The Nissan Frontier Pro is an all-new plug-in hybrid pickup truck from the Japanese brand that just debuted at the Shanghai Auto Show. It’s slated for release in China by the end of this year, and there’s no indication that there are any plans to bring it to the U.S. Although it’s unlikely this truck will see American roads, it’s a sign that the concept of the plug-in hybrid pickup truck is gaining traction in the global automotive marketplace.
In addition to being Nissan’s first-ever electrified pickup truck, it’s also the brand’s first plug-in hybrid. Nissan describes the Frontier Pro as a “dual-purpose pickup […] designed for families who seek a vehicle that can comfortably and efficiently support their daily urban driving as well as weekend adventures beyond the city limits.” It’s what you might call a “lifestyle truck” rather than a workhorse.
Powering the Nissan Frontier Pro is a turbocharged 1.5L I4 gas engine and one high-output electric motor mounted to the transmission. Nissan claims performance specs of 402 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, and it estimates an impressive all-electric range of 83 miles. All-wheel drive comes standard, and it’s available with an electromechanical locking rear differential.
The interior of the Nissan Frontier Pro strikes a nice balance of rugged and high-tech. It has a 14.6-inch central infotainment display, a 10-inch digital gauge cluster, and a standard panoramic moonroof. It’s even available with massaging front seats.
The Nissan Frontier Pro will launch in China first in 2025, and Nissan says it will export the truck outside of China to other markets, which will be confirmed in a future announcement. Due to the “Chicken Tax” making it prohibitively expensive to market pickup trucks built outside of North America in the United States, we don’t expect the Frontier Pro to be available here, barring any plans to build it domestically.
When it hits the Chinese market later this year, the Nissan Frontier Pro will rival the BYD Shark 6 and the Changan Hunter. As for the burgeoning world of plug-in hybrid pickup trucks in North America, the extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) Ram 1500 Ramcharger and Jeep Gladiator 4xe PHEV are on the way, and it’s possible the next-generation Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra may offer a PHEV or EREV option in 2027. However, we’re not expecting plug-in versions of the Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon anytime soon.
Comments
This sounds great as long as the bed is at least 6 ft long. 80 mpg plus on the battery then the gas engine kicks in, Wake up Gm! I hope they could bring to the states.
drivetrain is pretty sweet but it is pretty damn ugly
I actually like its looks. Gas trucks tend to be super ugly (other than some pimped up off-road / HD versions maybe), so it’s refreshing to see something that looks more modern.
Nice for my use case, too bad it’s not coming to the US. A PHEV imo makes a lot of sense for a dual purpose daily driver / adventure truck, which is why I was waiting for a Ramcharger, but that one keeps getting delayed. Ultimately I just went for a brute-force solution on the adventure side with a GMC Sierra EV (which is why I’m on this forum).