Nissan Navara Pro PHEV confirmed for Australia
The new Nissan Navara Pro PHEV is coming to Australia in 2027, combining a turbo-petrol engine and electric motor for 300kW, 800Nm and genuine 4WD capability.
Nissan Australia is the latest establishment brand to look to China for electric vehicle expertise, with the brand confirming it will launch the Chinese-made Navara Pro Plug-In Hybrid Ute here in 2027.
Australia and New Zealand will be the first right-hand drive markets globally to offer the electrified ute, which is unrelated to the existing Mitsubishi Triton-based fifth-generation Navara ute launched here earlier this year.
The Navara Pro PHEV is the result of a collaboration between Nissan Motor Limited (NML Japan) and its Chinese joint venture partner Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile (ZNA).
The ute is based on the China-market Dongfeng Z9 but Nissan Australia says the Navara Pro has been developed for the specific requirements of Oceania customers, and “engineered to meet the specific requirements of our region”.
The new Nissan PHEV has been undergoing development and evaluation locally since 2025, with development and prototype vehicles having undergone more than 20,000km of testing in Australian conditions, and additionally at Nissan’s Light Commercial Vehicle development centre in Zhengzhou City, China.
The program is said to have evaluated key elements of the ute’s powertrain, suspension, ADAS calibration, terrain and drive modes, tyres, differential-lock configurations, towing and load performance with a view to optimising its performance for local conditions.
As part of the program, two powertrains were considered – a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol PHEV and a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol PHEV, with the latter chosen as most suitable for our towing and payload-focused market.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine is paired with a high-output electric motor integrated into the vehicle’s 8-speed automatic transmission. The system delivers preliminary combined outputs of 300kW/800Nm, which is less than key PHEV ute rivals like the BYD Shark 6 Performance (350kW/700Nm) but more than the Ford Ranger PHEV (207kW/697Nm).
Details of the Navara Pro’s battery size and EV range have not yet been provided but the Dongfeng Z9 on which it is based offers different battery packs ranging from 17 kWh to 32.85 kWh and electric-only range of between 60-135km.
By way of comparison, the BYD Shark 6 Pro boasts a 29.6 kWh battery offering up to 100km (NEDC) of range, while the Ranger PHEV is equipped with an 11.8 kWh battery for an electric only range of up to 49km (NEDC).
The Navara Pro’s 8-speed automatic transmission is claimed to offer more versatility than rivals like the Shark 6, which uses a single-speed reduction gear, allowing for superior low-range crawling capability when off-road and relaxed low-rev cruising at highway speeds.
The drivetrain offers four selectable drive modes (ECO, Standard, Sport & Slippery) and seven terrain modes (Standard, Deep Snow, Mud, Sand, Rock, Wading & Expert).
Coupled with a mechanical 4x4 system and a mechanical differential-lock, the combination should ensure the Nissan PHEV has genuine four-wheel drive capability on a par with its diesel-powered namesake.
Both leaf spring and multi-link coil spring rear suspension have been trialled during the ute’s development, with Nissan Australia declining to confirm the final configuration.
The Navara Pro’s payload and braked towing capacity have likewise not been finalised, with Nissan targeting 1,000kg payload and 3,500kg braked towing capacity.
Final equipment and specifications for the Australian-market vehicle won’t be revealed until closer to the ute’s launch, expected in the second half of 2027, but Nissan is promising a five-seat dual-cab configuration complemented by grade-dependent features like a central touchscreen, digital instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, and heated and ventilated front seats.
Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability will also be available, providing access to electrical power on the go for work, touring, camping and recreational use.
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