You have to pause the video at just the right moment. But it’s there, around 38 seconds in – the thing millions of off-road enthusiasts should be excited about.
The next Nissan Xterra.
There’s no official word from Nissan yet. But Internet buzz is building, saying that Nissan could resurrect one of its most beloved models. The strongest hint yet was buried in a presentation Nissan executives gave last week, promising 30 new models by 2026.
An introduction video (since posted to YouTube) showed silhouettes of many future products driving past a striated blue screen. At the 0:38 mark appears a boxy, rugged midsize SUV with tube-style roof rails. You know, like the one Nissan discontinued after the 2015 model year.
The original Xterra was amazing because it was affordable. A body-on-frame SUV (that is, a truck-style model built on a frame designed to flex over uneven terrain), it was one of the most affordable SUVs available with 4-wheel-drive when it debuted.
A Classic, Affordable Off-Roader
Nissan sold it from 1999 to 2015. It earned a reputation as a great off-roader with a reasonable starting price and easier day-to-day character than the Jeep Wrangler.
When sales trailed off late in its run, many observers blamed poor fuel economy and tougher safety regulations the old design struggled to meet.
But off-road-focused SUVs are increasingly popular in 2024. Many automakers are leaning into rugged design trends, with everything from the reborn Toyota Land Cruiser and Ford Bronco to the once-family-oriented Hyundai Santa Fe now designed to fit in on the trail more than in the daycare parking lot.
Nissan could also solve the fuel economy problems with hybrid or electric power as the company shifts its focus toward a more efficient lineup.
And Kelley Blue Book editor Matt Degen, who is likely editing this piece, called for its revival not long ago on our sister site, Autotrader. (Editor’s note: Yes, Sean, I am. And I still maintain Nissan would be crazy not to bring back the Xterra.)
Nissan Americas Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer Ponz Pandikuthira told Autoblog last week that an Xterra revival is being “very actively considered,” though he did not confirm one was coming.
