Nissan Navara Pro PHEV confirmed for Australia in 2027 with 300kW and 3.5-tonne towing

Confirmed: a sixth-generation Navara, built in China

Nissan Australia has confirmed the Navara Pro plug-in hybrid will go on sale in Australia in 2027, becoming the brand's first electrified ute anywhere and its first plug-in hybrid sold here. Australia and New Zealand will be among the first right-hand-drive markets to receive it, as AutoTalk Australia reported. The ute is the Oceania version of the Frontier Pro shown in China, built by Zhengzhou Nissan, a joint venture between Nissan and Dongfeng, and shares its underpinnings with the Chinese-market Dongfeng Z9 rather than the Mitsubishi-derived diesel Navara sold locally. ⁵⁹¹

Nissan Oceania managing director Steve Milette framed the vehicle as the sixth generation of the Navara nameplate, following five generations that have spanned decades in Australia. "Developed with our partners in China and engineered to meet the specific requirements of our region, it shows what Nissan is capable of delivering and what our customers can expect from us as we move forward," he said, in comments also carried by news.com.au and Torque Cafe. ¹¹⁰⁵

The confirmation followed a deliberate teaser campaign: as CarExpert reported, Nissan released an image of its logo on bright yellow paint ahead of an October 8 announcement, having previously told that outlet in August that local test vehicles were pulling heavy trailers and climbing steep grades to meet what it called the extreme needs of this market. Chasing Cars had identified the Frontier Pro as the likely subject of the reveal, which was confirmed on the day. ⁷⁶

A 2.0-litre powertrain chosen for Oceania

The headline change for Australia is under the bonnet. Where the overseas Frontier Pro PHEV uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with a transmission-mounted electric motor in a four-speed automatic, the Navara Pro PHEV for Oceania will use a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine paired with a high-output electric motor integrated into an eight-speed automatic transmission, as CarExpert reported. Nissan says it evaluated both drivetrains for the region, and that assessment against local expectations around towing, payload and sustained performance led to the selection of the larger 2.0-litre unit. ⁹¹⁰

Combined outputs are quoted at a preliminary 300kW and 800Nm, both subject to final homologation. Chasing Cars notes this is slightly below the 320kW/800Nm rating of the 1.5-litre setup sold overseas, which it suggests could relate to how outputs are measured in different markets. The eight-speed transmission is designed to provide low-range crawling ability off-road while allowing relaxed engine revs at highway speeds. ⁹⁸

Unlike some electrified rivals, the Navara Pro PHEV keeps a mechanical four-wheel-drive system with a low-range transfer case and mechanical differential-lock capability, similar in principle to the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. Nissan has evaluated front, rear and combined differential-lock configurations during local development. Four drive modes — Eco, Standard, Sport and Slippery — and seven terrain modes covering Standard, Sand, Mud, Rock, Deep Snow, Wading and Expert are confirmed. ⁸²⁹

Australian development and what remains unconfirmed

Nissan has leaned heavily on its local program to distinguish the Navara Pro PHEV from a straight import. According to AutoTalk Australia, five development and prototype vehicles arrived from 2025 and have covered more than 20,000km in Australian conditions, with engineers from Nissan Australia, Nissan Motor in Japan and Zhengzhou Nissan refining suspension, ADAS calibration, tyres, differential-lock setups, and towing and load performance. "Australia wasn't simply where we tested Navara Pro PHEV. It was one of the markets helping shape it," Mr Milette said. ⁵⁹

Several key details remain open. Nissan is still deciding between leaf-spring and multi-link coil-spring rear suspension for Australia, to be confirmed closer to the start of sales. There is no confirmed pricing, battery capacity or electric-only range figure, and final grades and equipment are also outstanding. For reference, the overseas Frontier Pro's 33kWh battery delivers a claimed 135km of electric-only range under Chinese standards, with 6kW vehicle-to-load output expected to carry across, but Nissan has not confirmed these figures for the local model. V2L functionality itself is confirmed for Australia. ⁵¹⁰⁹

Nissan is targeting a payload of up to 1000kg and a 3500kg braked towing capacity, both preliminary and subject to homologation, with the towing figure also dependent on towbar fitment. On those numbers, CarExpert observes the Nissan would 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, all with 3500kg towing. Dimensions, per CAR magazine, are 5520mm long, 1960mm wide and 1950mm tall on a 3300mm wheelbase, with 30-degree approach and 25-degree departure angles. ⁹⁵²

Fleet plans, body styles and the diesel Navara alongside

Nissan Australia is positioning the Navara Pro PHEV beyond the recreational buyer. Speaking to GoAuto, the company's general manager of total customer satisfaction and engineering, John Galvin, confirmed fleet sales are "absolutely" part of the commercial plans, with preliminary engagement already underway. The ute will initially arrive exclusively as a five-seat dual-cab pick-up, though Mr Galvin said an alloy tray or service body conversion is "certainly within scope, but not for launch", and that no fundamental packaging obstacle from the battery placement had been identified. ³

"If you're looking for a 'glam ute', which some of our buyers want, then it can be that... Similarly, if you're a tradie and you need performance out of the vehicle, like towing capability and so on, it can be that too," Mr Galvin told GoAuto, adding that Nissan understands where it needs to be positioned to be a mass-market player. GoAuto reports the model is expected to arrive in the second half of 2027, though Nissan has only committed to 2027 with specifics to come. ³

The PHEV will be sold alongside the existing diesel Navara, which is a separate, Thailand-built Mitsubishi Triton-based model relaunched in February 2026 from $53,348 before on-road costs with locally tuned suspension, as AutoTalk Australia noted. The diesel range will continue regardless, and CAR magazine reports that internal-combustion petrol and diesel options will also be available on the new platform depending on market needs. ⁵²

Ownership terms are one confirmed detail: according to CarExpert, the Navara Pro PHEV will be backed by Nissan's 10-year, 300,000km warranty when serviced through authorised Nissan dealers, with the additional warranty period subject to the company's service-activation conditions. ⁹

The market context and a possible Terrano SUV

The Navara Pro PHEV enters a segment that barely existed three years ago. BYD opened it with the Shark 6, since joined by the Ford Ranger PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV, with Chery having shown the Stockman for this market — due in early 2027 as the world's first diesel plug-in hybrid ute, per CarExpert. On the figures released so far, AutoTalk Australia notes the Nissan would sit at the top of the group for power. ⁵⁹

Beyond the ute, Chasing Cars reports Nissan Australia managing director Steve Milette has confirmed a Terrano large SUV — which shares the Navara Pro's platform and was unveiled in China earlier in the year — is under consideration for Australia, though it is not yet confirmed. Chasing Cars suggests a locally sold Terrano would most likely use the same plug-in hybrid powertrain with its mechanical 4x4 system, and would give Nissan a body-on-frame rival for the Ford Everest and Toyota Prado. ⁴

The confirmation comes at a difficult commercial moment for Nissan in Australia. News.com.au reports the brand fell to 16th on the sales charts in September, behind new marques including Zeekr and Omoda Jaecoo, and frames the new ute as Nissan's bid to reverse that slide against BYD's Shark 6, which currently ranks third among all-wheel-drive utes behind the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. ¹