After 4 a long time on sale in Australia, the choice has been made to axe the Nissan Pathfinder from the local lineup.
Outgoing managing director of the Oceania region for Nissan, Andrew Humberstone, has told CarExpert the family SUV will soon disappear from the brand’s portfolio, together with its city SUV, the Nissan Juke.
Mr Humberstone has only just a few days left in the highest job, before being replaced by Steve Milette – but says there’s been a variety of work behind the scenes to secure the brand’s future in Australia.
“The largest piece of labor was around [Nissan’s] product portfolio, which you’ll only see the total execution starting with Navara, then Patrol, after which recent products which can be coming in the long run,” he explained.
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“Juke and Pathfinder are sadly going to depart us.”
The news comes after dwindling sales for the 2 vehicles, with fewer than 740 examples of every delivered locally within the 2025 calendar 12 months.
The Pathfinder first went on sale in Australia in 1986 (known overseas because the Terrano), and was originally an off-road SUV version of the Navara ute, before evolving right into a more family-friendly unibody SUV.
Last month, a report out of the US claimed Nissan is developing a brand new off-road version of the Pathfinder, this time using a body-on-frame construction – very similar to the unique ute-based SUV.
Moreover, while the newest Navara is a non-identical twin of the Mitsubishi Triton, it’s believed a forthcoming Mitsubishi Pajero has been developed on the Triton/Navara platform, potentially opening the door for a version of the Pajero wearing Nissan badges.
Nevertheless, the Nissan executive has poured water on the thought of a Triton/Navara-based SUV, telling CarExpert it was “not within the product portfolio that we’re planning in the mean time,” with the corporate as a substitute focused on “scale and mass” over the following five years.
Despite the Juke and Pathfinder being axed, Mr Humberstone – who’s remaining with Nissan, having accepted a senior post in Europe – has promised something of a revitalisation of the corporate’s Australian lineup over the following two years.
A part of that plan could include more cost-effective SUV models to exchange the Juke.
“Absolutely, but only where we see scale,” he said.
“There [are] absolutely opportunities inside these segments, but when we take a look at which segments have gotten the dimensions and the amount where we’re interested, I feel for us, it’s really about ensuring we have now that critical mass.”
Though the Juke’s alternative wasn’t confirmed, the Nissan Kicks is currently sold in Japan as a small SUV with hybrid technology – a powertrain, Mr Humberstone says, the corporate is focusing more on.
But while the industry largely turned its back on more traditional segments like sedans and hatchbacks in recent a long time, Mr Humberstone says interest appears to be returning – particularly in Australia.
“There’s been a variety of speak about that, and there’s been a variety of interest on that, and there are some interesting products that we’ve checked out,” he revealed.
“Actually, a few of our dealer network was quite engaged with a few of the product we shared with them.
“So, it might be interesting to see. We haven’t seen much of it out there yet, but it surely’s not something we’ve actually written off as a foul idea. We’ve definitely got a few potential product lineups that we could consider in that regard.”
With Nissan delaying the launch of its electric Leaf in Australia indefinitely – citing strong market demand for hybrids – it could open the door for the Nissan N6 to be dropped at Australia. This can be a plug-in hybrid sedan produced in partnership with Nissan’s Chinese three way partnership partner Dongfeng.
The N6, which incorporates a 21.1kWh battery combined with a 1.5-litre petrol motor, is taller and wider than the hybrid Toyota Camry, but has a rather shorter wheelbase.
“A key component of our strategy is around agility. So, we’ve opened up options, and what we are able to do potentially with Dongfeng – our joint-venture partner – in addition to what we are able to do from less expensive platform bases and managing exchange rates,” Mr Humberstone said.
“So it really will depend on where we see opportunities out there – and we would like to have the ability to react inside a few years as opposed to a few or 4 or five years.”
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
