It’s driving international media into a frenzy, even though it’s a year away.
The next-generation Nissan Navara is due in showrooms by the end of next year – sharing its platform with DNA from the next Mitsubishi Triton.
Even more interesting, it may herald the arrival of a hybrid 4WD ute.
The 2025 Nissan Navara is due to be unveiled next year – and could be in down-under showrooms by the end of 2024.
The first new-generation Navara in a decade is due to roll off the Thailand production line in the middle of 2024. It will be nine to 12 months behind the vehicle on which it is based – and has been developed alongside – the new Mitsubishi Triton.
The 2024 Navara will receive some major updates including brand new styling, refreshed interior and possibly new powertrain options.
Navara has been in production since 1997, and is known for its practicality, durability, and versatility.
The Japanese automaker is expected to release the next-gen 2024 Nissan Navara with several major upgrades. The truck’s styling is one area where there will be many improvements. Expect an evolution of the ‘V-Motion’ grille – bigger, with more angular headlights.
As reported previously, the next Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton are being developed side-by-side, as part of cost-reducing plans under an alliance between Nissan and Mitsubishi and French partner Renault.
Under a strategy known as “leader, follower”, where one brand takes charge of the development of a particular vehicle, and the other brand adapts the vehicle to suit its needs, Mitsubishi has been nominated to lead the engineering of the two new utes.
This is expected to mean the next Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara will share their underpinnings, but have unique bodywork.
Elements of the frame beneath the new Navara and Triton will be shared. It remains to be seen if they will share one common engine or retain their own.
For now, it is unclear how many external parts will be shared between Nissan and Mitsubishi utes.
The Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50 twins have unique bodywork draped over common mechanicals. The latest Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok twins share windows, side mirrors, door handles and roof panels, as well as mechanical components under the skin.
Mystery surrounds the engines of both vehicles, though Mitsubishi seems likely to continue with its current 2.4-litre single-turbo four-cylinder in the Mitsubishi variant, carring it over into the new generations.
It also remains to be seen if the current Mitsubishi Triton’s full-time Super Select II four-wheel-drive system will be available on the next model – and if Nissan will have access to it for the new Navara.
Executives have previously poured cold water on plans for a turbo-diesel V6, but that would enable the Navara to compete with Ford and VW’s current offerings. Hybrid and/or plug-in hybrid powertrains are also likely.
Other questions remain about the two new utes – will they come with four-wheel disc brakes, how much larger than today’s models will they be, will the trays be able to fit Euro pallets between the wheel arches (as per the latest Ford Ranger and both Volkswagen Amarok generations), and are Ford Ranger Raptor-rivalling off-road models planned?
Testing of Mitsubishi Triton prototypes is underway in Europe and Australia, but examples of the new Nissan Navara have not yet been spied on the road.
A new Nissan Frontier pick-up for North America was unveiled in 2021 – with a new body on top of an updated version of the old model’s chassis – but this vehicle will be replaced early by the all-new Navara.
After production of the new Nissan Navara begins in Thailand in mid-2024, Nissan’s factory in Mississippi will start production in 2026. Mississippi is where the 2021-onwards Frontier (known as the D41) is built for the US and Canada.
The plans also show production of the next Nissan Navara is set to begin towards the end of 2025 in Mexico, to supply vehicles for South American markets. There, the vehicle is expected to replace the Frontier – with either the Frontier or Navara name.
