The 2026 Nissan Navara has officially broken cover, confirming it will share the Mitsubishi Triton’s platform and 2.4L bi-turbo diesel while ditching the controversial rear coil suspension for traditional leaf springs. Arriving in Australian showrooms in early 2026, the new…
The 2026 Nissan Navara has officially broken cover, confirming it will share the Mitsubishi Triton’s platform and 2.4L bi-turbo diesel while ditching the controversial rear coil suspension for traditional leaf springs. Arriving in Australian showrooms in early 2026, the new D27 generation promises a distinct driving feel thanks to extensive local tuning by Premcar.
Let’s address the obvious point first: the new Navara heavily leans on the Mitsubishi Triton. Since Nissan acquired a controlling stake in Mitsubishi back in 2016, platform sharing became inevitable. We’ve seen the badge engineering game before (remember the Mercedes-Benz X-Class?), but Nissan insists this isn’t just a cut-and-paste job.
While the chassis rails, roof, doors, and glasshouse share their design with the Triton, Nissan fitted unique front and rear sheet metal. More importantly, they claim to have spent considerable time and money on an Australian-specific suspension and steering tune. Given how well the current Navara PRO-4X Warrior drives, we tend to give them the benefit of the doubt until we get behind the wheel.
The outgoing D23 Navara gained fame—and occasional infamy—for its coil-sprung rear end. It offered SUV-like comfort but initially struggled with payload handling until multiple updates sorted it out. For the 2026 D27 model, Nissan reverted to a traditional leaf spring rear suspension setup.
While some might see this as a step backward in technology, the harsh truth is that leaf springs generally suit carrying heavy constant loads better, which matches how Australians use their utes. To ensure it doesn’t ride like an empty dray cart, Nissan engaged Premcar (the team behind the Warrior program) to develop the suspension tune specifically for our corrugations and road conditions.
Propelling the new Navara is the same ‘4N16’ 2.4-litre bi-turbo diesel that powers the Triton. It pushes out 150kW at 3500rpm and 470Nm of torque from 1500rpm. These respectable numbers match the venerable 2.8L HiLux, but they fall short of the V6 power found in the Ford Ranger.
Interestingly, the spec sheet confirms a 6-speed automatic transmission. In a market where 8- and 10-speed boxes are becoming the norm, retaining a 6-speed implies a focus on proven durability (or cost savings) over cutting-edge tech.
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.4L Bi-Turbo Diesel (4N16) |
| Power | 150kW @ 3500rpm |
| Torque | 470Nm @ 1500rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed Automatic |
| Driveline | Dual Range 4WD with Rear Diff Lock |
| Towing Capacity | 3,500kg braked |
| Payload | 950kg – 1,047kg (depending on variant) |
| GVM | 3,190kg |
| GCM | 6,250kg |
| Fuel Tank | 75L (Diesel) + 17L (AdBlue) |
| Wading Depth | TBC (Likely similar to Triton’s 800mm) |
Inside, the similarities to the Triton become harder to hide. The dashboard layout, infotainment screen positioning, and switchgear look very familiar. You get a 9-inch touchscreen with the usual wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, along with a 7-inch digital driver display.
One win for practicality involves the retention of physical dials for climate control and volume—something we will always praise over burying functions in touchscreen menus.
The current Triton impressed us when we drove it; it’s a massive step up from the previous generation. By extension, the new Navara starts from a very solid base. The decision to engage Premcar for local tuning is the ace up Nissan’s sleeve. If they can dial in that ride quality and steering feel to suit our corrugated tracks, the D27 could be the reliable, no-nonsense tourer many of us are looking for.
However, the lack of a V6 option or a 10-speed transmission might hurt it on the spec sheet wars against the Ranger. We’ll have to wait until we can get it dirty in 2026 to give you the definitive verdict.
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