Z9 Diesel Pickup Reinvents the Mid-Large Truck Class

Every once in a while a truck rolls out that makes seasoned drivers nudge each other and say, "That's the one." The Z9 Diesel pickup is exactly that kind of disruptor - an off-road workhorse that still feels at home outside a trendy café. It was born from miles of desert testing, late-night engineering debates, and, frankly, a stubborn refusal to compromise.

Pure Muscle, No Drama

We at Zhengzhou Nissan have spent the last 32 years chasing the sweet spot between brute force and everyday drivability. The Z9 Diesel pickup is our latest swing, and we think we hit it square.

✅ 500 N·m of torque for near-instant pull

✅ 140 kW (188 hp) that never feels strained

✅ ZF 8-speed automatic that slips through gears like silk

Out on a wind-scarred plateau in western China, I watched our test crew load the bed past 865 kg, point the truck up a rock-strewn climb, and punch it. No wheel-hop, no fuss - just a smooth surge straight to the summit. That real-world composure matters far more than headline numbers, yet the specs still impress: 160 km/h top speed, 73 L tank for long hauls, and a generous 3,300 mm wheelbase that keeps the ride settled.

•  Off-Road DNA, Weekday Manners

Plenty of pickups talk tough; the Z9 Diesel pickup delivers. Approach and departure angles of 31°/26° plus 240 mm of ground clearance mean you clear ledges most SUVs only photograph. Add wading depth past 800 mm and a tank-turn mode for tight trails, and the bragging rights write themselves. Yet after a hard trail day, you'll still want to drive this truck to dinner. The cabin borrows more from crossovers than commercial utes:

•  90° door openings - no yoga moves needed to climb in

•  Three-position rear seats so friends stop fighting for shotgun

•  An EEA 3.0 digital architecture that runs navigation, music, and over-the-air updates without lag

Even the suspension feels split-personality in the best way. Up front, double wishbones soak up potholes; out back, a five-link solid axle keeps cargo planted. I've yanked the wheel at 120 km/h in an emergency lane change and the chassis just shrugged.

Built by People Who Actually Use Trucks

Because we build trucks for a living - and drive them when we're off the clock - we sweat the inglorious details:

✅  97 % high-strength steel ladder frame with 4,000 N·m/deg torsional stiffness

✅  12+ million km of durability runs from Inner Mongolia blizzards to tropical mud

✅  540° surround-view cameras that spare you a spotter on narrow switchbacks

✅  One-touch damped tailgate and electric running boards (rated to 200 kg) - small things that make long days shorter

Those numbers sit on top of a new "α·Star" global platform - our three-year skunk-works project that already supports diesel, EV, and PHEV variants. In other words, the Z9 Diesel pickup isn't a one-off; it's the opening chapter of a much bigger story.

Why It Matters

Truck buyers today juggle spreadsheets on Friday and chase dirt on Saturday. They need a vehicle that can tow the work trailer, ford a creek, and still look sharp under city lights. The Z9 Diesel pickup rises to that brief without beating you up on the daily commute. It feels overbuilt in the ways that count - frame, drivetrain, safety - but dialed-in everywhere else. Is it perfect? Nothing mechanical is. But after hours behind the wheel, ankle-deep in river crossings and later cruising an expressway home, I can say this: the Z9 Diesel pickup resets what mid-large off-road trucks can be. And that should keep every other manufacturer honest.

Final Thoughts

The Z9 Diesel pickup isn't about hype - it's about delivery. Whether you're hauling tools, exploring trails, or just looking for a pickup that handles like a pro, the Z9 is built for it all. It blends power, intelligence, and safety into a machine that feels as confident on the road as it does off it. From its robust performance to its smart features and future-ready platform, the Z9 doesn't just redefine what a mid-large pickup can be - it redefines what a pickup should be.