Pretoria – Nissan has confirmed that its all-new generation Navara will make its global debut on 19 November, but the much-anticipated model will not reach African markets, including Eswatini, any time soon.
The new Navara, developed in partnership with Mitsubishi, will first be released in Australasia. It shares its platform with the Mitsubishi Triton, though Nissan says it will retain its own unique styling and driving characteristics. The outgoing D23 Navara, introduced in 2014, will continue production in South Africa under an updated design referred to as the “evolved Navara.”
According to Nissan Australia, the next-generation Navara will feature Mitsubishi’s 2.4-litre 4N16 engine, producing between 110kW and 150kW depending on the configuration. The vehicle will also adopt a leaf-spring rear suspension system, marking a return to a setup last used on the D40 model. This change is intended to address the load sagging problem that affected earlier coil-sprung versions.
Nissan Oceania Managing Director Andrew Humberstone said the new Navara will maintain a distinct Nissan identity despite sharing engineering ties with Mitsubishi. “We are making sure that it’s very much a Nissan,” he told Australian motoring outlet Drive earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Nissan South Africa’s Managing Director, Maciej Klenkiewicz, confirmed that the local market will continue with the D23 Navara, which is being refreshed under the company’s RE:NISSAN restructuring plan. The facelifted model will feature updated infotainment systems and advanced driver-assist technologies.
“Our focus is to design and manufacture vehicles for South Africa and export markets within Africa. Australia is getting a different car because the market there is different,” Klenkiewicz said.
The “evolved” Navara, built at Nissan’s Rosslyn plant near Pretoria since 2021, is expected to reach local showrooms sometime next year.
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