The new-generation ‘D27’ Nissan Navara dual-cab ute could have launched 12 months ago, but a local tuning program in partnership with Premcar was prioritised.
Speaking with media at the launch of the 2026 Nissan Navara, which is a badge-engineered Mitsubishi Triton, region vice president of marketing for Nissan AMIEO (UK, Middle East, Oceania), Arnaud Charpentier, said the launch of the brand’s new ute was effectively delayed by a year to accommodate the localisation program.
“All those tests took us 12 months, so we probably could have launched the car before, but we wanted this local tuning made here, by the region, for the region,” Mr Charpentier said.
The new Navara is arriving in Australian dealerships in March 2026.
Nissan Oceania managing director Andrew Humberstone said that, while the localisation program commenced around 12 months ago, development and design of the new Navara has been in the works for “some time”.
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Six months ago, Mr Humberstone told CarExpert that the critical role of the Navara within Nissan’s local lineup meant extra time was needed during development to “get it right”.
“It’s such an important product for us, we have to get it right. You cannot make a mistake with that product. There are lots of players in that market. It’s a critical market and a critical segment for us, and critical for the dealer network.
“The timing of the launch is critical, because I want to make sure I have the right volume, the right timing, the right pricing, the right quality, the right engagement across the range and aligned with Premcar, for example, in terms with what we do with a Warrior.
At the time, Mr Humberstone noted “elasticity” around the Navara’s launch timing, as Nissan Australia negotiated with its global parent and factory supplier around supply chain and manufacturing to ensure the new Navara would launch with a full range of variants rather than staggering it out.
However the new Navara, codenamed D27, is launching without the full range of body styles offered in the old D23 generation.
Instead, it’s launching exclusively as a dual-cab pickup, whereas its predecessor could additionally be had in single-, extended- and dual-cab/chassis configurations, as well as an extended-cab pickup.
The Navara is launching with the same 2.4-litre bi-turbo diesel engine as the related Triton, which is Euro 6b-certified and features AdBlue injection to reduce harmful NOx emissions.
In Australia, all models will feature this powertrain with a six-speed automatic transmission, and a double-cab pickup body style – Nissan says “90 per cent” of its current Navara sales share is accounted for with this configuration.
Nissan Australia has confirmed premium ST-X and rugged Pro-4X grades will be available at launch, alongside “entry-level models focused on essential capability”. A new Navara Pro-4X Warrior is expected to follow, previewed by a concept ute shown at the new Navara’s global reveal.
No hybrid or electrified version of the new Navara has been confirmed yet, though Mitsubishi has hinted at plans for a Triton Hybrid, as well as an all-electric ute and potentially a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) too.
While the D27 Navara may not get electrification for some time, Nissan is looking set to introduce the Frontier Pro Plug-in Hybrid dual-cab ute in 2027 – co-developed with Chinese partner Dongfeng – to take on the BYD Shark 6 as well as the Ford Ranger PHEV.
The new D27 Navara is currently only confirmed for Oceania – i.e. Australia and New Zealand. Nissan’s badge-engineered Mitsubishi Triton twin is under consideration for other parts of the world, though the Latin American market will soon get a new Navara which is yet another facelift of the old D23 model.
MORE: 2026 Nissan Navara revealed as locally tuned Triton twin
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