Nissan Navara Warrior axed as PHEV ute takes priority
The Premcar-fettled D27 Navara Warrior update shown to dealers last year is dead, but a Warrior version of the new plug-in ute is still on the cardsThe News
Nissan Australia has quietly pulled the pin on the updated D27 Navara Warrior, the Premcar-engineered off-roader previewed to dealers and media in November last year.
Speaking to carsales, Nissan Australia boss Steve Milette confirmed the program has been shelved so engineering resources could be thrown at bringing the new Navara Pro PHEV to market sooner.
The good news? He won’t rule out a Warrior-badged version of the plug-in ute down the track.
The Key Details
- Updated D27 Navara Warrior program officially cancelled
- Mock-up prototype was shown to dealers and media in November last year
- Resources redirected to fast-tracking the Navara Pro PHEV
- Nissan still working with Premcar
- PHEV Warrior described as possible in future
The Finer Details
The Navara and Warrior names have become almost joined at the hip in Australia since Premcar’s first crack at the ute, so the news will sting for punters who had their eye on the facelifted D27 version.
When carsales asked the Nissan Oceania boss about the upcoming Warrior, he didn’t mince his words.
“So that was one of the updates on the D27 Navara Warrior. We’ve elected not to proceed with that program,” Milette said.
“We had a mock-up, a prototype that was built in November last year… [it] was displayed to dealers in November, and media.
“But since that time… the project had moved forward at the same time as we were trying to pull forward this [PHEV ute] program, and so we’ve allocated resources to this program here, and we’ve decided not to proceed on the D27 Warrior.”
In other words, it was a case of one or the other, and the plug-in hybrid won.
That doesn’t mean the Warrior badge is cactus.
Asked whether the new Navara Pro PHEV could cop some Warrior love, Milette left the door ajar.
“Now, could there be a Warrior on this one in the future? It’s possible. You know, we’re still working with Premcar, but we’ve elected not to move forward on D27 [Warrior],” he said.
It’s worth noting the new Navara Pro PHEV shares little more than a name with the outgoing ute.
The Road Ahead
The current D27 Navara soldiers on in showrooms, but without a fresh Warrior halo model to keep it on buyers’ radars.
All eyes now turn to the Navara Pro PHEV, due here in the second half of 2027.
If it lands well – and Nissan is betting big that it will – a Premcar-fettled Warrior PHEV with beefier rubber and a lift kit would make plenty of sense.
Just don’t expect to hear about it any time soon.
Related: The world is watching Australia’s new-car market
Related: Australia made Nissan rethink its Navara PHEV powertrain
Related: Nissan Navara Warrior wraps up production
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