Nissan's Navara-based answer to workhorse ute-based off-road wagons such as Ford Everest, Toyota Fortuner, Holden Colorado 7 and Isuzu MU-X is approaching its international launch.
These spy photos show it will be a direct challenger in a now heavily populated heavy-duty SUV segment. But the full-chassis SUV is not necessarily coming to Australia.
Clearly all-Navara from the B-pillar forward, while suggesting some design influence from the Pathfinder around the tailgate area, the upcoming heavy-duty SUV is off to a running start – unlike Ford, Holden, Mitsubishi and Isuzu ute-based wagons – with all-coil suspension already part of the underpinnings.
Like its contemporaries from other major car makers, the Navara wagon is expected to offer seven-seat, three-row accommodation in an expansive interior. Also similar to its rivals, the Nissan is expected to run a shorter wheelbase than its ute sibling. This helps off the road in terms of ramp-over clearance and should complement the already generously propped-up look of the test mule.
As hinted by a Nissan executive at the 2014 New York motor show, the Navara-based off-road wagon could be a handy addition to the local Nissan line-up, not just because of its terrain-thwarting running gear, including a thrifty, torquey four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. With the expected demise of the iconic Y61 Patrol, the company's only true off-road wagon, the almighty Y62 Patrol, is available with a fuel-guzzling 5.6-litre petrol V8 only.
What will Nissan call its new off-road wagon?
A revival of Terrano II (from the Pajero-size SUV sold here briefly during the late 1990s) appears unlikely because the name has been adopted for a small Nissan SUV sold in India.
Maybe Navara7?
Nissan Australia has said it would need to seriously consider whether a Navara-based wagon would have a place in its SUV-centric model line-up. But Mitsubishi is currently selling more Pajero Sports than it is Pajeros and Toyota's Fortuner has garnered 2222 sales in year-to-date figures against small declines for Prado and Kluger models.
Considering that, Nissan Australia is likely assessing its own rival in that sector of the market very carefully indeed.