'It's imperative we get it right': 2027 Nissan D24 Navara could be make or break for the brand in Australia as it new 2026 Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and BYD Shark 6 rival nears

The next-generation Navara is shaping up as being the most important new-vehicle release for Nissan Australia this decade.

Expected to be unveiled globally next year, ahead of an on-sale date by early 2027, the fourth-generation ute (which may be codenamed D24) and the tenth in a continuing series that started in 1955, will have the future of the brand as a major player riding on its broad shoulders.

According to Nissan Oceania Vice President and Managing Director, Andrew Humberstone, the next Navara must hit the ground running in Australia in a way that the current D23 Navara has not been able to in the 11 years-plus that it has been on sale here, or otherwise the alternative would be unthinkable.

“I've been really fighting this corner (for the Navara to be right),” he revealed to CarsGuide.

“It's a very important product for us. It's very important for three reasons: one for the brand; two, for dealer profitability; and three, the size of the segment and the customer demand.

“So, it's imperative we get it right. Imperative. The cost of getting it wrong is just detrimental… beyond… yeah.”

Despite using the latest (and largely all-new) Mitsubishi Triton released early last year as its basis, Humberstone insists that Nissan in Japan as well as in Australia has undertaken a massive amount of research and development to ensure that the D24 Navara exceeds consumer expectations.

It won’t just be design that separates the two utes.

“So, we are really making sure we do this correctly… (with) a huge amount of focus and a huge amount of energy on making sure that we get the right product with the right spec, with the right quality at the right time, at the right price.

“And if I haven't got those components in place, I'd rather negotiate those, for an extra month or so, and rather get those right. Because, if you get them wrong, in such a competitive space, in such an important segment, it's hard to come back from.

“We’re making sure we get it right.”

This explains why Australians may have to wait longer for the D24 Navara than what is ideal, especially as the ute market has shifted enormously over the past 18 months.

Not only does the Nissan have to take on traditional rivals like the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Triton, it must also face a slew of newcomers that have already shifted perceptions of what a ute could be, including the BYD Shark 6, Kia Tasman, GWM Cannon Alpha, LDV Terron 9 and coming MG U8.

“Sometimes, there's this desire to rush and hurry up, because this product's old and this one's new, and we need to move and you need to hurry up,” Humberstone added.

“I think it's more important to do things right.”

The D24 Navara’s 2027 launch in Australia will also coincide with the release of the Y63 Patrol, giving Nissan two high-profile models that it hopes will help drive sales growth in this market.

Combined with this year’s Qashqai small SUV facelift (and other coming upgrades), the industry-leading shift to a (conditional) 10-year/300,000km warranty as part of a wholesale revamp of the ownership experience that includes an in-house finance arm, and a restyled X-Trail medium-sized SUV due next year, Humberstone believes that Nissan is finally getting all its ducks in a row.

But with sales in a 17.3 per cent slump in the first half of this year (compared to an industry-wide fall of just 3.7 per cent), the D24 Navara and Y63 Patrol cannot come soon enough.

“(2027) will be a big year, and a growth year,” Humberstone predicts.

“If we do all these things right, in terms of building brand, managing the finance company, managing the aftersales experience and the warranty, bringing in new product, and then bringing in two key products like that, that's when the growth will come in the market and the brand is revitalised.

“So, it's a three to five-year cycle, but I think it's going to really kick off in about 18 months.”