Australia’s fast-growing plug-in hybrid (PHEV) dual-cab ute market will be joined by yet another member in 2027, when the Nissan Frontier Pro arrives Down Under.
As reported by Carsales today and then independently confirmed by CarExpert dealer sources, Nissan Australia presented and confirmed the local launch of the Frontier Pro at a gala dinner attended by its dealers last night in Adelaide – the day after the global reveal of the new-generation, Mitsubishi Triton-based Navara ute in the Adelaide Hills.
Media was not invited to the event and Nissan Australia is yet to make a public announcement about the Frontier Pro’s local release; nor would it respond to our request for comment on the matter today.
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However, Nissan Australia has previously said the Frontier Pro, which was developed by its parent company’s Chinese joint-venture partner Dongfeng, was under consideration for this market, where the PHEV pickup would give the Japanese brand a two-pronged ute lineup.
Nissan Oceania managing director Andrew Humberstone has long indicated it would be an “absolute fit” in Nissan’s local range, where the low-emissions ute would offset CO2 emissions of the diesel-powered Navara amid the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES)
“I see no problem with that running in parallel to new Navara,” he told CarExpert in May.
“It’s about ‘does the business case work?’ I think it takes about six months to get right-hand drive. I think it could potentially work for the market.
“What we’ve been told officially – this is a joint venture with Dongfeng, obviously – the car is available for export, we are one of the markets which could be considered. I think it could be a very interesting product for us to look at. I think it could absolutely fit.”
The Frontier Pro will not only give Nissan a direct rival for the popular BYD Shark 6, as well as the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and Ford Ranger PHEV, but a number of other PHEVs expected to arrive here by 2027.
These include Chery Australia’s first ute, which is expected to be based on the Rely KP3X and powered by a diesel-electric PHEV system, and the JAC T9 PHEV, which has been confirmed for local release in early 2026.
Several all-electric utes are also set to join the pioneering LDV eT60 on sale here, including the KGM Musso EV (in December), the Toyota HiLux BEV (2026), and the LDV eTerron 9 and Isuzu D-Max EV (TBC), among others.
Revealed at the Shanghai motor show in April, the Frontier Pro is based on Dongfeng’s Z9 ute rather than the outgoing D40 Navara-derived Frontier pickup sold in the US.
As Nissan’s first PHEV model globally and its first electrified ute, it’s powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a transmission-mounted electric motor, for total system outputs of 300kW of power and 800Nm of torque.
Nissan claims EV range of 135km on the CLTC cycle, and fuel consumption of 6.9L/100km.
Vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability supplies up to 6kW of power and allows you to power electrical appliances via outlets in the tub.
Braked towing capacity is 3500kg – matching the Navara – while wading depth is 700mm and off-road capability should also eclipse that of the Shark 6 thanks to an electro-mechanically locking rear differential.
The Frontier Pro offers selectable hybrid, electric, performance and snow drive modes, five-link rear suspension, and comes standard with four-wheel drive and 18-inch alloy wheels wearing 265/65 R18 tyres.
Inside, there’s a 10-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and the option of heated, ventilated and massanging front seats, plus a panoramic sunroof.
Nissan Australia’s most advanced ute ever could also give its sales a much-needed boost. So far this year its sales are down 17.7 per cent, and it has dropped out of the top 10 list of auto brands.
But it hopes to turn that around by 2027 with a cavalcade of new models starting with the D27 Navara in early 2026, updates for the X-Trail and Qashqai SUVs later next year, the all-new Patrol in early 2027, and potentially a host of other new models via Dongfeng.
In the same way that Mazda is leveraging its Chinese partner to deliver the Mazda 6e electric liftback to Australia, Nissan could eventually offer a range of Dongfeng models here.
This could include the N6 PHEV sedan and N7 electric sedan, returning Nissan Australia to the sedan market, and a range of electrified SUVs with one potentially being based on the Frontier Pro.
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