Nissan takes aim at Ford Ranger PHEV, BYD Shark 6 with all-new plug-in hybrid dual-cab ute - is this the Nissan Navara of the future?

As Nissan confirms a next-gen ute to launch within the next 12 months and the brand’s North American executives discuss streamlining its global ute and pick-up range, Nissan has revealed a plug-in hybrid ute at Auto Shanghai 2025.

The 2025 Nissan Frontier Pro ute is the first electrified 'pick-up' from the brand, with the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute seemingly based on the Yuanye Z9, built by Nissan’s joint venture partner in China, Dongfeng.

The Frontier name comes from the American badge for Nissan’s mid-size ute, once the same as, and now a sibling to, the Nissan Navara.

Importantly, Nissan says the Frontier Pro will be exported to other markets after its Chinese launch later this year, though which markets remains unconfirmed.

The Frontier Pro boasts a 300kW/800Nm powertrain sending drive to all four wheels from its 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and transmission-mounted electric motor. Nissan says the Chinese market estimation for its EV-only range is 135km under New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) testing, which can be less accurate and more lenient than widely used WLTP test figures.

Five-link rear suspension, an electromechanical rear differential lock, four drive modes ranging across 'Hybrid', 'Pure Electric', 'Performance' and 'Snow' plus chunky 265/65R18 tyres wrapped around serious-looking 18-inch alloys all suggest the Frontier Pro plug-in should have at least some capacity for off-roading.

Further to the mechanicals, the PHEV ute wears a face inspired by the design of the D21 generation ‘Hardbody’ Navara, namely via three of its LED headlights spanning the top of the fascia, reminiscent of the bonnet intakes in the D21.

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Inside, the Frontier Pro isn’t harking back to the 1980s. A 10.0-inch driver display and a large 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen are joined by a two-spoke steering wheel, though as one would hope for in a work ute there are still physical controls for at least the climate control.

Similarly important is the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) port for powering or charging appliances via a household-style plug.

The reveal of the Frontier Pro comes just after Chief Planning Officer for Nissan Americas Ponz Pandikuthira told US outlet MotorTrend the best plan going forward would be to streamline Nissan’s global ute and pick-up offerings: “Ideally we’d like to have a global convergence solution.”

Interestingly, Pandikuthira said a plug-in hybrid would make the most sense for a single, global Nissan ute model to achieve solutions in most use cases. Pandikuthira also added that sooner rather than later is the plan: “We need to have a solution by [2028]. Three years from now.”

Nissan had in March this year already confirmed “an all-new one-ton pickup” would launch in Japan’s 2026 financial year, which means anytime between April 2026 and March 2027.

The model discussed in that plan is set to take advantage of Nissan’s links with Mitsubishi, potentially building a Nissan-badged Navara on the new Triton’s platform.

As previously reported by CarsGuide, Nissan’s Chairperson of the AMEIO Region Guillaume Cartier told Australian media a new Navara would be on Australian soil in 2026.

But don’t expect an electrified ute just yet - he clarified diesel is still the main dish for now.

"We need to make sure that if we electrify, how we electrify. I think it will be a two-step approach, first with a PHEV solution, then later on with EV," he said.

"That's what we're looking at, but first it will be with a diesel approach.”

"On the first one we are with Mitsubishi, but the next one we are looking at. Because there is also technology we have in-house, which is solid-state battery, but that will take time.”

It’s possible the “next one” Cartier referred to is the Frontier Pro plug-in just revealed in Shanghai, but time will tell.