Nissan Navara 2026: Future Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger rival will make its global debut in November

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Today, Nissan confirmed that the next generation of Navara will be publicly revealed to global markets on the 19th of November. The Japanese automaker also confirmed that Aussies and Kiwis will be able to order a fifth-generation Navara by mid-2025.  

The announcement was paired with a short teaser video, which details the history of Nissan utes in Australia, and claims the next-generation model will ‘defy ordinary’.

What’s been promised is a purpose-built ute for the Australian market, one that builds on the capability and robustness of previous generations, its maker claims. What we know is that the new Navara will be largely based on the current-generation Mitsubishi Triton. 

Already confirmed for the next generation of Navara is a one-tonne payload capability, a fresh new face, a new “enhanced” infotainment system, and a suite of new driver assistance options not offered in the current generation. 

That’s a sales pitch we’ve heard before, with Toyota’s hotly anticipated next-generation Hilux also looking to be a comprehensive facelift rather than an entirely new beast. 

Both of these beloved Japanese utes will need to prove themselves against competent fresh-blood rivals Ford Ranger, Kia Tasman, and the BYD Shark 6, which will become more and more relevant as a PHEV ute benchmark following tighter emission laws.

We can tell from the silhouette that the next-gen Navara will continue to market as a dual-cab, tub-tray, full-size ute, and we’re betting on either Mitsubishi’s upmarket 150kW/470Nm ‘four or Nissan’s 140kW/450Nm ‘four to be under the bonnet. Both engines are turbo-diesels. 

Nissan hasn’t revealed which gearbox will prevail in the next-generation Navara. Across Mitsubishi and Nissan, there’s a choice of six- or seven-speed automatics, or a six-speed manual. Expect available options to be paired with a rugged four-wheel-drive system, naturally. 

Both the Navara and Triton have been toying with the idea of plug-in power, and a next-generation could be the kick in the pants to see this idea come to light. We’ve already seen a fully operational Nissan PHEV ute on display at Auto Shanghai.

That ute, known as the Frontier Pro, has no ties to Mitsubishi, and instead appears a competent re-modelling of China’s Dongfeng Z9. We’ll soon see if this powerplant is on the cards. 

In Mitsubishi’s case, the Triton PHEV is an idea that has been publicly acknowledged, with a Mitsubishi spokesperson telling Chasing Cars last year that “PHEV and other forms of hybridisation are under study for Triton”. 

Chasing Cars anticipates that many powertrain, styling, and vehicle dynamics questions will be answered when the Navara is officially revealed on the 19th of November this year.