Nissan weighs hardcore Navara Pro PHEV Warrior as D27 Warrior program is cancelled

Warrior future shifts to the PHEV

Nissan Australia is considering a tougher, locally developed version of its upcoming Navara Pro plug-in hybrid ute, with engineering partner Premcar a potential candidate to develop it. "It's possible. Yeah, I would say," Nissan Oceania managing director Steve Milette told CarExpert, adding that while there is no Premcar Navara Pro PHEV program at the moment, the company is having conversations about what could be done with the platform for this market. ¹

The comments follow Nissan Australia's confirmation that it will not proceed with the D27 Navara Warrior program. "With the upcoming arrival of the Navara PRO PHEV, we have decided not to proceed with the D27 Navara Warrior program," a Nissan Australia spokesperson said in a statement reported by CarExpert. The company said its priority is now to successfully launch the all-new Navara Pro PHEV in 2027. ¹²

The cancelled D27 Warrior and Premcar's role

The cancelled Warrior was to be a hardcore version of the new Mitsubishi Triton-based D27 Navara, which arrived in Australia earlier in 2026. According to CarExpert's reporting carried by PerthNow, former Nissan Oceania boss Andrew Humberstone confirmed the next-generation Warrior, a concept was revealed in November 2025 featuring a suspension lift and wider track on 17-inch wheels with 32.2-inch all-terrain tyres, and Humberstone announced in March 2026 that it would arrive before the end of the year. Milette replaced Humberstone on April 1, 2026. ²

The cancelled project's scope was clearer than a simple badge swap: Premcar confirmed in May 2026 that the new Navara Warrior would not have been a rebadge of the then-new Mitsubishi Triton Raider, with different teams working on the different flagship utes, as reported by CarExpert. ²

Nissan's partnership with Melbourne-based Premcar dates back to the original Navara N-Trek Warrior of 2019, followed by the Pro-4X Warrior in 2021, the SL Warrior in 2022 and the Patrol Warrior in 2023. CarExpert notes Nissan has not announced any wider move away from Premcar, which also tuned the standard D27 Navara chassis and is set to develop Navaras for South Africa. Warrior variants traditionally receive raised and retuned suspension, all-terrain tyres, underbody protection and aggressive styling, a formula a Navara Pro Warrior could follow with further suspension, wheel and tyre upgrades. ¹²

Navara Pro PHEV specifications and local development

The Navara Pro PHEV, known as the Frontier Pro in China and built by Zhengzhou Nissan on a platform developed with joint-venture partner Dongfeng, is due in Australian showrooms during 2027. CarExpert reports the Australian-market version uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a high-output electric motor integrated into an eight-speed automatic transmission, having evaluated both 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre drivetrains before choosing the larger engine for towing, payload and sustained performance. Combined outputs are preliminary at 300kW and 800Nm, subject to final homologation. Chasing Cars notes the overseas 1.5-litre setup is rated higher at 320kW, though output measurement may differ between markets. ⁵⁶⁷

Nissan is targeting a payload of up to 1000kg and 3500kg braked towing, both subject to homologation. The ute retains a mechanical four-wheel-drive system with low-range crawling capability via the transmission, mechanical differential-lock capability and vehicle-to-load functionality. Four drive modes (Eco, Standard, Sport and Slippery) and seven terrain modes (Standard, Deep Snow, Mud, Sand, Rock, Wading and Expert) will be offered, per CarExpert. The final rear suspension configuration, with both leaf-spring and multi-link coil-spring options evaluated, and the number of differential locks will be confirmed closer to the start of sales. ⁵⁶⁸

Nissan says five development and prototype vehicles have covered more than 20,000km in Australian conditions since 2025, informing the powertrain, suspension, driver assistance calibration, tyres, differential-lock configurations, towing and load performance. "Australia wasn't simply where we tested Navara Pro PHEV. It was one of the markets helping shape it," Milette said, as quoted by CarExpert and AutoTalk. ⁵⁶⁸

Unconfirmed details: battery, pricing, warranty and cabin

Nissan has not announced battery capacity or electric-only driving range for the Australian version, with these figures to be confirmed on completion of homologation, according to the NRMA's coverage. The NRMA notes the related Dongfeng Z9 offers a 32.85kWh battery and 135km electric range, while Chasing Cars reports the overseas 1.5-litre version uses a 33kWh battery rated at 131km on the NEDC standard, and expects roughly 100km of EV range for the Nissan in line with other plug-in dual cabs. ⁸⁷

Pricing is yet to be announced, with final Australian specifications, equipment, battery capacity and range to come closer to the 2027 launch, CarExpert reports. The NRMA suggests the PHEV is expected to command upwards of $75,000 plus on-road costs, given the current diesel Navara Pro-4X tops out at $68,418 plus ORCs; AutoTalk notes the diesel Navara was relaunched in February from $53,348 before on-road costs. Like the rest of the Navara range, the PHEV variant will be backed by Nissan's 10-year/300,000km conditional warranty, which according to the NRMA requires owners to service through the Nissan network to take advantage. ⁵⁶⁸

The cabin is expected to feature a large central touchscreen, digital instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof and heated and ventilated front seats depending on grade, with the PHEV positioned as a more premium offering than a conventional work ute. Chasing Cars reports the overseas version pairs a 14.6-inch infotainment screen with a 10-inch digital driver display, with few cabin specifics confirmed for Australia beyond standard vehicle-to-load functionality. ⁵⁷

Rival set and sales context

Nissan is positioning the Navara Pro PHEV against established plug-in ute rivals. "First of all, it's a real truck with real truck capabilities. It's electrification without compromise," Milette told CarExpert. CarExpert's comparison shows the BYD Shark 6 Performance has a 725kg payload and 3500kg towing, the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV 685kg and 3500kg, the Ford Ranger Hybrid Wildtrak 901kg payload, and the JAC T9 PHEV 915kg and 3500kg, while the upcoming Chery Stockman has a 765kg payload and 3495kg towing. ⁴⁵⁶

On outright power, published assessments diverge and cannot both hold within the same comparison set. AutoTalk says that, on the figures released so far, the Navara Pro PHEV would sit at the top of the plug-in ute group for power at 300kW. CarExpert, by contrast, notes the preliminary 300kW and 800Nm outputs fall short of several competitors. Both outlets qualify that final homologated figures are still to come, so the standing of the Nissan in the segment will not be settled until confirmed specifications are released closer to launch. ⁴⁶

The cancellation of the D27 Warrior comes as Navara sales continue to decline. CarExpert, in reporting carried by PerthNow, notes Navara sales are down 48 per cent year to date to the end of September with 3227 delivered, and that 7249 Navaras were sold last year, outsold almost two-to-one by the BYD Shark 6. Milette also told CarExpert that more China-sourced models from the Dongfeng joint venture, including the N7 sedan, NX7 and NX8 SUVs and a production Terrano PHEV, are under consideration for Australia, with the Y63 Patrol due from the first quarter of 2027. ²³