Nissan has revealed an all-new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute to take on the likes of the BYD Shark 6.
The Nissan Frontier Pro, revealed at the Shanghai motor show today, has been co-developed by Nissan and joint-venture partner Dongfeng and will go on sale in China by the end of 2025.
It won’t be exclusive to the Chinese market, however, with Nissan noting it “will also be exported outside of China, with the recipient markets to be the subject of a future announcement”.
It’s unclear if Australia will be among those markets.
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The Frontier Pro – based on the Z9 from the Dongfeng Nissan joint venture, not the D40 Navara-derived US-built Frontier – is Nissan’s first PHEV and its first electrified ute.
The body-on-frame ute combines 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 an electric-only 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 external appliances via outlets in the tub.
Braked towing capacity is 3500kg – matching the Navara – with a wading depth of 700mm.
The Frontier Pro features five-link rear suspension, and comes standard with four-wheel drive and 18-inch alloy wheels wearing 265/65R18 tyres.
An electromechanical rear differential lock is available, while there are selectable hybrid, electric, performance and snow drive modes.
There’s an electronically retractable cover for the tub.
The Frontier Pro differs from the Z9 externally with unique front- and rear-end styling.
A full-width light bar connects the headlight clusters, and its segmented appearance calls to mind the three slots found on the old D21 Navara.
Inside, there’s a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
It’s a much more luxurious interior than our Navara, with the front seats available with heating, ventilation and massage, and a panoramic sunroof bathing the cabin with light.
The Frontier Pro revealed in Shanghai also has a colourful interior, with yellow upholstery and matching yellow trim on the dashboard and doors.
With the Frontier Pro, Nissan will have multiple different vehicles in this segment for different markets.
There’s the current Navara, which Nissan Australia sources from Thailand but which will soon get a facelift for Latin American markets.
It’s set to be replaced for our market by a ute based on the Mitsubishi Triton, which could also feature plug-in hybrid power.
Nissan also has the Frontier for North America, a heavily overhauled version of the old D40 Navara.
The company confirmed this month it aims to have another PHEV ute on sale by 2028, and could merge the North American Frontier and Thai Navara into one model once again.
