Nissan News

Nissan’s Pathfinder large SUV will return to its 4x4 roots after years as a more plush family-oriented model, as part of a new-generation overhaul before the end of the decade.Industry publication Automotive News has reported sources familiar with the program have claimed the Pathfinder nameplate will be split in two, with an updated version of the current car co-existing with a new version, which will return to a more hardcore ladder-frame chassis.The Pathfinder nameplate has a history of dipping in and out of ladder-frame construction, with the first-generation version in 1985 being body-on-frame, the second-generation in 1995 being monocoque, then returning to a ladder frame shared with the Navara in 2004 for the third-generation.Since then, the fourth and current fifth-generation vehicles have been on a monocoque chassis, positioned as the brand’s three-row rival to the likes of the Toyota Kluger, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.According to the Automotive News report, the upcoming ladder-frame Pathfinder will share its underpinnings with the revived US-market Xterra off-roader and next-generation Frontier ute, both of which are expected to feature a petrol V6 engine to go with their 4x4 hardware.The updated monocoque Pathfinder and its ladder-frame alternative are expected to launch around 2029 as a two-prong large SUV offering from the brand.As this plan seems specifically targeted at reviving Nissan’s ailing fortunes in the US, it raises questions of the future of the Pathfinder nameplate for Australia.Two competing factors may affect it. Firstly, current US policy to stimulate vehicle exports has forced Nissan to consider exporting currently left-hand-drive only vehicles from America to Japan, which would necessitate right-hand-drive conversion, and therefore make them theoretically available to Australia, too.On the other hand, Australia’s recently-implemented New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) which closes the vice on high-emitting engines (like a petrol V6) under threat of fines, would seem to rule out or limit the appeal of importing US models with V6 engines, such as the Pathfinder or US-market Frontier.The second factor is Nissan’s increasing Chinese presence. Its joint-ventures are producing models that could be essential additions to its line-up locally, both from an emissions and sales potential stand-point. The company’s Australian division has expressed interest in the Chinese-built Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute as part of a similar two-prong ute strategy, with the Chinese model serving as a BYD Shark 6 or GWM Cannon Alpha rival, and the Mitsubishi Triton-based version serving as a traditional diesel workhorse.The US-built Pathfinder has struggled for sales in Australia against stiff competition.While it was up 40 per cent year-on-year by the end of 2025, it amassed just 732 units which pales in comparison to rivals like the Toyota Kluger (8098 units), Mazda CX-80 (3851 units), Kia Sorento (8745 units) and Hyundai Santa Fe (6264 units).Nissan’s Australian sales dropped 21.6 per cent over the course of 2025 as buyers turn to more keenly priced and largely hybrid-powered competitors as well as more affordable new arrivals from China.The Australian situation is not unique and Nissan has promised a wide-ranging turn-around strategy dubbed Re:Nissan, which involves leaning more heavily into its Chinese and US manufacturing, renegotiatiating its alliance with Renault, reorienting its entire model line-up and closing underperforming factories.

A new engine from this Geely joint-venture promises 40 per cent lower consumption compared to rivals.

Battery recycling will take on an increasingly important role in electric vehicle production and sustainability as more EVs hit the roads. 

The federal government has released the results of the first New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), with several major manufacturers impacted. 

Specifications for the updated 2026 Nissan X-Trail have just been released.Pricing was detailed in November last year, but the updated X-Trail will start from $38,140 before on-road costs before hitting $58,215 for the top-spec grade.It will be available in petrol or e-Power hybrid guise in front or all-wheel drive variants.The X-Trail’s hybrid and all-wheel drive grades see it shape up as a rival to the strong-selling Toyota RAV4 hybrid.The RAV4’s all-wheel drive grades start from $49,340, before on-roads, which is marginally more expensive than the cheapest X-Trail hybrid, with a starting price of $48,915.Hyundai’s Tucson hybrid is roughly $6000 cheaper than the X-Trail, but that model does not have an all-wheel-drive system.Nissan’s e-Power system operates differently to conventional hybrids, as the petrol engine never directly drives the wheels, only generating energy for the battery.The petrol variant of the X-Trail is slightly more expensive than the Mazda CX-5.The X-Trail comes in five-seater and seven-seater configurations.It is powered by either a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol hybrid set-up.The petrol-only unit produces 135kW and 244Nm, while the hybrid version has a total system output of 157kW of power.Inside, the X-Trail gets a 12.3-inch central touchscreen display as standard as well as a digital driver display, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality.New colours are also available, including ‘Deep Ocean Blue’ and ‘Everest White’, while there is a new ‘Chestnut’ interior on the Ti-L grade. 2026 Nissan X-Trail pricing Australia 2026 Nissan X-Trail engine and efficiency  2026 Nissan X-Trail standard features17-inch alloy wheels12.3-inch central touchscreenWireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay7.0-inch digital driver displayPowered and heated door mirrorsPaddle shiftersRain-sensing wipersLED headlightsST-L grade adds18-inch alloy wheelsLeather-accented seatsLeather-accented steering wheelPower adjustable seatsRemote engine start12.3-inch digital driver displayDual-zone climate controlHeated front seatsWireless phone chargerAuto-dimming rear-view mirrorTi grade adds19-inch alloy wheels10.8-inch head-up displayTri-zone climate controlMotion sensing power tailgateRear door sunshadesTi-L grade adds20-inch alloy wheels (hybrid model only)Bose premium 10-speaker audio systemHeated steering wheelHeated second-row outside seatsAmbient interior lightingMemory driver seat 2026 Nissan X-Trail safetyThe Nissan X-Trail has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, awarded in 2022. Standard safety featuresSeven airbags360 degree cameraLane keep assistAuto emergency brakingBlind spot warningAdaptive cruise controlRear parking sensorsST-L grade addsFront parking sensors3D surround view monitorTyre pressure monitoring system 2026 Nissan X-Trail dimensions  2026 Nissan X-Trail warranty and servicingThe Nissan X-Trail comes with a 10-year/300,000-kilometre warranty and roadside assistance when serviced at authorised Nissan dealers. The car has flat price servicing at $399 per year for the first five years. Intervals for servicing have changed from every 10,000km/12 months to a better 15,000km/12 months. 

The President of the United States Donald Trump and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin have combined to eliminate the ‘off-cycle credit’ the EPA said was used to implement the start-stop feature in American vehicles. An EPA off-cycle credit awards carmakers greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction credits for technologies that improve real-world fuel efficiency but are not fully captured by laboratory-based emissions tests. For example, stop-start systems and active aerodynamics.The statement said the feature is “almost universally hated”, with the EPA’s final rule eliminating all subsequent federal GHG emission standards for all vehicles and engines with model years 2012 to 2027 and beyond, “including for what many Americans refer to as the single worst feature in cars - auto start-stop buttons”.Announcing the change, Administrator Zeldin said, “As I travelled across all 50 states this past year, I heard from countless Americans who not only dislike the start-stop feature but passionately advocated for this mechanism to be a thing of the past. “Not only do many people find start-stop annoying, but it kills the battery of your car without any significant benefit to the environment.“The Trump EPA is proudly fixing this stupid feature at Trump Speed.“Automakers should not be forced to adopt or rewarded for technologies that are merely a climate participation trophy with no measurable pollution reductions. Consumer choice is a top priority for the Trump EPA and we are proud to continue delivering commonsense rules for the American people,” he said.The official EPA announcement stated “about 60 per cent” of new cars have the stop-start feature, and “with the elimination of the off-cycle credits, manufacturers will be incentivized to listen to what Americans actually want in their cars”.Multiple automotive brands manufacturing cars in the US issued statements in response to the regulation change.Stellantis said, “We remain supportive of a rational, achievable approach on fuel economy standards that preserves our customers’ freedom of choice.”A Ford statement said: “We appreciate the work of President Trump and Administrator Zeldin to address the imbalance between current emissions standards and customer choice.”Hyundai made the point that the EPA's rule changes remove incentives rather than mandating change and said, “Hyundai continues to comply with all applicable emissions regulations and regularly evaluates vehicle technologies based on customer feedback, regulatory requirements, and overall efficiency.”General Motors, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and others referenced comments from automotive industry group, Alliance for Automotive Innovation.Alliance President John Bozzella said, “I’ve said it before, automotive emissions regulations finalized in the previous administration are extremely challenging for automakers to achieve given the current marketplace demand for EVs.“The auto industry in America remains focused on preserving vehicle choice for consumers, keeping the industry competitive, and staying on a long-term path of emissions reductions and cleaner vehicles,” he said.

The incoming new-generation Nissan Navara is mechanically identical to the Mitsubishi Triton, but carries a sizeable price jump in comparison.It adds another rival to a compact ute market, so how does the more expensive Navara shape up to its cheaper Triton sibling? Nissan said money and time has been invested into its ute’s suspension, receiving assistance from Australian specialists Premcar.The brand said this local tuning offers improvement to driving and handling with and without load. The Navara has three different suspension set-ups across the range, with lower grades tuned for carrying loads, while SUV-like suspension is fitted to higher grades. Nissan’s ute also has a locking rear differential as standard on all grades, unlike on the Triton. Here is a breakdown of the difference between the Navara and the Triton.Pricing Australia (before on-road costs) Noting the Triton’s current drive-away offering, it comes in substantially cheaper than the Navara across the range. DimensionsBoth have the same braked towing capacity of 3500kg. Things start to change when we look at payload, with the Triton offers superior carrying capacity across the range. When it comes to cargo bed size, the pair share the same-sized space.  Engine and efficiencyThe Navara and Triton are nearly mechanically identical and use the same engine and transmission, so there is no difference between the two. Standard featuresNext grade adds or replaces: Next grade adds or replaces: Next grade adds The Navara does have more standard equipment than the Triton in a comparison between the pair.As standard, the Navara gets a digital driver display, unlike on the Triton, while it also gets a bigger central touchscreen. There is digital DAB+ radio, LED lighing front and back, tailgate assist and a rear diff lock as standard on the Navara, while that is only available on higher grade Tritons. There are areas where the Triton matches the Navara, including all-terrain tires and basic cloth trimmed manually adjustable seats.On the top-spec grades, the Triton has bigger alloy wheels, but they both have leather seats. The Navara’s top grade has a towbar fitted, but the Triton does not.Safety The Nissan Navara adopts the same five-star ANCAP safety rating awarded to the Mitsubishi Triton in 2024. Both get all the safety gear you would expect, such as eight airbags, lane keep assist and auto-emergency. As standard, both cars get a reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors. VerdictThe Mitsubishi Triton appears to be the value buy here as it gets most of the gear as on the Navara, but for a cheaper price. The Triton's special drive-away price makes it more compelling for now, but the price gap will close once that offer is removed.The Triton may be the budget pick, but the Navara’s benefits are not obvious from the spec sheet. Its Aussie-tuned suspension and rear-differential lock could give it the edge on the off-roading scene, while also aiding the on-road driving experience. 

Nissan's model revival is firing up – and returning to its off-road roots – with dealers given a sneak-peek at the brand's V6-powered ladder-frame 4WD that will take on models like the Ford Everest and Toyota LandCruiser Prado decribing it as "beefy and radical".

There can be only one winner in the CarsGuide Car of the Year – Best Small Car Starting Under $50K category.But luckily for a couple of models there’s also room for two runners-up on the podium.The category’s shortlist featured some strong competition, with the two runner-up models the result of some debate in the COTY War Room over a few front-runners.But unlike the other categories in the 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards, the winner in this category was unanimous.Read on to find out which model impressed each judge more than the other nine entrants.Make no mistake, the MG S5 EV falling short of the category crown shouldn’t be seen as disappointing.MG’s cars have been handed mixed reviews by CarsGuide journalists since the brand relaunched in Australia a decade ago, and even recently some models have arguably leant on the low price as a selling point.But the MG S5 EV is changing opinions. A significant jump in quality, ergonomics and driving ability put the small electric SUV close to the front of the pack in terms of buying propositions – plus it’s a $40,490 drive-away ask.“The MG S5 EV gives everything such a run on the value front. It changed my mind about MG’s EVs in that segment,” said CarsGuide Deputy News Editor Tom White in the COTY War Room discussion.Our Deputy Editor James Cleary summed the S5 EV’s strengths up with an economical number of words: “Looks, dynamics, practicality, space, reasonable range and its warranty.” But while the S5 received near-universal praise in the War Room discussion, Senior Journalist Laura Berry mentioned its price as being a strong reason to consider the S5 EV, even if the winner in this category has it covered in all other areas. “Being $7000 less than the winner, it’s a really compelling argument. It’s fantastic value and a great car,” she said.Could the Qashqai be Nissan’s best current offering in terms of broad appeal? After a new generation was quickly followed by a design refresh, the small SUV now looks stunning, and its interior has been updated to feel properly modern. When judging took place at the end of last year, the $34,665 starting point for its entry petrol ST grade was the cheapest way into the model, though Nissan has since announced that the Qashqai is hybrid-only going forwards.But soon the e-Power hybrid will start from $45,640 before on-roads, but its quality and smooth on-road performance still impressed judges in the pricier e-Power hybrids.“Qashqai as a range has some of the widest appeal and most versatility,” said Deputy News Editor Tom White. “It won the comparo it was in for us, too.”That comparison was with the Qashqai ST-L, the Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.0 and the Subaru Crosstrek R back in 2023, and that was before the facelifted Qashqai arrived.While judges also praised its e-Power hybrid variants for their driving feel (“that e-Power system is amazing,” said Senior Journalist Laura Berry), there was another huge win when it comes to considering the Qashqai.Contributing Journalist Byron Mathioudakis pointed out that it “also has a very useful 10-year warranty”.The EV3’s place atop the podium isn’t a massive surprise to me, but to have each of the other judges call it their pick of the bunch was heartening.I’ve spent the most time in the EV3 compared to the rest of the panel, after its international launch in Seoul, its Australian launch through the Gold Coast hinterland and some more time living with the small electric SUV.CarsGuide Managing Editor Tim Nicholson praised the EV3’s combination of clever packaging and fun from behind the wheel. "There is not much the Kia EV3 gets wrong. It has an edgy, modern design and a visually appealing and surprisingly spacious interior,” he said. “And you also get punchy EV performance and excellent ride and handling. It's an exceptional overall package." A lot of thought has clearly gone into the EV3, and while it’s not as dynamically keen as the Kia EV6, its stablemate in the brand’s ‘EV’ range, it shines far brighter than the Kia EV5 in terms of its on-road manners.Contributing Journalist Byron Mathioudakis voted for the EV3 due to “all the reasons we’ve already said, plus the fact it’s got a bit of an ‘It Factor’”.“The design, its proportions, just the level of detail that thing has is outstanding,” he added.It’s one of the more expensive entrants in the category, with its entry Standard Range Air variant starting from $47,600 before on-roads, but News Editor Dom Tripolone’s experience with the EV3 puts any ‘too expensive’ arguments to rest in the eyes of the judges.“I was able to put two child seats in the second row with a pram in the back very easily,” he said.“It’s a small car, but it feels like I’m buying a car a size above on the inside. That changes the value proposition in my book.”You can spend up to $63,950 for a top-spec GT-Line, but sticking with the entry grade is not only the best value, it’s also not missing anything important for the EV3 to be a fabulous step into the EV space.

The new Nissan Navara will land in dealerships from March 1 to take on the mighty Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.The incoming Navara is based on the current Mitsubishi Triton, with many mechanical elements such as engine and transmission shared across the pair.At its heart is a 2.4-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel motor that pumps out 150kW and 470Nm, this is matched to a six-speed auto and four-wheel drive with a high and low gearing.Nissan said it has invested a lot of time and money into improving the Navara’s suspension tune, and has enlisted the help of Aussie outfit Premcar to tweak the workhorse.The company said there are three different suspension set-ups across the range, with more agricultural leaf suspension in the lower grades aimed at carrying loads to more SUV-like suspension to improve road driving in higher grades.Nissan said this improvement to the way it drives and handles with and without a load, plus the addition of key standard equipment such as a locking rear differential on all grades, is key to justifying its hefty premium over the Triton.The Navara range kicks off at $53,348, which is about $7000 more than the current special drive-away price for a base Triton GLX 4WD. A similar price comparison continues up the range.The Navara’s price is more favourable when compared to the top selling Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.All models have a 3500kg braked towing capacity and all but the range-topping PRO-4X have a more than one tonne payload.2026 Nissan Navara price Australia2026 Nissan Navara engine/powertrain and efficiency2026 Nissan Navara standard featuresNavara SLLED headlightsLED taillights17-inch steel wheelsFull size spareClimate controlCloth seatsManual seat adjustmentPolyurethane steering wheelVinyl flooringAll terrain tyres7.0-inch digital instrument display9.0-inch multimedia screenDAB+ digital radioAndroid Auto and Apple CarPlayTailgate assistRear locking differentialNavara ST adds:17-inch alloy wheelsHeated exterior mirrorAuto folding side mirrorsLeather accented steering wheelAuto dimming rear view mirrorCarpet flooringRear USB portsRear privacy glassNavara ST-X addsTorsen limited-slip centre differentialSeven selectable terrain modesHill descent control18-inch gunkmetal alloy wheelsBody coloured front bumper lower lipSilver frulle insertsSilver side stepsChrome finished exterior mirrorsLeather accented seatsPower adjustable driver seatHeated front seatsDual zone climate controlPush button startWireless smartphone chargerTublinerSports barNavara PRO-4X adds17-inch matt black alloy wheels with alloy terrain tyresLava red exterior accentsBlack roof railsNAVARA tailgate badge finished in blackTowbarBlack sportsbarPRO-4X logo on front seat headrestsPRO-4X exterior decalsLeather accented steering wheel with orange contrast stitching 2026 Nissan Navara coloursWhiteBlackRed Premium paint costs $995 Premium whitePremium silverPremium greyBlue (ST-X and PRO-4X only)Orange (ST-X only)2026 Nissan Navara safetyThe 2026 Nissan Navara borrows its crash test result from the mechanically identical Mitsubishi Triton, which was tested in 2024.It received a five star ANCAP rating, with good scores in all areas. It received 86 per cent for adult occupant protection, 89 per cent for child occupant protection, 74 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, 70 per cent for safety assist.All variants receive the following safety features as standardEight airbagsAuto emergency brakingRear cross traffic alertFront cross traffic alertBlind spot warningLane departure warningsTyre pressure monitoringCruise controlReversing cameraFront and rear parking sensorsTraffic sign recognition2026 Nissan Navara warranty and servicingNissan covers its vehicles with a 10 year/300,000km conditional warranty, which requires owners to service their vehicle at a Nissan dealership.If they don’t follow the servicing schedule or service at a dealership it reverts to a five year/unlimited km guarantee.It includes a 10 year/300,000km roadside assistance service if scheduled at a Nissan dealership and servicing is $499 a pop for the first five visits. 2026 Nissan Navara dimensions