New year, new ride: Next-gen Nissan Navara

MANILA: The Nissan Navara as it is right now in the Philippine market, has been around since 2021. Since then, it saw minor updates, but the brand didn’t provide the Philippine-spec version with a refresh, much less a full model change, for four years. 

In the automotive industry, a model that has been in the market will lose its relevance and will eventually be overshadowed by its competitors. This is especially true in the local pickup truck segment, where competition is fierce, and plenty of brands have sought to improve and dial in their trucks almost yearly. 

Nissan, however, has recently introduced the next-generation Navara in Australia. In the Land Down Under, the said model rides on a new platform based on the Mitsubishi Triton, while receiving plenty of enhancements to its safety, comfort, and performance. 

For now, the Japanese marque has yet to confirm is this version of the Navara will ever reach ASEAN or the Philippine market, but this wouldn’t be much of a stretch. 

Nissan, after all, has been making its global production network leaner and more efficient. And as much as some are averse to it, rebadging a vehicle produced by a partner manufacturer is one way to save money. In fact, Zigwheels Philippines even included the Nissan Navara in its list of “cars we’re excited to see in 2026.”

So, what’s the Australian-spec Nissan Navara like and what is it offering to would be adopters? Let’s find out here. 

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Australia-spec next-gen Nissan Navara: specs, features

The engine of the next-generation Nissan Navara is a 2.4-liter turbodiesel inline-four mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The said setup differs from the Philippine-spec model’s current 2.5-liter mill and seven-speed automatic gearbox. Notably, the new powertrain for the Australian Navara is similar to the specs of the locally available Mitsubishi Triton, particularly the Athlete trim. 

In addition, the all-new Nissan-developed pickup is capable of dishing out 201 horsepower (hp) and 470 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. The said figures represent a noticeable increase over the current Philippine-spec model, which can churn out 187 hp and 450 Nm of torque in its automatic variants. The more significant output may translate to improved overall performance, particularly in scenarios that demand stronger pulling power, such as highway overtaking, hauling heavy cargo, or tackling off-road terrain.

According to Nissan Australia, the turbodiesel engine is also designed with efficiency in mind, offering an estimated fuel economy of up to 13 kilometers per liter under a combined city and highway driving cycle. But apart from efficiency, the pickup was engineered for versatility and capability, boasting a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms. It is likewise equipped with a Torsen limited-slip differential, Nissan’s automatic “Easy 4WD” system, and a selection of seven drive modes: Normal, Eco, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Sand, and Rock—allowing the vehicle to adapt to a wide range of driving conditions.

Nissan further explained that the Easy 4WD system can automatically and seamlessly shift between four-wheel-drive and two-wheel-drive operation without requiring driver intervention. The aforementioned system works in tandem with the pickup’s advanced traction control technology, which continuously monitors wheel slip and varying terrain conditions to intelligently distribute power where it is needed most.

Last but not least when it comes to mechanical bits, the Navara in The Land Down Under was provided with a special suspension tune by Premcar. Nevertheless, it still uses a Double wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension. 

Appearance-wise, the next-gen Nissan Navara is Australia features a “V-Strut” grille together with C-shaped headlamp clusters, red-colored trims, and a black-colored sports bar. Tying up the look of the model is a set of 17-inch wheels. 

Inside the Australia-spec Nissan Navara is a five-seater layout with leather seats and a well-arranged dash equipped with a nine-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, as well as a seven-inch color TFT gauge cluster. 

Safety-wise, the next-gen Navara sold in Australia has the following advanced driver-assist systems: 

• Emergency lane assist
• Traffic sign recognition
• Pedal misapplication system
• Lane departure warning
• Blind spot warning 
• Lane change assist
• Front and rear cross-traffic alert
• High beam assist
• Intelligent speed limiter
• Driving monitoring
• Adaptive cruise control

Final thoughts

As mentioned, Nissan Motor Philippines has yet to say if this is the version the local market is getting in 2026. We also do not know for sure if the brand is bringing in a new Navara in the first place. 

It could be that the Australian Navara is an Oceania-specific nameplate. On the other hand, it could reach Thailand first, and that could be a sign that we are getting the model since Nissan’s local arm sources many of its products in the Land of Smiles. 

For now, let’s wait for more updates from Nissan Motor Philippines. 

Also read:

Nissan presents Aura Nismo RS Concept at TAS 2026

Mitsubishi starts next-gen Nissan Navara, Rogue PHEV production

Dela Cruz-Andres joins Nissan PH

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