- Nissan is pushing forward with hybrid plans for the Frontier to stay competitive.
- The Rogue will soon feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain, but it may not suit pickups.
- The company plans to merge the Frontier with the Navara for a global hybrid model.
Nissan is moving to electrify its mid-size Frontier pickup, joining a growing trend in the truck segment. At the same time, the company is eyeing a merger between the Frontier and the Navara, a same sized model sold in markets outside North America, including Australia, Asia, and parts of South and Central America.
Review: 2025 Nissan Frontier Proves That, Sometimes, Old-School Recipes Work Just Fine
It’s no surprise that Nissan is jumping on the electrification bandwagon. While fully electric trucks like the Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, and Chevrolet Silverado EV have been grabbing headlines, they’re not exactly practical for everyone, especially those who need to drive long distances. That’s where hybrids step in. With Ram, Toyota, and Ford already offering hybrid pickups, Nissan doesn’t want to be left behind.
Nissan’s Plans for the Frontier Hybrid
In a recent chat with Motor Trend, Nissan’s Chief Planning Officer for the Americas, Ponz Pandikuthira, explained that electrifying the Frontier is crucial for its future. According to Pandikuthira, for the Frontier to stay relevant and meet emissions standards, a hybrid powertrain will be necessary.
He added that a plug-in hybrid would make most sense “to keep that full spectrum of use,” ensuring it can be driven around town, retain a good towing capacity, good fuel consumption, and still have the ruggedness of a traditional body-on-frame combustion pickup.
Pandikuthira provided no details about the plug-in hybrid powertrain that will be used in the Frontier. The brand sells several models with its E-Power hybrid, but it doesn’t have a plug-in hybrid offering. Nissan is known to be readying a PHEV version of the Rogue, likely borrowing its 2.4-liter powertrain and twin electric motors from the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. However, with just 248 hp, this setup might not be powerful enough for the Frontier.
Ford recently introduced a plug-in hybrid version of the Ranger, delivering 278 horsepower, but unfortunately, it won’t be available in the U.S. anytime soon. So, what does this mean for the Frontier? While it’s clear Nissan is heading in the hybrid direction, there’s still a performance gap to close.
As for timing, don’t hold your breath for the new hybrid Frontier any time before 2028. According to Pandikuthira, that’s the target window: “We need to have a solution by then. Three years from now.”
The Future of the Frontier and Navara
Beyond reading a PHEV powertrain for the Frontier, Pandikuthira revealed Nissan would like to merge the Frontier and the Navara into a single model. “Ideally we’d like to have a global convergence solution,” he told MT. This model would be based on an all-new platform designed to support several different powertrains, including traditional ICEs and PHEVs.
