Next-generation Nissan Navara could get Nismo treatment

The Nissan Navara is a nameplate that’s made an appearance in almost every region around the globe. Here in North America, however, we know Nissan’s midsize pickup as the ever-capable Frontier. The Navara is scheduled to debut in an all-new form by early 2027, and that could provide some insight regarding the future of the Nissan Frontier.

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The next-gen Nissan Navara will be similar to the Mitsubishi Triton

The current-generation Nissan Navara launched back in 2014, so it’s due for a redesign. While the next-gen midsize pickup will share some similarities to the Mitsubishi Triton, it will be a Nissan at heart. Even so, the Navara and Triton are being developed side-by-side as a part of the ongoing Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance.

Andrew Humberstone, managing director of Nissan Oceania, told Drive.com.au that there would be more than cosmetic tweaks in terms of differences. “We are making sure that it’s very much a Nissan. So we’ll be making a number of changes to make sure that that’s the case,” Humberstone said.

The upcoming Nissan Navara will ride on the Mitsubishi Triton’s leaf-spring rear suspension following complaints of sagging when previously equipped with rear coil springs. The next-gen pickup will likely utilize Mitsubishi’s 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged diesel engine as well, an upgrade from the Navara’s current 2.3-liter twin-turbo.

In terms of what to expect from the upcoming model, a plug-in hybrid variant will happen eventually. Nissan also wants to keep the Navara competitive, which means it will likely keep its 3,500-kg tow rating.

In short, Nissan is doing everything in its power to avoid repeating the mistakes of the outgoing Navara pickup. Pairing a new leaf-spring rear suspension with a more powerful engine is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.

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The all-new Navara Nismo could come to fruition

The next-generation Nissan Navara has yet to actually hit the market, but there are already rumors that a Nismo variant is in the works. If a Nissan Navara Nismo does become a reality, it will take on the likes of the Ford Ranger Raptor in an off-road battle.

In an interview with CarExpert, Nissan’s Chief Planning Officer, Ivan Espinosa, hinted that the automaker was working with local partners to make the Navara Nismo a reality.

“Well, this is also something that we are looking at, and you could imagine seeing something along those lines with the partners that we are working on that as well,” Espinosa said.

Any Nismo variant is big news, but a Navara Nismo, in particular, could be a rather astounding addition. The Nissan Patrol’s twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine seems like the leading powertrain for such a model, but nothing has officially been confirmed just yet.

The Nissan Navara is similar to the Frontier in North America

The Nissan Navara and Frontier have a couple of major differences other than nameplates and the regions they’re sold in. Namely, the Navara comes with a diesel engine, while the Frontier sticks with a plain ol’ gasoline engine.

The 2025 Nissan Navara arrives in the Oceanic region with a 2.3-liter intercooled twin-turbo diesel engine. A six-speed manual transmission comes standard, but it’s the seven-speed automatic that delivers the best fuel economy of the two.

That powertrain produces 140 kW, or 187 horsepower, and 450 Nm, or 331 lb-ft of torque. When properly equipped, this power gives the Navara the capability to tow up to 3,500 kg, or around 7,700 lbs.

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Here in North America, the Nissan Frontier is one of the last trucks to come powered by a standard V6 engine. The 3.8-liter V6 is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission that produces 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque, giving the Frontier enough muscle to tow up to 7,150 lbs. when properly equipped.

Final thoughts

The Nissan Navara is in need of a redesign, and it sounds like the Japanese automaker is doing its best to avoid past mistakes in the upcoming model. Rumors of a potential Nismo variant, especially when they’re substantiated by Nissan executives, are definitely worth cheering over.

Considering we last saw a production Nismo variant of the Nissan Frontier back in 2008, it seems perfectly reasonable to believe a Navara Nismo could become the Frontier Nismo in the United States. After all, Americans love their trucks!

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