It might ride on a Mitsubishi platform, but the new Nissan Navara promises some unique touches. Photo: Patrick Jackson.
Nearly 40 years and 425,000 sales after the first Nissan Navara landed in Australia in late 1986, the fifth-generation ute has finally arrived.
But beneath the skin, it’s not quite the Nissan you might expect.
As part of the global Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance – a conglomerate that still accounts for roughly one in every 15 new cars sold worldwide – the new ‘D27’ Navara leans heavily on shared architecture.
Strip away the fresh styling and the badge, and this latest workhorse is built entirely on the bones of the Mitsubishi Triton.
Hey Mitsubishi, can I copy your homework?
Sure, Nissan, just change it up a bit so it doesn’t look obvious.
The irony is that Nissan might score a higher grade on this test, as the company’s local arm has been clever about optimising it for our tastes.
A new platform means the latest Navara now utilises leaf springs in the rear, making it a far more capable ute. Photo: Patrick Jackson.
What is it?
Launched in Canberra earlier this year, the latest Nissan Navara addresses the biggest criticism its forebear faced.
While most utes use leaf springs in the rear to improve payload, the ‘D23’ Navara used coil springs for improved ride comfort. It was definitely more comfortable, but sagged substantially if you ever used your ute’s tray to carry anything.
Now, the ‘D27’ returns to rear leaf springs thanks to the Mitsubishi Triton platform. But the suspension changes don’t stop there.
Nissan turned to Premcar, the company behind Ford Performance Vehicles and Nissan’s Patrol Warrior, for a fully bespoke Australian suspension tune.
The version on test here is the ST-X, the second-highest tier in the four-pronged Navara range and likely to be one of the most popular variants with private buyers.
Every Navara is sold as a dual cab with an automatic transmission because over 90 per cent of last-gen buyers opted for this configuration.
In addition to a two-tone, leather-accented interior that even features Navara embroidery on its heated front seats, this ST-X model adds the Super 4WD system, which includes full-time four-wheel drive and seven drive modes for everything from sand dunes to rock crawling.
It also looks more refined, with 18-inch alloys and a variety of silver, dark grey, or body-coloured garnishes.
Under the bonnet, it might borrow Mitsubishi’s engine, but it’s actually closer to what the old Navara featured.
The old Navara used a 2.3-litre twin-turbocharged diesel, which was rather unique in the class at the time, although it was borrowed from a Renault van, but this Mitsi engine is a 2.4-litre twin-turbo unit.
What’s it like to live with?
That new engine might look similar on paper, but it’s much different on the road. Different as in better. Much better.
The old Navara sounded and felt highly strung, as if that second turbocharger was complaining about having to do a lot of heavy lifting. You could even feel the gap between the first turbo running out of breath and the second one finally coming on song.
The new engine and platform have finally cured the Navara’s breathless feel. It’s smoother, stronger, and far more refined, and it hits Nissan’s impressive fuel economy figures with surprisingly little effort behind the wheel.
It’s also nice to have the ability to select full-time, on-road four-wheel drive. In dry or inclement weather, it feels confident and planted on the road. Lock up the centre differential, and it becomes thoroughly capable off-road.
But all of that can be said for the Triton. What really sets the Navara apart is that bespoke Premcar suspension.
Don’t get me wrong, the Triton is a very good rig, but the Navara feels a little more settled on the road.
Despite trading coil springs for leaf springs, which is a bit like exchanging your iPhone for a Nokia 3310, it still rides very comfortably. It’s just that now, it actually works like a proper ute.
No sagging rear suspension and over one tonne of payload capacity means the new Navara isn’t messing around anymore … even if it had to turn to the Triton to sort it out. Although there’s less shame in it after Honda this week announced it will borrow this platform to build its own ute, too (yes, Honda!)
The sibling rivalry adds one more twist, however. Mitsubishi hasn’t let Nissan have all the Premcar fun, as it offers its own toughened-up version of the Triton called the Raider that features several localised changes.
Nissan’s own take on that formula, the Navara Warrior, was planned but was ultimately cancelled.
There’s also the matter of longer-term ownership. Mitsubishi offers a 10-year/200,000km warranty on the Triton, provided you service it at an authorised dealership. Nissan has no mileage limit on its warranty, but it only lasts for five years.
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The verdict
The easy conclusion to draw is that the latest Nissan Navara is a very good ute. Just like the Mitsi it’s based on.
Not only has that copied homework earned it stronger marks on the test, but it has addressed every shortcoming of the old Navara.
The harder question is whether you should pick the Navara or the Triton. If you prefer the Navara’s styling and more refined ride quality, it’s certainly worth considering – particularly for private buyers.
However, the Triton offers far more body styles (important for fleet buyers) and variants at a lower price. The Triton GLS, the equivalent to this Navara ST-X, is just over $3000 cheaper before on-road costs.
If you’re a Navara loyalist, though, and there are plenty of ute buyers loyal to a badge, just know that this couldn’t be more of an improvement on the old Nav if it tried.
The new D27 Navara is a marked improvement on its coil-sprung D23 forebear. Photo: Patrick Jackson.
2026 Nissan Navara ST-X
- $63,177 before on-road costs
- 2.4-litre twin-turbocharged four-cylinder diesel, 150kW / 470Nm
- Six-speed automatic, full-time 4WD
- 7.7 litres per 100km, 75-litre fuel capacity
- 1091kg payload, 3500kg braked towing capacity
- 2171kg kerb weight
Thanks to Nissan Australia for providing this vehicle for testing. Region has no commercial arrangement with Nissan Australia.
