Nissan Navara Pro 2027 Arrives in Australia: Shares Origins with Domestic Frontier Pro

  Nissan Australia officially confirms the all-new Navara Pro plug-in hybrid version will land in Australia in 2027. This is Nissan's first new energy pickup and first plug-in hybrid model locally, with Australasia being one of the first right-hand drive markets globally.

Although the new car retains the "Navara" name, it is almost unrelated to the diesel Navara currently on sale, jointly developed by Nissan and Dongfeng, with the domestic counterpart being the Zhengzhou Nissan Frontier Pro PHEV.

But Nissan emphasizes the Australian version is not simply imported from China: powertrain, suspension, driver assistance, terrain modes, tires, differential locks, and towing capacity were all evaluated by the Australasia team. Choosing the 2.0T instead of 1.5T was also a conclusion after local road testing. Five prototype cars completed approximately 20,000 kilometers of cumulative road testing in Australia. Nissan Oceania General Manager Millett stated: "Australia is not only where we test this car, but also one of the markets that help shape it."

Regarding power, the Frontier Pro currently sold in China is 1.5T; the 2.0T version was declared in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's 411th batch announcement in September, adopting P2 architecture, with the motor located between the engine and transmission, matched with a ZF 8HAT dedicated hybrid transmission, sharing the same origin as the Australian version. Under P2 architecture, the motor and engine drive in parallel, providing more persistent power for climbing with full load and long-distance towing, while the 8-speed gearbox balances creep and cruising. Battery capacity, pure electric range, and charging speed have not yet been announced.

Off-roading is another key focus: mechanical four-wheel drive plus mechanical differential locks, Nissan calls it "first and foremost a true four-wheel drive work vehicle". The vehicle offers four driving modes and seven terrain modes including deep snow, mud, sand, rocks, wading, etc., supports external discharge (V2L), allowing camping and work to take power directly. Whether the rear suspension uses leaf springs or multi-link coil springs will be finalized before launch.

Target payload and towing are 1000kg and 3500kg respectively, aiming at traditional diesel pickups; the domestic 2.0T declared version has a rated payload of only 490kg and a maximum trailer weight of 3300kg, with significant calibration differences.

Competitor power outputs are no weaker: BYD Shark 6 high-end version is 350kW, 700Nm, JAC Hunter up to 360kW, 1010Nm, Great Wall Cannon PHEV is 310kW, 750Nm, Ford Ranger Hybrid is 207kW, 697Nm; Competitor payloads are mostly between 685 to 901kg, 3500kg towing is already standard, one ton payload is precisely Nissan's breakthrough point.

The new car features a five-seat double-cab cabin, offering a large central control screen, full LCD instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, and front seats with heating and ventilation; interior sound insulation and materials have been upgraded, positioning it towards passenger car use. The vehicle is manufactured in Zhengzhou and will be sold alongside the fourth-generation diesel Navara manufactured in Thailand. Authorized dealers offer 10-year or 300,000-kilometer conditional warranty for maintenance, with configurations and prices to be announced before launch.

Final Thoughts: Nissan's new plug-in hybrid pickup is not simply imported from China, but uses Dongfeng's new energy foundation to make up for shortcomings, while using local calibration to maintain towing and off-road capabilities. The 2027 Australian new energy pickup battle has just begun.