Nissan Navara News

Utes have been affected substantially by increasing fuel prices, thanks to their large fuel tanks and often thirsty turbo-diesel engines.Diesel fuel prices have jumped to more than $3 per litre, making filling up a diesel ute more expensive than ever.CarsGuide has compiled a list of all the diesel dual-cab pick-up utes on sale, calculating the yearly cost of each at $3.07 per litre (the average price in NSW on 31/3/26) over 15,000km.Isuzu Ute’s D-Max and Mazda BT-50 2.2-litre turbo-diesel variants are the efficiency leaders. The mechanically identical pair of utes cost $3038.02 in fuel in a year, averaging 6.6L/100km.The Ford Ranger’s single turbo-diesel 2.0-litre is next on the list, averaging 6.9L/100km, which equates to $3177.45 over 15,000km. The new mild hybrid Toyota HiLux also has a competitive efficiency figure of 7.1L/100km, which is a little cheaper in fuel than the standard turbo-diesel variants. Three-litre variants of the BT-50 and D-Max vary in cost, given fuel consumption fluctuates between 7.1L/100km and 7.8L/100km depending on the variant.The KGM Musso is one of the thirstiest of the utes, with its up to 9.0L/100km, costing more than $4000 over the course of a year.  The GWM Cannon Alpha diesel was the other ute to exceed the $4000 mark. Concluding the list are the gas guzzling full-size American pick-ups, in Ram’s 2500 and the Chevrolet Silverado HD. Both have V8 diesel engines with a capacity of more than 6.0-litres, meaning they cost more than $7000 over the course of a year.2026 ute fuel figures Australia  *Dependent on variant**Ram does not provide official figures for fuel consumption. This figure is sourced from CarsGuide's real world testing.***Chevrolet does not provide official figures for fuel consumption. This figure is sourced from CarsGuide's real world testing.

The incoming D24 Nissan Navara ute may not be the only ute model in Nissan Australia’s line-up for long, according to suggestions from the local arm’s top brass.Nissan Australia has only just launched the new-generation 2026 Nissan Navara, but there’s an international sibling waiting in the wings to join the Australian-focused ute.The Chinese-built 2027 Nissan Frontier Pro, which borrows the Frontier name used for the Navara in the US, has a possibility of joining the new Navara here to fill the electrification gap currently seen in the ute space.With the popularity of the BYD Shark 6, it would also make sense for Nissan to offer a rival plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute here in Australia.The Frontier Pro is a similar PHEV ute, developed by Nissan’s Chinese partner Dongfeng, which sells it in China as the Z9 GE.Rather than replacing the diesel-powered (for now) Navara, it seems there’s room for both models in Nissan Australia’s showrooms.Outgoing Nissan Oceania Managing Director Andrew Humberstone says the strength of the Navara nameplate is just some of the reason there’s scope for the two products to coexist.“Navara as a nameplate is very strong, it’s like Patrol,” he told CarsGuide. “The powertrains can potentially change, but the product name Navara and its heritage here is very strong.”“There’s five generations… it’s got a long history. It’s a trusted brand on its own. We’ve built Warrior on the back of that as well, so we have a real Australian heritage with what we’ve done with this one.“The strength of Navara is something I would not underestimate. If I could use the Navara name or the Patrol name over another name I almost certainly would.”But with Nissan Australia not yet fully committed to the Frontier, it’s unclear whether the brand will look to bring that model here or wait for electrification in the Navara to be a possibility.Even if Navara does end up with hybrid (or any other kind of electrification) in its line-up, Humberstone says the two utes aren’t a case of ‘one or the other’.“I would see them as very different products… if you look at the design. Could those run parallel? Potentially, yeah, there’s no commitment on that product coming in yet, but at the national partner meeting we did discuss it at length.“We think it’s a great product, there’s lots of investment committed to that product. Going forward the markets will be named that are getting that within the next two to three months. And then once we have that we can potentially share more details.”Humberstone has previously said - in mid-2025 - he would like to see both models land Down Under, but this more recent suggestion that both would work in the line-up as parallel offerings shows the brand is gathering more information while keeping it on the cards.

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.

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. 

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

The Nissan D27 Navara has been one of 2025’s most hotly-anticipated new-model unveilings.Out in the first quarter of this year, it was meant to signal a rebirth for a series that has been in the doldrums since the previous generation launched in Australia in 2014.Instead, and despite a two-year-plus gap between it and the Mitsubishi MV Triton donor ute – which was new from-the-ground-up barring its 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine – the level of change outside, inside and under the bonnet has been criticised as not enough by some people who were expecting unique sheetmetal, interior and powertrains.Essentially a Mitsubishi with a new face, it transpired that only the headlights, bumper, grille and tail-light lenses differ, raising questions about why Nissan took so long to bring the D27 to market.According to Nissan AMIEO (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania) Region Vice President Marketing & Mobility, Arnaud Charpentier, the company wanted to ensure that the Navara’s driving experience meets Australian consumer expectations as a priority, given the (undisclosed) budget constraints they had to work within.“We started a bit after (the Triton’s Australian release) …and all those tests took us 12 months,” he said. “We probably could have launched the car before, but we wanted this local tuning made here by the region, for the region.“We had to adapt the timing for, of course, not only the tuning of the suspension, but the design took us also a bit of time to reinject the Nissan DNA onto the car.”So, was the Mitsubishi chassis set-up so bad that it put the project back nearly two years?According to Nissan Oceania Managing Director, Andrew Humberstone, there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the Triton’s suspension tune – other than it was not aligned with what a Nissan’s one should be.“It wasn't so much what the suspension was on the donor car at all,” he explained – very carefully. “It was more around, what are the needs of the car, and how do we differentiate ourselves.“It was more around listening to customers… when I first joined the Oceania team (April, 2024), I did a road show and visited the dealer network… and it was really evident to me that Australianness was a really key component. That was really important to the Australian consumer.”According to Premcar boss, Bernie Quinn, whose Melbourne-based team is responsible for the Navara’s suspension tuning and behaviour, over half a decade’s experience working on the previous version starting with the original Warrior informed what the latest version should be like.“You're getting a Navara is what I’d say first,” he said. “(The D27) has a very unique character that's been evolved from, certainly from my point of view, since my company's involvement with the Navara started with the N-Trek Warrior back in 2019, it's really evolved from that basis.“I think we really hit the nail on the head of understanding what the Australian customer does with their pick-up truck.”Quinn was quick to add that the Triton fundamentals provided a very sound base on which to differentiate it from Navara.“There are two different types of springs - the three leaf-spring and four-leaf springs, and, along with the front springs, and they carry over (from Triton), but all four dampers have changed on all variants,” he revealed.“The dampers themselves are Australian-made… they’re a bigger damper with more capability, they've got the internal rebound spring, which is sort of a newish technology, which gives us more flexibility in the tuning base to maintain comfort, but also maintain control.”Given the budget and time parameters that Premcar were working within, Quinn is confident that more than enough has changed to make the Navara feel like a Nissan ute should.“Critical to achieving that DNA, that Navara DNA, as I like to look at, was changing the dampers.“(But) it was not necessary to change other things, like springs and bump stops and suspension geometry. The (Mitsubishi) architecture is actually really, really good – long travel front suspension, a really nice setup in the rear as well, in terms of roll centres, all those sorts of things; they were pretty much where we'd like them to be.“So, it didn't necessitate, thank God, large changes to the architecture, because it's quite good. But we saw a lot of benefit from changing the dampers and going to a much larger diameter damper, internal rebound spring on the front damper.“Really, it's brought that missing Navara DNA, maybe even a little bit of Warrior DNA, into the car.”

Nissan has clarified its two-pronged ute strategy for Australia from 2027, while potentially introducing a third contender in the process.Nissan Oceania Managing Director Andrew Humberstone suggested the traditional diesel approach with the Mitsubishi Triton-based N27 would not be enough if market growth goals are to be achieved.This comes as all brands scramble to make the right product decisions now that electrified competition as well as carbon legislation are demanding different solutions than before.“In terms of going forward, this segment is very much a key pillar in our brand portfolio, as is Patrol (full-sized 4WD SUV),” Humberstone said.“It's then, ‘how do we manage these two core products?’, which are very strong in terms of brand awareness in the market and strength of our brand, and manage the NVES (New Vehicle Efficiency Standard) and CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy US federal regulations) on the other side of the spectrum?’“How do we create that balance? So of course, we have to look at other options, which is why we're looking at product portfolio going forward.”This builds on what the global car industry veteran told CarsGuide a few weeks earlier, where he mentioned the Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that debuted at last April’s Shanghai auto show, as a strong proposition.“New Navara and Frontier Pro together? Oh, yeah, absolutely,” Humberstone revealed. “And it wouldn't be one or the other. I would absolutely see an opportunity for both of them (in Australia).”Since then, Nissan confirmed the Frontier Pro for Australia at a gala event in Adelaide by flying one out especially for the evening, just one day after pulling the covers off the D27 Navara in the same city.Additionally, and quite unexpectedly, turbo-charged petrol and diesel variations of the Frontier Pro were announced.This suggests that premium and possibly high-performance versions of the ute, which is based on partner Dongfeng’s Z9 dual-cab pick-up, may also join the local line-up to wrestle head-on with the Ford Ranger Wildtrak.Such an ambitious ute strategy is in line with the steps Nissan is taking on its road to rebuilding in Australia.“We've had a lot of work to do, one on building brand, one on building customer retention,” Humberstone admitted.“And, in between, the key component here is around sourcing a product… but (with reduced supply and profitability) we're looking at is a new product portfolio.”Finally, while the new (D27) Navara will arrive as dual-cab 4x4 diesel auto-only proposition initially, other styles and variations are at the ready should Nissan require them.This could include a version of the hybrid powertrain that supplier Mitsubishi is developing for its Triton fraternal twin.“Where we stand today, (that specification) represent 90 per cent of the portfolio,” Humberstone said.“(But) given shifts in regulation, given shifts in customer demand, given shifts in opportunities and profitabilities, we have the flexibility to look at that over the lifecycle of the product.“But the starting point, almost top-down strategy in essence, is ‘let’s go with 90 per cent of the volume is in the market’. It doesn’t mean we don’t re-evaluate over time, but that’s certainly the starting point.”And, this, of course, is not including the Navara Warrior flagship, more of which will be announced sometime during 2026.If nothing else, Nissan will be very busy in the ute segment over the next couple of years. Watch this space.

Is the latest Toyota HiLux a strategic error or a masterstroke in product development?

Nissan is making no bones about the fact that it needs more models to sell in greater numbers in Australia, with China emerging as a key supplier moving forward. With the current range coming from Thailand (Navara), Japan (X-Trail, Ariya, Patrol), United Kingdom (Qashqai, Juke) and North America (Pathfinder), a lower-cost source is seen as a solution to one of the company’s biggest hurdles.

Nissan believes Australians will continue to buy the traditional one-tonne ute in increasing numbers, directly contradicting what Toyota said at the recent launch of the facelifted HiLux range.