What’s old is often new again in the automotive industry. Like trying to capture lightning in a bottle, car companies love reviving nameplates that were discontinued in the past. Chevrolet brought back the Blazer SUV a few years ago, as did Ford with the Ranger, which had also been dropped in the U.S. Jeep revived the famous Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer utility models. Acura is building a new version of the as is . Now, if a recent report is true, Nissan is doing exactly the same thing as these rival companies.
“X” Marks The Spot
According to a report from Automotive News, the Japanese automaker is planning to revive its Xterra, an off-road-ready SUV that was dropped from Nissan’s U.S. lineup a number of years ago. The new version of the Xterra is expected to launch in 2028 and will feature a hybrid powertrain, a setup that should be more potent and FAR more efficient than the V-6 that powered the previous model.
This news broke following a Nissan dealer meeting in Las Vegas. Reportedly, the automaker is working on revitalizing its vehicle lineup, which is missing the mark with drivers in the U.S. these days. According to Christian Meunier, the company’s chairman of the Americas, “We have done a better job of planning, making sure the right cars are in the right place.” He also said, “We are laser-focused on product [and] we are just getting started,” a statement that makes it sound like Nissan has found its groove again.
Including a revived Xterra, the automaker is also developing a next-generation Rogue small SUV, plus a wide range of other models. Nissan could introduce 20 refreshed or all-new products in both the U.S. and Canada by the spring of 2027, a huge shift for the struggling company.
Rugged And Affordable
The right product for the time, this new Xterra will reportedly be affordably priced and plenty rugged, just like the original, which actually helped keep Nissan out of bankruptcy 25 years or so ago. And when this nameplate was announced by Meunier, there was reportedly loud applause from attendees of the dealership meetup. A photo was supposedly even shown, if only for just a moment, and the vehicle pictured featured square-ish headlights and an upright grille, as you’d expect for an SUV.
Details about the reborn Xterra were not revealed, though according to Automotive News citing “people familiar with the plan,” the vehicle will ride on a new truck-style frame, a platform that will also support the next-generation Frontier midsize pickup. Expect the Xterra to be assembled at Nissan’s factory in Canton, Mississippi.
TopSpeed’s Take
Given its body-on-frame bones, this new SUV will almost certainly compete with other off-road-ready models like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco. Expect a hybridized V6 engine under the hood and perhaps even 75 miles of all-electric range. For many years, the Wrangler has owned the rough-and-ready SUV segment, though Ford has taken a bite out of this profitable market with its Bronco, plus Toyota’s 4Runner is plenty popular, too. If true, it’s great news that Nissan is jumping back into this segment.
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