The New Nissan Xterra Will Be Built In the U.S. and Will Likely Offer Hybrid Power

by Chris Teague

Published: October 9th, 2025

the new nissan xterra will be built in the u s and will likely offer hybrid power

Nissan hasn’t sold the Xterra in a decade, which is surprising, given off-road SUVs’ popularity in North America. Rumors have swirled around the Xterra’s return for years, and it now appears ready for another go. The automaker confirmed that a new Xterra is coming, and we have a few details.

The new Xterra will be built alongside the Frontier pickup at Nissan’s plant in Mississippi, and it’s expected to arrive with a V6 engine and hybrid technology. Nissan will retain the Xterra name for the SUV, along with its body-on-frame design. Due to Nissan’s cost-cutting efforts, the SUV will likely ride on a modified Frontier platform to save some cash.

As far as the design goes, Nissan will probably lean on the Armada and Pathfinder for some elements, though the Xterra was always kind of an odd duck in the automaker’s lineup. Expect an upright shape with a tall roof for generous interior space. Inside, we’ll probably see a cabin design similar to that of the Frontier.

We don’t have powertrain specs for the new model yet, but the hybrid V6 could use the Frontier’s 3.8-liter mill with boosted power output. A gas-only powertrain option could help keep the sales prices in check, but Nissan hasn’t hinted at further developments for the Xterra.

[Images: Nissan]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.

#Nissan #NissanXterra #nissanhybrid

Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

More by Chris Teague

Comments

Join the conversation

3 of 18 comments

Redapple2 on Oct 10, 2025

Nissan makes the best V 6 in the business. It WILL be on my list next time. Tiny super pressure, ready to blow 4 bangers are VERBOTEN in my driveway.

2 Reply
Bd2 on Oct 10, 2025

Hyundai and Nissan offer conventional V6 engines. This should put the rest of the industry on notice to follow suit.

Like Reply
- Normie on Oct 10, 2025
  
  Hey, I'll bet you know... is "juche" just a nork word or do your pals use it too?
  
  Like

Recent Comments

Jam169859557 More regulation is needed for ALL vehicle lighting systems. [list=1][*]The lighting that is most blinding are the rapidly flashing red, blue and amber lights on emergency vehicles. The lights themselves are blinding, flashing so rapidly that it's impossible for even the sharpest eyes to adjust. What's worse, is the nature of the emergency requires a careful view of the area surrounding the emergency vehicle. There is something going on that needs to be seen. More flashing lights is not the solution.[/*][*]Brighter headlights need to be regulated. The tall riding vehicles do not need headlights positioned so high that they blind drivers in lower riding vehicles. And those heasdlights need to be aimed properly. When I first started driving my 2020 Subaru Outback, many drivers would flash their lights, hoping I would dim my lights. This stopped after I performed am easy adjustment that tilted the beam lower. Late model Subaru headlamps are designed with a sharp cutoff that project less glare above the hood line. When the headlights are properly aimed, other drivers are not blinded by the beam.[/*][*]Customized light assemblies make it more difficult to see the marker lights (tail lamps, turn signals and side marker lamps) that have been tinted. There are many municiple codes that prohibit this tinting, but these laws are seldom enforced.[/*][/list=1]Solutions: Tight controls on emergency vehicle lighting. In trying to make these vehicles more visible, a dangerous side effect is reducing the ability of drivers to see the surrounding perils.Headlight design regulations that reduce the height of the headlight assemblies. Just because a pickup truck has a hood that sits 4 feet abouve the pavement, it does not mean the headlights need to be so high. Owneres should maintain proper adjustments to their vehicle headlights.Establish and enforce regulation requiring a illumination standard be followed.
Stl170698708 as someone who hates big government, and their interference;but you can add me to the list of people that are blinded by the lights.unfortunately "the poop is out of the horse and no way is it going back in"They have had 5 years to make lights bigger, badder and brighter because in the vehicle work it is go big or go home!Trucks are the worst because so many people use them to express their dominance and that is big, big, big $$ both at the Original Purchase and in the Aftermarket world.If, we are so lucky to get some good government regulation on this it will also take some very good Court enforcement to get the aftermarket people with fines and lawsuits.Much like the EPA did with the Diesel Tuner Industry that felt emission regulations didn't apply to them.This is from someone that owns said pickup truck with the same bright headlights,but i only use the truck when I have too and always turn off the Fog lights when driving in traffic.
Art65765977 I saw a porsche 911 with the most amazing headlights from behind approaching the Sunshine skyway in Florida. The pattern was 108 degrees across sweeping the road like a broom. My brother and I were amazed. I don't know what it looked like from the front but i am sure it was better than American cars
Master Baiter This is what happens when you take a chance on a startup auto company. Designing and building cars is hard.
Pwrwrench IIRC the most efficient version of the CRX was not sold in California, due to the "tune" of the 50+ mpg engine not meeting the emissions standards. The ones sold in California were rated in the upper 40s.Also, nearly all of these that I saw in SoCal were red, except for a few white ones.