At a dealer conference in Las Vegas, Nissan hinted that the Xterra’s return isn’t far off
Nissan has its eyes on the Toyota 4Runner and Ford Bronco—both strong sellers with big profits. The automaker currently lacks a rugged SUV in that price range, but executives confirmed earlier this year that a new Xterra is in development. Now, there’s a timeline.
According to Automotive News, Nissan told dealers at a Las Vegas conference that the Xterra will return in 2028. The same event also brought confirmation of a new Infiniti Q50 sedan, set to feature the Z sports car’s 400-hp twin-turbo V6 and six-speed manual. “We are laser-focused on product and we are just getting started,” Nissan Americas chairman Christian Meunier told the 2,500 dealers in attendance.
Reports suggest the new Xterra will use a V6 hybrid powertrain, possibly with a range extender for limited all-electric driving. Competitors like Toyota’s 4Runner and Jeep’s Wrangler already offer hybrid options, though with varying EV ranges. Production is expected to take place at Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi plant, where the Frontier pickup is built—hinting that the two models will share a body-on-frame platform.
First launched in 1999, the Xterra was designed as a rugged companion to the Pathfinder and Frontier, lasting two generations before ending production in 2015. Since then, off-road SUVs have surged in popularity, led by the 4Runner. Nissan’s only body-on-frame SUV in the U.S. today is the larger, pricier Armada, which only recently gained an off-road trim.
Back in April, Nissan marketing chief Vinay Shahani said the Xterra’s return feels inevitable: “If I look around and see where other OEMs have gone into that space, I feel like that’s our rightful place. [The Xterra] is just an iconic vehicle, and when you add it to the lineup we have today, it kind of rounds us out.”
The revival is part of Nissan’s wider push to regain momentum after years of setbacks. Following a failed merger attempt with Honda, the company has rolled out a slate of new products, including more U.S. hybrid models and a reborn Leaf as an affordable EV crossover.
