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Government documentation has let slip the first Australian details of the new Nissan Navara ute, due in showrooms next year from the Mitsubishi Triton factory in Thailand.
The new 2026 Nissan Navara is poised to retain a full line-up of body styles, transmissions and equipment grades in Australia, details published online – more than a month before its global debut – have revealed.
It is the same database that last month, as first reported by Drive, exposed critical details of the new Toyota HiLux, which is not due to be revealed publicly until later this year.
The timing of the publication of Navara details suggests it may reach showrooms in the early months of 2026, rather than later in the "first half of 2026" window confirmed by Nissan.
The leak of key information on two top-selling models on the database – known as ROVER, run by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts – before they have been unveiled to the world is unprecedented.
Much of the documentation has been blanked out – something car companies can request if they don't want certain information to be made public – but a list of model codes remains visible for public view.
Detailed analysis by Drive – using model codes for its close Mitsubishi Triton relative as a reference – reveals at least three model grades in the line-up, which teaser photos confirm will include a Pro-4X flagship variant.
High-end model grades will be offered solely as dual-cabs, offering a choice of two-wheel-drive automatic, and four-wheel-drive manual or automatic.
There is no mention of a dual-cab chassis in a list of vehicle identification numbers (VINs) approved for Australian sale, suggesting a tub may be the only choice with four doors.
Engine details are yet to be revealed, but it is likely to match the Triton in standardising a Mitsubishi-built 2.4-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine, developing 150kW and 470Nm.
It compares to 140kW/450Nm from the 2.3-litre twin-turbo Nissan engine in most Navaras today, or a 120kW/403Nm single-turbo version in the base Navara SL manual.
Approval documents list vehicle identification numbers (VINs) starting with 'MMA', confirming – as had long been expected – it will be produced on a Mitsubishi production line in Thailand.
The paperwork suggests Nissan has received the green light to sell a single-cab chassis in two-wheel-drive manual and auto, and four-wheel-drive auto forms, plus a 'King Cab' extra-cab with a tub, four-wheel drive, and an automatic.
These body styles look set to be offered in low-grade form, Drive's analysis of the documentation suggests, with variants such as an ST-X King Cab once offered to buyers no longer present, at least initially.
"Australia is an important market for Nissan and we are continuing to invest in the right products for local customers," a Nissan Australia spokesperson told Drive, when questioned on the documentation.
"It is common for Nissan to certify variants on the ROVER system as part of the Australian government’s regulatory process. We’ve confirmed the new D27 Navara will be unveiled in November this year. We have no further announcements regards the D27 Navara until this time."
As reported by Drive this week, teaser images released by Nissan show the D27 Navara will share most, if not all of its metal body panels with the Triton, including the bonnet, doors, wheel arches and cabin structure.
Differences are expected to include front and rear bumpers, daytime-running light and tail-light signatures, and elements such as the Pro-4X's sports bar.
The Navara is expected to share the Triton's dual-screen dashboard and general cabin layout, as well as its feature set.
Nissan is also expected to inherit its sibling's leaf-spring rear suspension, replacing coil springs in today's Navara, but it remains to be seen if Mitsubishi allows access to its Super Select 4WD system, which enables four-wheel-drive operation on sealed surfaces.
2026 Nissan Navara expected model range
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
