Nissan revives the Xterra

Nissan has confirmed the Xterra is coming back, with a new truck-based sport utility vehicle targeted for late 2028. (usa.nissannews.com) The company announced the return on April 14, 2026, in Nashville and Yokohama as part of a broader product reset for the United States, Japan and China. Nissan said the new Xterra will lead a family of all-new body-on-frame models with both V-6 and V-6 hybrid powertrains. (usa.nissannews.com; global.nissannews.com) At the New York Auto Show, Nissan also released a front-end teaser that shows a squarer nose, upright hood and a more aggressive face than its current crossover lineup. Car and Driver reported the revived model will ride on a body-on-frame layout and offer either a gasoline V-6 or a V-6 hybrid. (caranddriver.com) Body-on-frame means the vehicle’s body sits on a separate ladder-like chassis, the same basic construction used by pickups and many traditional off-road sport utility vehicles. Nissan said that architecture could support as many as five U.S.-built models, including pickups and multi-row sport utility vehicles across Nissan and Infiniti. (usa.nissannews.com; autos.yahoo.com) That marks a clear shift from the crossover-heavy lineup Nissan sells now in the United States, where the Rogue, Pathfinder and their Rock Creek variants have carried most of the brand’s outdoors image. Cars.com said Nissan’s current U.S. range lacks a true off-road-focused utility vehicle, even as Ford, Toyota and Jeep keep expanding that market. (cars.com; usa.nissannews.com) Nissan said the new Xterra will be built in Canton, Mississippi, with production starting in 2028. USA Today reported the plant assignment on April 13, one day before Nissan’s formal strategy presentation. (usatoday.com; usa.nissannews.com) The original Xterra ran from the 2000 through 2015 model years and built its reputation as a simpler, truck-based alternative to car-based sport utility vehicles. Edmunds reported when Nissan ended the model that the final 2015 version returned as little as 15 miles per gallon city and 20 highway in four-wheel-drive form. (edmunds.com) The new plan suggests Nissan thinks buyers now want some of that old formula back, but with hybrid help to cut fuel use. Nissan did not release horsepower, towing, pricing or a full reveal date on April 14. (global.nissannews.com; usa.nissannews.com) For now, the comeback is still a teaser and a timetable: a familiar name, a tougher shape, and a launch Nissan says is about two years away. (caranddriver.com; usa.nissannews.com)