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Nissan Pulls the Curtain on Its Next-Gen Answer to the Toyota Hilux

The world got treated to a next-gen Navara and it’s actually a Mitsubishi underneath.

Rear view of a dark gray Nissan Navara pickup truck tailgate with red illuminated taillights and a tow hitch.Nissan Australia
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By Chris Chin

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Nissan just treated the world to a new, rugged pickup. But sadly, it’s not for US.

Say hello to Yokohama’s latest rendition of its global Navara truck. The automaker revealed the next-gen model down yonder in Australia where it’s hugely popular.

But most of all, it’s Nissan’s direct answer to the legendary Toyota Hilux. It may look and seem different than the Frontier that we get here in North America. However, the two really aren’t all that different.

Despite not being too dissimilar, we still secretly yearn for the Navarra on our shores.

The world’s Frontier gets Mitsubishi roots

Black Nissan Navara pickup truck driving on a dusty grassy off-road trail.
The new fourth-gen is actually a Mitsubishi Triton, reskinned, which is not at all a bad thing.
Nissan Australia

After over a decade-long series production run, Nissan introduced a new fourth-gen model to replace the previous Navara. The outgoing model debuted in 2014.

Built specifically to handle Australia’s infamous Outback desert and those who live in it, the Navara continues its tradition as a rugged, body-on-frame pickup. However, this time, things are a bit different.

Orange Mitsubishi pickup truck kicking up dust in front of a rocky background.
The Mitsubishi Triton is the automaker’s answer to the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and the Nissan Navara.
Mitsubishi Australia

Rather than utilizing its own platform, Nissan consulted its joint-venture partner, Mitsubishi, for the latest Navara’s backbone. That said, the latest fourth-gen model actually departs from its old Nissan roots.

Instead, it depends on Mitsubishi’s sixth-generation Triton for its backbone. What that means is, in essence, the new Navarra is basically a rebodied Triton.

Black Nissan Navara PRO-4X pickup truck driving on a dirt path in a grassy, hilly landscape.
Could the new Navara and its Mitsubishi-based roots morph into a next-gen Frontier?
Nissan Australia

Previously, the Navara depended on a hyper-evolved version of the ladder frame platform that dates back to the original D21 Datsun Truck/Nissan Hardbody. It’s the same platform that basically gave us the first-generation Pathfinder.

Red two-door Nissan Pathfinder SUV with roof rack and off-road tires in a white studio.
The current Frontier and third-gen Navara sources its origins from the original D20/D21 platform, which also gave us the OG Pathfinder.
Nissan USA

Nissan stuck with the platform, updating and improving it along the way, which still exists today as the current Frontier pickup. That platform also underpinned the Navara for the past two decades.

Could this make way for a Mitsubishi-based Frontier?

Black Nissan Navara pickup truck kicking up dust on a dirt trail in a green hilly landscape.
The Nissan Navara is a popular choice in Australia for its ruggedness, dependability and off-road capabilities.
Nissan Australia

Considering how our Frontier is basically a federalized Navara, the new fourth-gen model raises some important questions. Could the new rebadged Mitsubishi Triton-based Navara mean that the next Frontier could be based on the same platform?

Looking at the bigger picture, that might not necessarily be a bad thing. Mitsubishi is just as formidable in the off-roading and all-terrain scene as Nissan and Toyota.

Black and red Nissan Pro-4X car interior with touchscreen navigation, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and gear shift.
The PRO-4X line has since grown in Australia, similar to the models offered in North America.
Nissan Australia

They’re known for off-road icons like the Pajero and Shogun, which we once got as the Montero and Montero Sport. Both are body-on-frame SUVs that are basically Mitsubishi’s direct answers to the Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol.

Because the fourth-gen Navara gets Mitsubishi roots, it also benefits from Mitsu’s expertise in four-wheel-drive systems. And the latest Navara is being touted as sporting its most advanced all-paw system yet.

Black Nissan Navara pickup truck driving on a dirt path in a grassy field with yellow flowers.
Do you think the Navara is better than the US-market Frontier?
Nissan Australia

While us Yanks already received our latest Frontier just a few years ago, that leaves Nissan and its US-based division to determine if a Mitsubishi-based, Navara adaptation for our market is viable.

Given Mitsu’s expertise in four-wheel-drive trucks, off-roading and even rally motorsports pedigree, it sounds like a recipe we can get behind.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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