NISSAN has been making pick-up trucks for 80 years that have been used as workhorses around the world and the latest is the third generation Navara, the NP300.

But instead of getting a minimalistic truck with very little comfort, the new NP300 has been designed to offer more than just a vehicle for hauling bags of cement and building materials.

Nissan has recently produced popular passenger cars such as the Qashqai, X-Trail and Juke and the new NP300 Navara offers a new level of car-like refinement, comfort and quality, as well as new technologies to the one-tonne pick-up market.

One of the biggest technical advances is the introduction of an all-new five-link rear suspension system that represents a major change in the pick-up sector, with all competitors employing a combination of rigid rear axle and leaf springs as seen on the previous generation Navara.

The new, lightweight multi-link system gives a vastly superior ride quality which was obvious when I tried the double-cap version of the NP300. And it doesn't compromise on payload ratings, towing capacity, durability or off-road performance.

The new system is also 20kg lighter than the suspension in the last generation Navara, helping it to achieve class-leading fuel economy and CO2 emissions.

Behind the wheel you get the impression that you are driving a crossover-style vehicle and not a pick-up which can carry a tonne in the flat bed and tow a further 3.5 tonne load.

The chassis and 4x4 setup is a revamped version of the outgoing Navara but almost everything else is new in the NP300, including the engine which comes with either 158bhp or 187bhp.

I drove the double cab version with a seven-speed automatic box with the 187bhp engine and Nissan claims it will return 40.3mpg on a combined run generating 183 g/km of CO2.

There are plenty of new safety and comfort features on the new pick-up and depending on which specification is chosen they include cruise control, hill descent control and hill start assist as well as keyless entry, rear camera and parking sensors.

It also has a touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and I found the around-view monitor on my test vehicle a great aid when driving off-road through some narrow forest tracks lined with trees and large protruding rocks.

Inside, the dashboard assembly has been redesigned from the ground up and is not unlike that found in the Nissan Qashqai or X-Trail with a simple layout. Further features include the dual-zone digital climate control as well as new rear cab ventilation and seat design, to provide a more comfortable travelling environment for passengers.

How does it perform under on and off-road conditions?

We took the NP300 double-cab on a fairly demanding route in Majorca which took in motorways, town driving, countryside and a pretty demanding off-road sector.

Despite its size, it handled extremely well on twisty routes and I was surprised how quiet it was on the move and it felt as if I was driving a normal SUV. But on occasion I was reminded that the weight and size of the NP300 can still be felt when cornering at a fair rate.

The new Navara should appeal to many people, not just as an everyday workhorse but also those who have hobbies such as camping, sailing and other outdoor pursuits.

The new Nissan range comes in four trim grades - Visia, Acenta, N-Connecta and Tekna and it goes on sale in January.

Prices (including VAT) range from £18,376 to £29,095 for the top-range Tekna Double Cab I drove. In its sector it's definitely a pick-up that's on the up.