Mean, monstrous, maybe even malevolent. Colleagues formed a far-from orderly queue to offer their opinions on a vehicle that was quickly nicknamed the beast. While it looked like the perfect road transport for Harry Potter's adversary, Lord Voldemort, if his broomstick happened to be in for repair, in fact the Navara pick-up is hiding a much darker secret behind its tinted windows.

On paper, the four-wheel-drive and whopping load floor area appear to make it a favourite of butch builders and landscape gardeners, but for all the ferocious facade, the Navara is more Mayfair than Mafia. In fact it's a bit of a softie.

You can brag to your macho mates about the ability to transport 1,097kg and tow a 2.6-tonne trailer, and boast about the number of sheets of plywood you can load into the rear, but you might be a little more reluctant to admit the interior is a haven of climate-controlled, Bluetooth-linked comfort with DVD satellite navigation. And, whisper this, there are even heated, leather seats to keep you cosy.

Billed as the most comprehensively equipped pick-up officially sold in the UK, the sheer imposing presence of the top-of-the-range Nissan Navara Aventura makes it look like a gas-guzzling monster, but even that is an illusion.

The Navara six-speed pick-up's 174 horsepower, 2.4-litre, turbo diesel engine is more economical (33.2mpg on the combined cycle) and emits less carbon dioxide than many passenger cars including, for example, an Audi A6 2.4.

This comparison with large passenger cars is completely justified, as the Navara's ride is much more tuned to the road than a rodeo, and the levels of comfort, refinement and quality meet everything you would expect from a modern sports utility vehicle.

That again is not surprising, as the company car tax-efficient Navara was developed alongside the Pathfinder, itself a large, comfy and capable SUV.

Having said all that the Navara is at heart a pick-up and with prices starting at about £15,000, there is plenty of choice. The nine-strong Navara range comes in four-seater King Cab or roomier five-seater Double Cab versions, four trim levels and a choice of six-speed manual, or five-speed automatic transmissions on double cabs. All versions come with twin airbags and a single CD audio system. A metal guard is fitted to protect the rear window to which tools can also be tied, while a tubular rear bumper allows the tailgate to be fully lowered so that it can be loaded by fork lift. The list of standard equipment goes on and on. Never mind king of the road, all hail the king of bling.

Auto facts Nissan Navara Aventura

  • Price: £26,014
  • Insurance group: 11
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 30.7mpg (auto)
  • Top speed: 105mph
  • Length: 522cm/205.5in
  • Width: 185cm/73in
  • Height: 188cm/ 74in
  • Bed size: 151cm/59.4in long x 156cm/61.4 wide
  • Fuel tank capacity: 17.6 gallons/80 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 226g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles