The New Nissan Navara: Forty Years Leading Up to the Perfect Pickup

Nissan has officially pulled the wraps off the all-new Navara. With sales set to begin in 2026, the debut took place on November 19 in Melbourne, offering an early look at the latest evolution of the brand’s long-running pickup.

Australia and New Zealand were a deliberate choice for the launch. More than half a million Navaras have been sold there over the past forty years, making the region one of the truck’s strongest markets. The redesigned model, arriving in showrooms late in the first quarter of next year, aims to raise the bar for commercial pickups. Under the hood is a time-tested 2.4-liter turbodiesel rated at 204 hp and 470 Nm (347 lb-ft) of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic. Nissan lists fuel use at 7.7 liters per 100 km (roughly 30 mpg) in mixed driving. The setup enables a towing capacity of up to 3.5 metric tons.

But the centerpiece isn’t the powertrain — it’s the suspension. Nissan turned to the Australian engineering firm Premcar, which logged more than 11,000 miles of testing in conditions ranging from blistering Outback tracks to Melbourne traffic. The result is a unique suspension tune designed to keep the truck composed whether it’s empty or fully loaded.

The new Navara’s design blends heritage cues with a modern profile. The bull-horn grille nods to classics like the D21, while the C-shaped headlights and tight V-pattern details give the front end a bold, distinctive look. Nissan says the goal wasn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake, but a pickup that looks just as natural on a construction site as it does in a suburban driveway.

The range-topping PRO-4X stands out with a blacked-out appearance accented by “lava red” trim, 17-inch black wheels, 265/65 R17 all-terrain tires, and a factory tow hitch. Inside, the tech keeps pace with the segment: a standard 9-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, plus available wireless charging and Connected Car services, including remote climate start, stolen-vehicle tracking, and emergency assistance.

Safety remains a major focus. The truck comes with eight airbags and a full suite of driver aids — automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, traffic-sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Two four-wheel-drive systems are available: the Easy 4WD setup that engages when slip is detected, and for more demanding terrain, an electronic locking rear differential. Higher trims offer the Super 4WD system with full-time four-wheel drive and a Torsen center differential. Seven drive modes — from Snow to Rock — help tailor performance to the surface.

Nissan is confident enough in the new Navara to back it with its expanded MORE program: up to 10 years or 300,000 km of warranty coverage, fixed-price servicing for five years, and roadside assistance for the full warranty period. Trim levels will range from a practical base model to the tech-forward ST-X and the off-road-ready PRO-4X. And for those wanting even more capability, Premcar is already developing a tougher, more powerful Navara Warrior. Pricing and final specs will be announced closer to launch, but early expectations put the starting price in Australia at around $40,000.