The Nissan Xterra is Confirmed for a 2028 Return
Nissan stopped selling the Xterra almost a decade ago, and it has inexplicably avoided a revival of the popular off-roader in the time since. The automaker finally appears ready to sell some vehicles, though, as Nissan Americas chairman Christian Meunier recently confirmed the SUV’s return in an interview with Bloomberg.
Meunier also confirmed that the new Xterra would return with a hybrid V6 powertrain, and he said the SUV would be built at the Nissan factory in Canton, Mississippi. It will share a platform with the Frontier pickup, which should give it legitimate off-road capability. Nissan is also reportedly considering a more premium Infiniti variant, though Meunier didn’t share any details on that model.
We don’t know pricing yet, but the Xterra will likely slot between the Frontier and Armada. Its hybrid V6 will give it a more expensive starting price than the Frontier pickup, but it won’t reach the heights that Nissan’s flagship Armada does.
The new Xterra is a case of better late than never for Nissan. Given the automaker’s struggles, the SUV could have been a shot in the arm if it had debuted a few years ago, but it will still be a good thing for Nissan. Buyers gravitate toward off-road SUVs in droves, and Nissan’s dealers are “super excited” to have the nameplate returning to the lineup.
[Images: Nissan]
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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.
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"Nissan Xterra is Confirmed for a 2028 Return"
But, will Nissan itself also return for 2028?
I owned a 2013 Xterra and 2019 Frontier. Both were fantastically well made and fun. But those vehicles were designed by a different Nissan. Not sure today’s Nissan can do it again.