Ponz Pandikuthira, Nissan USA’s head of product planning, told TopSpeed the company wants to bring the Xterra back from the dead. The company’s rugged 4×4 SUV has become increasingly popular since production ended in 2015, thanks to its simplicity, reliability, and off-road capability. Other higher-ups at Nissan are on board too, with Pandikuthira stating Vinay Shahani, Nissan USA’s head of sales, is excited about the possibility of a revived Xterra.
Nissan Has High Expectations For A Revival
Nissan and Pandikuthira are keenly aware of the recent excitement around the Xterra. Media present at this year’s New York International Auto Show were told the company wants a revived model to continue to build on the things people loved about the original in the first place. The now-decade-old Xterra model was downright simple. Its boxy design and integrated roof rack told everyone just how rugged the SUV was, and it had a four-wheel-drive system to back it up. “Rugged” and “capable” were two words that came up consistently in our conversation with the Nissan product planner, but the Xterra also needs to fit into today’s world.
“We are still working on a credible plan (to bring back Xterra)”. Later in the conversation with Pandikuthira at the New York show, he said that the vehicle needs to have Xterra’s ruggedness and credibility. “It’s got to be tough, it’s got to be rugged.” He also indicated that it has to be at least reasonably affordable, which the original was.
Will The Next Xterra Be An EV?
Fitting into today’s world also means, at a minimum, acknowledging the possibility of electrification. A few weeks ago, Nissan teased a smaller EV “inspired” by the Xterra’s DNA — something for the folks who like to get outside and enjoy the outdoors on the weekend. Critically, this isn’t intended to be the Xterra. More to the point, it isn’t clear what would power an Xterra revival. Current rivals like the 4Runner and Wrangler use hybrid powertrains in part, but others are strictly gas-powered, like the Bronco.
Moreover, each of these vehicles has become thoroughly modern (or reintroduced entirely, in the case of the Bronco) while the Xterra has been away. Bringing the model into the modern age will take some work, especially from a brand that’s often criticized for having a somewhat dated lineup with older tech at its core. Pandikuthira and others at the company are very aware of the gap in the lineup left by the departure of the model, and at a minimum, are excited about fixing that.
TopSpeed’s Take
Nissan does, in fact, have a hole in its lineup for something like this. The Xterra was one of the first rugged, off-road-focused SUVs to hit the market more than 25 years ago. In the decade since its death, the off-road segment has swelled, chasing post-pandemic consumer interest to new heights. Making the Xterra work and providing an enticing alternative to modern competitors is going to be a big task, but Nissan still has the know-how, and buyers are hungry for a rugged, simple off-road SUV.
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