Nissan might join the compact pickup truck segment soon

Nissan could soon join the compact pickup truck battle, with reports from Automotive News stating that Japanese brand might be considering a return to the hyped segment. Though unlike the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, Nissan’s upcoming model will probably run on battery power.

A group of people was reported by Automotive News claiming that they are familiar with the Japanese automaker’s plan. It is said that Nissan is looking into building a compact pickup that should sit below the Frontier. Also, given the brand’s strong heritage with electrified vehicles, the upcoming model might also run on battery power giving it a more modern approach than both of its recently-launched competitors. 

While most pickup trucks in the market support a body-on-frame construction, Nissan’s small pickup might sit on a unibody platform. This is because the Maverick and Santa Cruz feature this kind of platform, giving both compact trucks a comfortable and well-composed ride.

To further strengthen this news, Judy Wheeler, Nissan division vice president of sales and regional operations in the US, openly entertained this idea too. She even admitted to the news source that "The pickup area is kind of interesting. There will be a consumer that's looking more for a lifestyle vehicle that they can put all their gear in and go off-roading." 

With that, there is a possibility that Nissan could really turn this plan into reality soon. Both the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz show that compact pickup trucks can be as good as the other bigger options in the market. Not to mention, if that electrified powertrain pushes through, then Nissan might actually have quite a player in its segment. We shall dig up more information soon, for now, we’re crossing our fingers on this. We’re also hoping that the Philippine market could have a taste of these compact pickup trucks in the future.