The Nissan Frontier Pro could transform into a plug-in hybrid SUV aimed at the Ford Everest
- A Nissan engineer confirmed that an SUV version of the Frontier Pro is under consideration.
- The new three-row model could replace the Navara-based Terra as Nissan’s offering in China.
- The SUV is expected to share the plug-in hybrid pickup’s specifications and powertrain.
Nissan might be navigating some financial turbulence lately, but that hasn’t put the brakes on future product planning. Despite tighter budgets, the company is quietly laying the groundwork for new models, and one of the more interesting prospects could be an SUV version of the recently unveiled Nissan Frontier Pro pickup in China. This rugged SUV would ride on the same platform and use the same plug-in hybrid powertrain.
A new SUV built on a truck chassis could act as a successor to the aging Nissan Terra, which is still based on the last-generation Navara. In the Chinese market, it would face off against rugged SUV offerings from brands like Fangchengbao (BYD) and Tank (Great Wall Motors).
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If exported, it could also take on global rivals such as the Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X, Toyota Fortuner, and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. As for the U.S.? Don’t hold your breath, as being built in China likely takes it off the table entirely.
The idea was floated by Nissan development engineer Ikuo Miyai during a conversation with Australian media at the Shanghai Auto Show. As reported by Drive, Miyai said Nissan could “really afford making another variation” of the plug-in hybrid pickup.
He went a step further, directly suggesting the possibility of an SUV with a shorter wheelbase than the Frontier Pro. Still, he emphasized that Nissan would need to evaluate market demand and investment requirements before moving forward, adding that “everything is under consideration.”
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Our speculative renderings transform the Nissan Frontier Pro into an SUV, without major changes to the design of the front end. The SUV would likely come in shorter than the 5,520 mm (217 inches) pickup, but still have enough space to fit a three-row, seven-seat layout. Inside, it would probably share much of the cabin with the Dongfeng/Nissan trucks, including the large 14.6-inch central touchscreen and the 10-inch digital instrument cluster.
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The Frontier Pro is Nissan’s first-ever plug-in hybrid model. The electrified powertrain comprises a turbo 1.5-liter engine and a single electric motor, producing a combined 402 hp (300 kW / 408 PS) and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque.
Power goes to all four wheels through an intelligent all-wheel drive system and an electromechanical locking rear differential, giving it genuine off-road potential. These specs could carry over to the SUV version, which might even top the truck’s EV-only range of 135 kilometers (84 miles) thanks to its improved aerodynamics.
Nissan is also weighing the option of a right-hand drive version of the Chinese-built Frontier Pro, which could pave the way for an Australian release. However, expectations for that market are currently focused on the upcoming Navara, which is an entirely separate midsize truck based on the Mitsubishi Triton. That model will likely come with a turbodiesel engine, since its platform doesn’t support the plug-in hybrid system used in the Frontier Pro.
Even with financial pressures looming, Nissan seems intent on expanding its midsize truck and SUV lineup in creative ways. If this SUV version of the Frontier Pro makes it to production, it could be a smart play in global markets hungry for rugged, electrified utility.
Nissan Frontier Pro