Nissan Spied Testing New 2018 SUV Based On Navara NP300 Truck

Nissan is readying a tough, body-on-frame SUV, as our spies nabbed a test mule based on the latest generation of their Navara NP300 pickup truck.

What’s strange about this tester is that it incorporates the front end of the new Navara NP300, available in Europe and elsewhere – but not in North America where Nissan continues to offer the older generation as the Frontier, with the rear body of the previous, R51-codenamed Pathfinder SUV, including the squared off tailgate and rear doors.

Evidently, Nissan is still in the early development stages of the new SUV, as no doubt, the production car will have a different rear passenger compartment styling.

Another unknown at this point is which markets will get the SUV, but it makes sense for Nissan to offer it alongside the Navara NP300 to compete against the likes of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and the Chevrolet / Holden Trailblazer SUVs. Nissan officials have said that the Navara NP300 won’t be coming to North America where the previous body-on-frame Pathfinder has already been replaced by a unibody model, so don’t expect the new SUV here either.

Powering the five-door model will be the same range of engines found in the NP300 Navara truck that debuted a new 2.3-liter dCi diesel engine, available in two states of tune with 160PS (158hp) and 190PS (188hp), in either two- or four-wheel drive configurations, with a standard six-speed manual or an optional seven-speed automatic gearbox.

We should learn more about Nissan’s tough SUV in the coming months.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops