gwm P Series

2.0T Double Cab LX 4x4 Diesel Automatic
ZAR 599,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 480 Nm ⛽ 9.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance P Series
Fuel Economy NP300 Hardbody
🛡 Safety P Series
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership P Series
NP300 Hardbody starts ZAR 444900 cheaper NP300 Hardbody from ZAR 349,900 · P Series from ZAR 444,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec NP300 Hardbody P Series
Engine Power 98 110
Torque 304 480
Engine Size 2488 1996
Claimed Mileage 11.4 9.8
Ground Clearance 215 210
Boot Space Not Applicable -
Airbags 4 6
Kerb Weight 1395 1985
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

P Series

60
/ 100
+11
pts
#2

NP300 Hardbody

49
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

P Series has a slight advantage, but NP300 Hardbody remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance P Series +4 pts
Efficiency NP300 Hardbody +7 pts
Safety P Series +6 pts
Practicality Equal
Ownership P Series +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

P Series

Performance 14/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 8/20
Ownership 20/20

NP300 Hardbody

Performance 10/20
Efficiency 7/20
Safety 12/20
Practicality 8/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

NP300 Hardbody

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

P Series

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

Which One's Right for You?

NP300 Hardbody

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

P Series

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec NP300 Hardbody P Series
Ground Clearance 215 210
Wheelbase 2500 3220
Length 4875 5360
Width 1760 1900
Height 1655 1815
Kerb Weight 1395 1985
Gross Vehicle Weight 2400 3000
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space Not Applicable -
Towing Capacity 2500 3500
Front Track Width 1495 1560
Rear Track Width 1490 1560
Turning Radius 5.8 13.6
Load Bed Length 1907 1520
Load Bed Width 1454 1560
Number of Doors 5 4
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 0
Front Legroom Available 1070
Rear Legroom Available 880
Front Headroom Available 1020
Rear Headroom Available 975
Front Shoulder Room Available 1440
Rear Shoulder Room Available 1420
Max Payload Available 900
Boot Volume Available 0
Doors Available 4
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available 980
Fuel Tank Capacity Available 75
Rear Overhang Available 1160
Spec NP300 Hardbody P Series
Engine 2.5L Turbocharged Diesel 2.0L GW4D20 Turbocharged Diesel
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged Diesel
Displacement 2488 1996
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 16
Power 98 110
Power @ RPM 3600 rpm 3,400-3,600 rpm
Torque 304 480
Torque @ RPM 1750-2500 rpm 1,600-2,600 rpm
Fuel System Common Rail Direct Injection Common Rail Direct Injection
Turbocharger Single Turbo Yes
Top Speed 168 175
0-100 km/h 12.5 110
Compression Ratio 17.5:1 16.5:1
Engine Position Front Longitudinal Front Longitudinal
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard GW4D20
Cylinder Bore 82.0 84
Piston Stroke 92.0 90
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Diesel
Engine Oil Capacity Available 8.0
Power 150 148
Variable Valve Timing Available No
Maximum Engine RPM Available 4,000
Engine Type Config Available Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve Turbocharged
0–100 km/h Available 13.2
Battery Capacity Available -
Charging Port Available -
AC Charging Time Available -
Engine Displacement Available 1996
EV Range Available -

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Gwm P Series wins with 60 pts vs 49 pts for NP300 Hardbody

In structured scoring, P Series emerges as the stronger overall package. However, NP300 Hardbody 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 P Series 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: NP300 Hardbody 7 vs P Series 0. 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: NP300 Hardbody 12, P Series 18. 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: NP300 Hardbody 12, P Series 20. 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: NP300 Hardbody 8, P Series 8. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: NP300 Hardbody 10, P Series 14. 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 P Series edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The P Series 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 NP300 Hardbody and P Series in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: NP300 Hardbody scores 10 vs 14.

Efficiency: NP300 Hardbody scores 7 vs 0.

Safety: NP300 Hardbody scores 12 vs 18.

Practicality: NP300 Hardbody scores 8 vs 8.

Ownership: NP300 Hardbody scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives P Series the advantage in this comparison.