Back in April Nissan executives proclaimed that they really wanted to bring back the Xterra. At the time Nissan Americas chairperson Christian Meunier said, “We’re working on it. We’ll find a way.” Well, they found a way, because at the Nissan dealer meeting in Las Vegas, Meunier announced that it’s happening. It’ll be a true body-on-frame SUV and the platform will be used for other models.
Nissan didn’t give away much info on the Xterra. As reported by Automotive News, it’ll feature an “upright grille and squarish headlights.” Previously, Nissan execs mused that it might be an all-electric SUV, but according to the article suggests the Xterra could be powered by a hybrid V6 with a range extender good for 75 miles on electrons only before the gasoline part kicks in.
The report goes on to say that the body-on-frame chassis underpinning the Xterra will be spawn a new Frontier, Pathfinder, and its more luxurious Infiniti twin, the QX60, as well as a yet-unnamed fifth model. All would be built a Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi plant where the Frontier birthed. Pricing wasn’t discussed, just that it will be affordable, and that we should expect it in 2028.
Nissan is in dire straits right now, hemorrhaging money and failing to find a way to merge with Honda. Combined with the return of an Infiniti stick shift RWD sedan, it seems that Nissan has newfound vigor to dig itself out of a bad situation. It seems they’re trying a novel idea called giving loyal customers what they actually want.
Images courtesy of Nissan.
