Nissan Frontier Pro PHEV spotted testing in Sydney

Nissan’s new plug-in hybrid ute has been spotted in Sydney, providing another indication that the Chinese-built Frontier Pro is being prepared for markets beyond its home country.

A camouflaged prototype was photographed in Kirrawee, in Sydney’s south, wearing New South Wales registration plates. Similar test vehicles have also recently appeared on Victorian roads, while the first known Australian prototype arrived in Melbourne in June 2026.

Nissan hasn’t officially confirmed the Frontier Pro for either Australia or New Zealand, but it has been shown privately to dealers from both countries. Nissan Oceania managing director Andrew Humberstone also hinted at an electrified ute for New Zealand during an interview in March.

That puts a 2027 launch on the cards, although local timing and specifications remain unconfirmed.

Despite wearing a familiar Nissan badge, the Frontier Pro isn’t based on the Navara. It uses the Z9 platform developed by Dongfeng, Nissan’s joint-venture partner in China, and was unveiled at the Shanghai motor show in April 2025 as Nissan’s first global plug-in hybrid model.

The powertrain combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor integrated into the transmission. Nissan has previously quoted combined outputs of 300kW and 800Nm for Australia, making it substantially more powerful than the current diesel Navara.

A 33kWh battery provides up to 135km of electric driving under China’s more generous CLTC testing regime. Claimed fuel consumption is 6.9L/100km, although Australian and New Zealand figures would likely be calculated under different test procedures.

Its working credentials appear suitably ute-like. Nissan quotes a 3500kg braked towing capacity and 700mm wading depth, while an electromechanical rear differential lock should help when traction gets thin. Vehicle-to-load capability can provide up to 6kW for running tools, appliances or camping equipment.

Nissan executive Richard Candler previously told Australian media that local towing and off-road requirements were “a bit more severe” than in many other markets. The current testing programme is understood to include calibration of the driver-assistance systems, with local suspension tuning also possible.

The Chinese-market interior features a 10-inch digital instrument display and a 14.6-inch central touchscreen. A panoramic roof and heated, ventilated and massaging front seats are also available, although there is no guarantee all of that equipment will reach Australasian models.

For now, the Frontier Pro remains officially unconfirmed. But with prototypes circulating on Australian roads and dealers already familiar with the model, its chances of making the trip across the Tasman appear increasingly likely.