New Nissan Navara revealed – with bad news for South Africa

Nissan has finally unveiled the next-generation Navara bakkie.

The Navara is, of course, one of South Africa’s locally-built vehicles, as Nissan has a factory in Rosslyn on the outskirts of Pretoria in Gauteng.

It is also one of the most popular bakkies in the country, often landing in fifth place each month ahead of other big names like the VW Amarok, Toyota Land Cruiser 79, and GWM P-Series.

The reveal of the fourth-generation Navara should therefore come as exciting news for local motorists, but unfortunately, this is not the case.

The Japanese carmaker has confirmed that the new model, known internally as the D27, will go on sale in the first quarter of 2026.

However, the new Navara will be sold exclusively in Australia and New Zealand, meaning that it is not coming to South Africa.

Instead, the third-generation model produced at Rosslyn, which is classified as the D23, will receive a major update next year in an effort to keep it fresh for local consumers.

The details of that update are still under wraps, so for now, we can only look to the next-gen Navara to see what we’re missing out on.

Something else to bear in mind is that Nissan is reportedly looking to close its South African factory within the next two years, which may explain why it is not committing resources to manufacture the new Navara here.

Nissan South Africa has neither confirmed nor denied this, but the company is in the midst of a financial crisis and is closing down factories in Japan, Argentina, India, and Mexico, lending credence to the idea that Rosslyn may be on the chopping block.

A familiar shape

The first and most important thing to know about the new Navara is that it is based on the current-gen Mitsubishi Triton introduced at the end of 2024.

The two bakkies were co-developed thanks to the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, which means they share the same platform.

Both bakkies are built on a ladder-frame chassis, and the Navara uses the same powertrain as the Triton.

The engine in question is a 2.4-litre turbocharged diesel block that produces 150kW and 470Nm.

It also has a six-speed automatic gearbox, and will be made available in both rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive configurations in Australasia.

Like the Mitsubishi, the 4×4 Nissan boasts a SuperSelect part-time 4WD system with an electronic rear differential lock and driving modes for Normal, Eco, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Sand, and Rock.

It can also tow 3,500kg, and haul 1,000kg in the load bed.

Visually, the Navara has a near-identical shape to the Triton, although the former distinguishes itself with a new “V-Strut” grille and a unique headlight design.

It’s a similar story inside, as the interiors are virtually the same, though the Pro 4X model shown in the press images has eye-catching “Lava Red” accents for the door trim, seats, armrest, and gearstick base.

The 9-inch infotainment screen perched on the front of the dashboard has two physical dials, and the control panel has switches for the aircon and heated seats.

The rest of the spec sheet is also similar to the Mitsubishi, including keyless entry, automatic air conditioning, leather upholstery, six speakers, and a 7-inch digital instrument cluster flanked by analogue dials.

Furthermore, the double cab features an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) suite that includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot detection, front and rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitoring, a speed limiter, and a 360-degree camera.

It’s unfortunate that the new Navara isn’t coming to South Africa, but interested parties can always consider the Triton Double Cab, which starts at R639,900.

We’ll also have to wait and see what Nissan has plans for the locally-made version at Rosslyn, and how the company intends to modernise it for consumers in 2026.

2026 Nissan Navara