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Dongfeng Z9

The Dongfeng Z9, the Nissan Frontier Pro , and the Santana 400 are mid-size pickup trucks produced by Zhengzhou Nissan, a joint venture of Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and Santana Motor respectively.

Overview

The Z9 is a 4-door pickup truck bigger than the North American Nissan Frontier and the Mitsubishi Trition. Prior to production the model was known commonly as the Nissan Yuanye Z9 .[1] It was officially unveiled on December 16, 2024, with the model initially being sold with petrol or diesel powertrains.[2] The Zhengzhou Nissan Z9 GT, a variant of the Z9, comes standard with four-wheel-drive. A version of the Z9 called the Z9 GTS will also be offered and is expected to target off-road enthusiasts.[3]

Production of the Z9 commenced in January 2025.[4]

Design

The Z9 uses blacked out A, B, and C-pillars. There are Z-shaped daytime running lights in the front and the taillights are also Z-shaped. Body cladding is present in the front and rear. There are rounded wheel arches and the model also features a grille with a hexagonal pattern.[5]

Frontier Pro

The Nissan Frontier Pro differentiates in the design from the Z9 as it uses a full-width light bar with the light bar inspired by the D21 Hardbody. The Nissan wordmark is embedded into the tailgate and serves as a taillight.[6]

Frontier Pro

The Nissan Frontier Pro differentiates in the design from the Z9 as it uses a full-width light bar with the light bar inspired by the D21 Hardbody. The Nissan wordmark is embedded into the tailgate and serves as a taillight.[6]

Features

All models receive 18-inch rims and 265/65R18 tires as standard.

Faux leather is used as the seating material in the interior. All models can be had with a height-adjustable multifunction steering wheel wrapped in synthetic leather. Regardless of trim, a 10.25-inch digital cluster is standard. A digital display is used on lower trims while a virtual digital cluster with an LCD display is used on higher trims. A 12-inch touchscreen is used on lower trims, with higher trims receiving a slightly larger 12.8-inch screen.[7]

Nissan Frontier Pro

The Nissan Frontier Pro is the Nissan version of the Z9. It was revealed at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, initially as a plug-in hybrid.[8] It was showcased alongside the N7.[9] In May 2025 a Nissan engineer confirmed to Australia's Drive that an SUV version of the Frontier Pro is being considered.[10]

An ICE version of the Frontier Pro was unveiled during Dongfeng Nissan's 40th anniversary event on October 16, 2025. Only the diesel version was showcased at the event and is available with the M9T diesel engine and the 8-speed automatic transmission.[11]

Pre-sales of the Frontier Pro began on October 30, 2025. At the start of pre-sales a gasoline version was also announced, and the plug-in hybrid version's power output was increased to 410 horsepower compared to 402 horsepower when the Frontier Pro was first announced. The Frontier Pro comes standard with four-wheel-drive.[12]

The Frontier Pro went on sale on November 27, 2025.[13]

Powertrain

A 2-liter turbocharged inline-4 producing 258 horsepower is available. Also available is a 2.3 liter turbodiesel inline-4 producing either 143 or 190 horsepower.[1] A 6 speed manual is available, but is exclusive to the diesel version. An 8 speed automatic transmission comes standard on petrol models and is optional for the diesel version.[14]

Plug-in hybrid models make between 322 and 429 horsepower. Torque output remains the same at 590 lb-ft. The Z9 GE's battery options are a 17 kWh battery and a larger 32.85 kWh battery.[15] The Frontier Pro comes exclusively with the 32.85 kWh battery due to four-wheel-drive being standard on the Frontier Pro, and is less powerful than the Z9 GE 4WD.[9] PHEV models use a 4-speed dedicated hybrid transmission.[13]

Dongfeng Z9 GE

The Z9 GE is a plug-in hybrid version of the Z9. It shares the PHEV powertrain with the Frontier Pro. It was launched on May 31, 2025. Unlike the Frontier Pro, it is available with two power output options and two battery options.[16]

Santana 400

The Santana 400 is the European version of the Z9. It is Santana Motor's first vehicle under the revived brand. It is offered in diesel and plug-in hybrid versions which are marketed as the 400D and 400 PHEV respectively.[17] The 400 began production on October 30, 2025, the same day that the Santana plant in Linares, Jaén restarted overall production. In addition to being offered in Spain, it is expected to be sold in other European markets.[18]

Markets

Australia

The Frontier Pro was shown at a gala dinner in Adelaide, Australia on November 20, 2025, essentially confirming that the Frontier Pro will be sold in Australia. Only the plug-in hybrid version was said to be confirmed. Sales are projected to start in Australia sometime in 2027.[19] It will be sold alongside the D27 Navara.[20]

Bolivia

The Z9 reached showrooms in Bolivia under the ZNA Z9 name on September 11, 2025. Sales began on the same day.[21]

Chile

In Chile, sales of the Z9 began on September 10, 2025. It is sold as the DFSK Z9. Only the diesel engine is available. Manual models produce 148 horsepower while automatic models continue to produce 190 horsepower.[7]

China

The Z9 officially launched in its home market of China on January 10, 2025.[22] The plug-in hybrid Z9 GE launched on May 31, 2025, available in both rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive unlike the Frontier Pro.[15]

Philippines

The Z9, just like in Bolivia, is available in The Philippines as the ZNA Z9. It was first made available in the Philippines on October 3, 2025. Only the plug-in hybrid version is known to be available in the country.[23]

Spain

The Z9 became the first model of the revived Santana Motors brand and is thus marketed there as the Santana 400. Spain is the first market in Europe to receive the Z9, regardless of it being rebadged. It is available as a diesel and plug-in hybrid, marketed as the 400D and 400 PHEV respectively, with the latter's powertrain being based on the Frontier Pro Plug-in Hybrid instead of the Z9 GE.[17]

Spain's version of the Z9 is manufactured domestically. It is assembled at the reactivated Santana Motors plant in Linares. Production began in October 2025.[18]

United Arab Emirates

The Z9 was revealed in the United Arab Emirates in October 2025 and became available in showrooms in January 2026. Only the gasoline-powered version is offered.[24]

External links

  • (UAE)

References

  1. Alex Misoyannis. New Nissan ute for China leaked, but it's not the new Navara for Australia drive.com.au, Sep 17, 2024, retrieved April 23, 2025^
  2. Zhengzhou Nissan officially unveils Z9 pickup truck model Gasgoo, December 16, 2024^
  3. 11.99万起，"硬派新玩家"郑州日产Z9开启预售 中国汽车质量网 (China Automobile Quality Network), January 4, 2025^
  4. Zhengzhou Nissan's first Z9 pickup rolls off the production line, presale to begin in February and official launch in March. BitAuto Global, January 9, 2025^
  5. Michael Gautheir. Nissan Yuanye Z9 Is China's New Navara carscoops.com, Sep 13, 2024, retrieved April 23, 2025^
  6. Aurel Niculescu. All-New Nissan Frontier Pro Plug-In Hybrid Coming Soon. It's a Forbidden Fruit in America! autoevolution.com, Apr 23, 2025^
  7. Jorge Beher. DFSK Z9 en Chile, la alternativa para los viudos de la Nissan Navara Autocosmos, September 10, 2025^
  8. Adrian Padeanu. Nissan Surprises With Frontier Pro Plug-In Hybrid Truck motor1.com, Apr 23, 2025, retrieved April 23, 2025^
  9. Alexandra Purcell. Nissan Frontier Pro Revealed As All-New Ford Ranger PHEV Rival fordauthority.com, Apr 24, 2025^
  10. Thanos Pappas. Nissan Is Considering A Rugged New Truck-Based SUV carscoops.com, May 5, 2025, retrieved May 21, 2025^
  11. 日产中国40周年再启新征程 郑州日产Frontier Pro重磅亮相 Autohome, October 16, 2025^
  12. Liu Miao. Nissan’s first China-built global pickup, Frontier Pro, starts pre-sale from 24,800 USD CarNewsChina, October 30, 2025^
  13. Liu Miao. Nissan launches its first China-built global pickup, Frontier Pro, starts from 23,800 USD CarNewsChina, November 27, 2025^
  14. 东风日产将 Z9 皮卡推向市场：汽油还是柴油 BitAuto Uzbekistan, April 1, 2025^
  15. Thanos Pappas. Nissan’s New Chinese Frontier Costs Half As Much As America’s Frontier carscoops.com, May 31, 2025^
  16. Jo Borrás. Nissan launches new, mid-size PHEV pickup that undercuts $20K Slate * electrek.com, June 1, 2025, retrieved June 17, 2025^
  17. Antonio Romas Ochoa. El renacimiento de Santana: Así el nuevo pick-up español con mecánicas PHEV y diésel para asustar a los Ford Ranger y Toyota Hilux Car and Driver ES, October 27, 2025^
  18. Santana 400 PHEV and 400D: the rebirth of the Spanish off-roader with hybrid technology and a working soul Espacio Furgo, October 30, 2025^
  19. Bruce Newton. Nissan Frontier Pro PHEV ute confirmed for Australia Carsales.com.au, November 21, 2025^
  20. Brad Anderson. Nissan Will Fight Chinese Pickup Trucks With Its Own Chinese Pickup Truck Carscoops, November 24, 2025^
  21. En tiempos desafiantes, Rodaria y Punto Motriz redoblan su apuesta por Bolivia con la camioneta ZNA Z9 Agencia de Noticias Fides, September 11, 2025^
  22. Brad Anderson. Nissan Dongfeng Z9 Pickup Launches In China, Could Get 435 HP Hybrid Version Down The Line Carscoops, January 10, 2025^
  23. Ning V. Cordero. NET Auto opens first showroom in Pampanga, drives electric mobility forward Punto! Central Luzon, October 3, 2025^
  24. Dongfeng Z9 2026 Prices in UAE, Pictures & Reviews ArabWheels, retrieved 2026-01-26^