Nissan confirms China-sourced Navara Pro PHEV for 2027 and flags more Dongfeng models for Australia

Nissan's first plug-in hybrid confirmed for 2027

Nissan Australia has confirmed the Navara Pro PHEV, a Chinese-developed plug-in hybrid dual-cab, will join the local line-up in 2027 as the brand's first plug-in hybrid model and its first electrified ute globally. GoAuto reports Australia and New Zealand will be the first right-hand markets to receive it, with the model already on sale in China as the Frontier Pro. Final pricing, battery capacity, electric-only range and grade structure will be announced closer to launch. ⁴⁵

Despite wearing the Navara badge, the new vehicle shares nothing with the diesel Navara, which derives from the Thai-sourced Mitsubishi Triton. Chasing Cars notes the PHEV instead sits on the underpinnings of the Dongfeng Z9 and will be imported from China, co-developed through Nissan's joint venture with Dongfeng. It will sit alongside the recently introduced D27-series diesel Navara rather than replacing it, giving Nissan a two-pronged diesel and plug-in hybrid utility strategy. ³⁶⁴

On timing, GoAuto reports the Navara Pro PHEV will arrive in Australia during the second half of 2027, a more specific window than the general 'sometime during 2027' cited when the vehicle was confirmed earlier that week by the NRMA and other outlets. ²³

Bigger engine chosen for Australia, with 300kW and 800Nm

The Australian-market Navara Pro differs materially from the Frontier Pro sold in China. GoAuto reports Nissan selected a larger turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine after evaluating both that powertrain and the 1.5-litre PHEV setup, pairing it with a high-output electric motor integrated into an eight-speed automatic transmission. The system produces preliminary combined outputs of 300kW and 800Nm, with both figures subject to final homologation. Nissan says the larger engine was chosen to better suit local expectations around towing, payload and sustained performance. ⁴⁵

Chasing Cars observes the Chinese 1.5-litre version is rated at 320kW/800Nm overseas, suggesting the lower Australian figure may relate to how outputs are measured in different markets. That setup also uses a smaller battery, with the 1.5T version featuring a 33kWh lithium-ion pack offering 131km of electric range under the NEDC standard. Battery capacity and official electric-only range for the Australian 2.0-litre version remain unconfirmed, though the NRMA notes the related Dongfeng Z9 offers a 32.85kWh battery and 135km electric range. ⁶³

Traditional workhorse capability retained

Nissan is targeting a 3500kg braked towing capacity and a payload of up to 1000kg, with both figures subject to final homologation. CarExpert calculates that, if achieved, these would match conventional diesel dual-cabs such as the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, and exceed the payload of most current PHEV rivals: the BYD Shark 6 Performance is rated at 725kg payload, the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV at 685kg, the Ford Ranger Hybrid Wildtrak at 901kg and the JAC T9 PHEV at 915kg. The upcoming Chery Stockman's latest specifications list 3495kg towing and a 765kg payload. ⁵

The ute retains a mechanical four-wheel-drive system with mechanical differential-lock capability rather than relying on electrically driven axles, and the eight-speed transmission is designed to provide low-range crawling off-road while allowing relaxed low-rpm highway cruising, per GoAuto. Four drive modes (Eco, Standard, Sport and Slippery) are offered alongside seven terrain modes covering Standard, Deep Snow, Mud, Sand, Rock, Wading and Expert settings, plus vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality for powering external equipment. ⁴³

Nissan has also evaluated both leaf-spring and multi-link coil-spring rear suspension for Australia, alongside different tyre setups and front, rear and combined differential-lock configurations. CarExpert reports the final rear suspension layout and the number of differential locks will be confirmed closer to the start of sales. ⁵

Australian testing shaped the specification

Nissan says the local development program went well beyond a validation exercise. Five prototype and development vehicles have been in Australia since 2025 and have collectively covered more than 20,000km in local conditions, covering powertrain calibration, suspension, driver assistance systems, terrain modes, tyres, differential-lock strategies, towing and load performance, with teams from Nissan Australia, Nissan Japan and Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile feeding results back into the program, as reported by GoAuto. ⁴⁵³

"Australia wasn't simply where we tested Navara Pro PHEV. It was one of the markets helping shape it," said Steve Milette, managing director of Nissan Oceania, adding that the result is a specification developed to deliver electrification without compromising the capability that defines the segment. GoAuto quotes him describing the vehicle as built from the outset for buyers who expect a premium experience, whether on the highway or an outback track. ³⁴

Equipment, warranty and what it will cost

The five-seat dual-cab features a 14.6-inch central touchscreen paired with a 10-inch digital driver display, according to Chasing Cars, which also notes leather upholstery across the five seats and that the V2L system can output up to 6kW in other markets, though no output figure has been confirmed for Australia. Equipment varies by grade and, per CarExpert, can include a large central touchscreen, digital instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, and heated and ventilated front seats. Styling draws on the 1980s D21-series Hardbody, with three horizontal LED elements above the grille referencing that model's three-slot bonnet opening. The vehicle is backed by Nissan's 10-year/300,000km conditional warranty, subject to servicing through the Nissan network. ⁶⁴⁵³

No pricing has been announced. The NRMA suggests that, given the current diesel Navara Pro-4X tops out at $68,418 plus on-road costs, the PHEV version is expected to command upwards of $75,000 plus on-road costs in Australia - an estimate, not a manufacturer figure. It will compete with the BYD Shark 6, Ford Ranger Hybrid, GWM Cannon PHEV and Cannon Alpha, the JAC Hunter PHEV and the incoming Chery Stockman, in a segment GoAuto describes as increasingly important under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard. ³⁵⁴

More Chinese-developed models under review

"Today is the first of more to come," Milette told CarExpert following the Navara Pro PHEV reveal, saying Nissan is looking at the vast majority of the joint-venture models to determine which fit the Australian market, though none are confirmed. Potential candidates include the N7 electric sedan, the NX7 plug-in hybrid SUV, the NX8 electrified SUV and a production version of the Terrano PHEV concept, all products of the Dongfeng joint venture, which CarExpert notes dates back to 2003. ¹

Speaking to GoAuto, Milette confirmed Nissan is actively examining further opportunities: "There are business cases that we're looking at actively today... nothing that we can announce formally, but there are other prototypes circling the country." He said the Terrano is "absolutely something that we are actively looking at", stressing the Dongfeng partnership is "not some overnight partnership to plug and play a product... it is 20 years in the making". GoAuto notes the Terrano could fill the gap between the X-Trail and the new Y63 Patrol left by the discontinued Pathfinder, competing with the GWM Tank 300 and Tank 500 and the Denza B5. ²

Milette also pointed to broader momentum, telling CarExpert the Y63-series Patrol is about to launch with deliveries due in the first quarter of 2027, ahead of the new Navara Pro PHEV. He suggested traditional diesel buyers are already shifting and will continue to shift towards highly efficient plug-in hybrid utilities, per GoAuto. ¹²