Make us your preferred source on GoogleLocal testing convinced Nissan to bin the global plug-in hybrid’s powertrain for its new Navara Pro PHEV in favour of a beefier turbo-petrol unitThe News
Nissan has overlooked the global powertrain for its first electrified ute in Australia. Local testing showed the globally announced 1.5-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid wasn’t up to what Australian buyers expect.
So the Navara Pro PHEV arriving here in 2027 will get a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol PHEV system developed specifically for Oceania.
It’s the clearest sign yet that the Aussie ute rules still apply in the electric age.
The Key Details
Global 1.5-litre turbo PHEV tested in Australia and rejected
Oceania-only 2.0-litre turbo PHEV makes a preliminary 300kW and 800Nm
Towing, payload and sustained performance were deciding factors
Five prototypes covered more than 20,000km locally, with testing ongoing
Arrives in 2027, with pricing, battery size and other metrics to be confirmed
The Finer Details
Nissan didn’t just pick an engine off the shelf for the Navara Pro PHEV. It tested both the globally announced 1.5-litre turbo-petrol PHEV and a new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol PHEV here in Australia.
Both were measured against what local buyers want. Towing, payload and the ability to keep working hard for long stretches were the key metrics. The bigger engine won, and it’s now the only powertrain Nissan has confirmed for Australia and New Zealand.
Nissan Oceania managing director Steve Milette says Australia did more than sign off on the finished product.
“Australia wasn’t simply where we tested Navara Pro PHEV. It was one of the markets helping shape it.”
The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is paired with a high-output electric motor built into an eight-speed automatic. The transmission gives low-range crawling off-road and claimed efficient cruising on the highway. Combined outputs are 300kW and 800Nm, subject to homologation.
Nissan is yet to provide figures for the petrol engine only.
The first prototypes landed in Australia in 2025. Engineers from Nissan Australia, Nissan in Japan and joint-venture partner Zhengzhou Nissan have worked together on the program, with local findings fed back to the ute development centre in Zhengzhou, China.
Testing has covered more than just the powertrain. Suspension, tyres, driver-assist calibration, terrain modes, diff-lock setups, towing and load-carrying have all been put through their paces.
“The depth of local evaluation and the collaboration between our teams in Australia, Japan and China reflect the importance of Oceania to the development of this vehicle,” said Milette.
“We have put the vehicle through thousands of kilometres of real Australian conditions because we know what customers here expect from a ute.
“The result is a Navara Pro PHEV specification developed specifically to deliver electrification without compromising the capability that defines the segment.”
Nissan is promising a 3500kg braked towing capacity and up to 1000kg of payload, both subject to final homologation. A mechanical 4×4 system and diff lock are also on the initial spec sheet.
One big question is still open. Nissan has tested both leaf-spring and multi-link coil-spring rear ends, and says the final choice will be confirmed closer to launch.
The Road Ahead
The Navara Pro PHEV is due in Nissan dealers in 2027. Pricing, final specs, battery capacity and EV-only range will be revealed closer to launch, and the ute will come with Nissan’s 10-year/300,000km warranty when serviced within the dealer network.
The bigger story is what this says about the plug-in ute fight. Chinese-developed PHEV utes keep getting judged on whether they can match a diesel for towing, payload and long hauls. Nissan has dealt with that before launch by ditching its global engine for a bigger one built for Aussie conditions.
A bigger engine usually means more weight and higher fuel use once the battery runs flat. How Nissan balances that against grunt will decide whether the Navara Pro PHEV is a genuine workhorse or just a ute with a big number on the spec sheet.
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