Nissan’s making pickups again?
Well, technically it never stopped, as in the US market Nissan has continued to sell pickups even as the previous Navara model disappeared from European price lists.
This new Navara Pro will be the first Nissan pickup on sale in Europe — and as we say, hopefully Ireland too — for some time.
Is it electric?
No, not quite. Depending on the market, Nissan will offer the Navara with either plain petrol or diesel power, but for Europe it will come in plug-in-hybrid form, as a rival to the likes of the Ford Ranger PHEV.
The Navara Pro will launch in the Mexican market initially, before rolling out to the rest of Latin America, the Middle East and eventually Australia and New Zealand (so right-hand drive production is happening…).
It’ll be late 2027 before the Navara Pro comes to Europe, if at all.
What engines will the Navara Pro come with?
Nissan hasn’t issued a full set of technical details yet, but there will be a choice of 1.5- and 2.0-litre plug-in-hybrid powertrains, both with vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging so that you can run external equipment from the hybrid battery.
The dual-cab layout means that there are five seats inside, so the Navara Pro will be pretty practical too.
Where is the Navara Pro made?
This is what makes this pickup a significant vehicle — the Navara Pro is made in China by Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile, which is a joint-venture between Nissan and Chinese car maker Dongfeng.
The Navara Pro is the first model made by that joint venture to be sold outside of China. Nissan has also announced that its sleek electric N7 saloon, also made in China by Zhengzhou Nissan, will be exported, although initially that car (which looks like a lower, longer, sleeker Nissan Leaf) will only be sold in Latin America and Oceania markets.
What else do we know?
Guillaume Cartier, Nissan’s chief performance officer, said: “Frontier Pro and Navara Pro shows what happens when innovative thinking is turned into real-world capability. By combining advanced technology, impressive performance and Nissan’s renowned quality and durability, we have created a pickup that reflects Nissan’s Dare Beyond ambition, challenging expectations while remaining practical for everyday life. As it launches across global markets, Frontier Pro and Navara Pro strengthens our portfolio and demonstrates Nissan’s ability to leverage global expertise to deliver products that resonate with customers around the world.”
Is this a big deal for Nissan?
Yes, it really is. Quite apart from it being the first globally-available Nissan to be made in China, it’s also inheriting a massive legacy of rugged, hard-working pickups made by Nissan.
Since introducing the original Type 13 truck in 1934, Nissan has sold more than 15 million pickups in over 140 markets, and as the company says, it has “built more than 90 years of experience in pickup quality, reliability and capability.”
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