Plug-in ute first for marque
Nissan has confirmed the all-new Navara Pro Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) will join its local line-up in 2027, with New Zealand and Australia set to become the first right-hand-drive markets to offer the electrified ute.
The model, which is the marque’s first electrified ute and will be Nissan New Zealand’s first PHEV model, has been developed and evaluated with Oceania consumers’ specific requirements.
Steve Milette, Nissan Oceania managing director, says: “The all-new Navara Pro PHEV represents exactly the kind of product-led momentum that our Nissan Vision Strategy is built on.
“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.
“Utes have been central to Nissan in New Zealand for decades, with the Navara now spanning five generations.
“As the sixth generation of the Navara nameplate, the all-new Navara Pro PHEV is the next expression of that commitment – combining the capability and versatility customers expect from a Navara with new electrified technology, while opening a new chapter for Nissan’s ute offering in New Zealand.”
Nissan Oceania has played a central role in shaping the ute for down under, with the first prototype vehicles arriving in Australia in 2025 to begin an extensive development and evaluation programme.
Nissan staff from Australia, Japan and China worked together to assess the vehicle against the region’s demands and their insights were delivered to Nissan’s Light Commercial Vehicle development centre in Zhengzhou City.
Five development and prototype vehicles have been put through their paces in Australia as part of the programme and have collectively travelled more than 20,000km, with testing continuing.
Scrutiny of powertrains led to a 2.0-litre engine being selected for Oceania to help meet customer expectations around towing, payload and sustained performance.
“Australia wasn’t simply where we tested Navara Pro PHEV. It was one of the markets helping shape it,” adds Milette.
“We have put the vehicle through thousands of kilometres of real Australian conditions because we know what customers here expect from a ute. The result is a Navara Pro PHEV specification developed specifically to deliver electrification without compromising the capability that defines the segment.”
The Oceania-specification Navara Pro PHEV pairs a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a high-output electric motor integrated into an eight-speed automatic transmission. The system delivers a preliminary 300kW of combined power and 800Nm of combined torque.
Four selectable drive modes – eco, standard, sport and slippery – are available and there are seven terrain modes, including standard, deep snow, mud, sand, rock, wading and expert.
Each mode adjusts the vehicle’s powertrain, steering and traction-control mapping to optimise performance across a range of driving conditions and requirements.
Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability will also provide access to portable electrical power, while the ute will also offer about 1,000kg of payload and a 3,500kg braked towing capacity.
As part of the local development programme, Nissan has assessed suspension configurations for the Oceania market, including leaf-spring and multi-link coil-spring rear suspension.
The final suspension configuration for New Zealand will be confirmed closer to the start of sales next year.
Driver assistance systems have undergone local testing and calibration, while terrain and drive-mode systems have been evaluated and tuned for New Zealand and Australian conditions.
A five-seat dual-cab configuration is complemented by a range of technology and comfort features. Depending on the grade chosen, these include a large central touchscreen and digital instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, and heated and ventilated front seats.
Final equipment, specifications, pricing for the New Zealand-market vehicle, along with the estimated EV-only driving range, will be confirmed closer to the all-new Nissan Navara Pro PHEV’s arrival in retailers next year.
