Nissan reveals its new hybridised bakkie
Brands are unveiling new models left, right, and centre at the Shanghai Motor Show. This time around, Nissan is in the spotlight with the latest addition to its double cab lineup. It's called the Frontier Pro, and its appearance is as sci-fi as it gets.
To unpack the Frontier, its design is its initial catch. It’s a striking bakkie with a uniquely modern design, and it would come as little surprise that it’s the product of Nissan's Shanghai studio. So its boldly futuristic look and large screens are expected features. There is a strong emphasis on its rugged design since it looks like a tough piece of metal. Nissan drew inspiration from its 1980s D21 Hardbody pickup, as seen by its headlight patterns and front-end shape.
Under the bonnet sits a surprisingly small 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine paired with a transmission-mounted high-output electric motor. Once combined, the Frontier Pro produces an ambitious 300kW and 800Nm of torque. It's clear that this product is designed to take on the likes of the GWM P500 PHEV and JAC T9 PHEV alongside the numerous other high-output hybrid Chinese bakkies that have been teased recently. It's also hoping to achieve a full EV range of 135km, which plays to its lifestyle and city driving direction.
To ensure its new product meets the off-road demands of Nissan's Navara and Patrol fans, there is an element of 4x4 readiness within the Frontier Pro. Boasting a 5-link rear suspension setup and intelligent all-wheel drive, which enhance traction in low-grip environments, its blueprint looks promising. Additionally, an electromechanical rear differential lock ensures that you can manoeuvre out of tricky situations when needed.
The Frontier also comes as one of Nissan's first PHEV products and its first electrified bakkie. Currently, Nissan is pushing for Chinese sales to commence in 2026, and there are plans to then export this product thereafter. We should expect to receive this product in 2027, should South Africa be on the Frontier's radar.
Nissan has revealed the Frontier as the first of its seven new energy vehicles, alongside its Dongfeng N7 sedan. But with the recent political turmoil around the Honda and Nissan merger, we will likely see an increasing number of Nissan products from China to help offset costs. Although it's an effective strategy, it raises concerns about an emerging trend.
One thing I have appreciated about Nissan's double cabs isn't the tech-heavy interiors or lack thereof but rather their robust reliability. Will its newfound DNA maintain the tough standard we've come to expect in Nissan bakkies, or will the Frontier be a touch too lifestyle-orientated and focused towards the tar over the gravel?
It's possible that the Frontier represents Nissan's approach to lifestyle overlanding, and if so, they should commit to this identity rather than raising our expectations for a bakkie with the same capabilities as the Navara Pro-4X. Nevertheless, its story has just begun, but if Nissan knows South Africans, it's likely itching to send this bakkie our way.
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