Thanks to Mitsubishi: The New American Nissan Frontier?

It has been clear for several years that Nissan will base the new Navara image on a common basis with the Mitsubishi Triton. Mitsubishi joined the Renault-Nissan Alliance in 2016 through Nissan’s investment. The fact that two separate mid-sized pickup lines are being developed in this merger does not make economic sense. Accordingly, during the final facelift of the Nissan Navara for the 2021 model year, it became clear that the new generation will be based on the future Mitsubishi Triton (still known to us as the L200).

Mitsubishi introduced the new Triton/L200 in the summer of 2023 as a 2024 model year. And now it seems the time has come for Nissan to launch this new generation. The fourth generation Navara, with a 2021 model update, has been on the market since 2015 and is therefore ready for a generational change. The Navara was withdrawn from the European market in 2020 with the closure of the Barcelona factory.

The new frontier of North America

In the US, where the mid-size pick-up is sold as the “Frontier”, the model was recently separated from the original Navara and continued in a US-specific, independent series. The new generation Frontier can then compete alongside the Mitsubishi Triton, a win-win situation for both brands. Mitsubishi currently has nothing to offer in the mainstream pickup market and only sells three models, the Outlander, Eclipse Cross and Mirage (Lancer) in the US.

At the same time, this would mean that Nissan would create a joint range from the separate Frontier (USA) and Navara (worldwide) ranges, with higher production efficiency. In Mexico, Nissan already operates a Frontier plant that would be suitable for joint production and would not be affected by normal import duties due to the customs union with the United States.

Maybe not for Europe

According to current information, the new Nissan Frontier/Navara based on the Mitsubishi Triton/L200 could be presented this year as a 2025 model year. However, it is currently unlikely that this model will find its way back to Europe.