Nissan axes Juke and Pathfinder as struggling Japanese brand seeks new models from China

Nissan Australia is discontinuing the Juke compact SUV and Pathfinder effectively-organized SUV as it switches focal point to China-sourced vehicles to meet both customer wants and tightening emissions regulations.

The Pathfinder’s future has lengthy been in doubt, with no news approaching on the arrival of the facelifted fifth-generation mannequin unveiled final yr.

The funkily styled Juke has consistently struggled within the highly stylish miniature-SUV segment, the place Nissan has had greater success with its extra conservatively designed Qashqai (previously Dualis).

Both the Juke and Pathfinder are now in sprint-out mode with no immediate successors.

“There’s a miniature bit of noise spherical miniature volume [Nissan products],” said Nissan Oceania’s outgoing managing director, Andrew Humberstone, who is taking on a senior role in Europe. “So things admire Juke, we kill. Issues admire Pathfinder, we kill. [Pathfinder] we’ve cancelled in consequence of [the] US alternate rates, and no future HEV [hybrid] solution.”

The North America-sourced Pathfinder utilises an emissions-heavy 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine now now now not regarded as moral for the Australian market, the place car makers now face financial penalties for sales of inefficient vehicles.

“[The Pathfinder] doesn’t construct sense… No longer without technology that works for us,” said Humberstone.

Neither car has contributed important volume to Nissan’s native sales, which fell 22 per cent in 2025 and are down forty five per cent in 2026 to this point, to the pause of February.

Mountainous SUVs are one of Australia’s biggest segments, reaching on the subject of 140,000 sales in 2025.

Nissan says for it to be competitive, a successor is extra prone to advance lend a hand from the firm’s Chinese JV accomplice Dongfeng than lengthy-time alliance companions Renault and Mitsubishi.

“To me, [the Pathfinder successor] is extra of a Dongfeng solution,” said Humberstone. “Given this market, the charge unfriendly of this market, the competitiveness on this market, it’s extra prone to be that.”

Fervent in Nissan’s rising dependency on emissions atmosphere friendly vehicles, likely Dongfeng-sourced successors to the Pathfinder consist of the Dongfeng-Nissan NX8 medium-effectively-organized SUV and MHERO 1 off-roader.

The Nissan NX8 is a 4870mm lengthy old-styled SUV which gives both devoted EV and fling-in hybrid drivetrain alternatives. It gives 800V electric architecture, a differ of 18 to 20-lag wheels, and five seats – two now now not up to the outgoing Pathfinder.

The MHERO 1 is a 4987mm lengthy off-road car which again gives devoted EV and fling-in hybrid powertrain alternatives. The five-seater weighs extra than 3 tonnes, though produces extra than 600kW and 1000Nm in either guise.

More knowledge on the MHERO 1 might also be viewed here.