- Nissan gave US dealers an early look at the revived Xterra.
- The styling is claimed to be a modernized version of the original.
- A luxury version badged as an Infiniti is also coming.
Selling cars in today’s fiercely competitive market isn’t easy, but the job does come with perks. Automakers typically gain access to new products years ahead of launch, giving them plenty of time to prepare for the arrival of fresh metal. Such is the case for Nissan dealers, who have been allowed an early look at the revival of a long-awaited nameplate: the Xterra.
This week in Las Vegas, Nissan showed the new Xterra behind closed doors during a North American Automotive Dealer Show (NADA) meeting. Automotive News cites Scott Smith, president of the Smith Automotive Group near Atlanta, saying the hotly anticipated SUV will be worth the wait. The two-row off-roader is described as “radical-looking,” with design cues inspired by the original model but modernized for the late 2020s.
The resurrected Xterra is expected to ride on a newly developed body-on-frame platform, with a design that has “an aggression to it,” according to Charlie Hicks, CEO of Hicks Automotive Group in Texas. Those who have seen it say Nissan is aiming for a rugged look, featuring a beefy grille and an overall emphasis on toughness.
Photo by: Nissan
The third-generation Xterra is slated to launch in the second half of 2028 and should cost less than $40,000, according to the company’s Senior Vice President Michael Soutter. AN reports the brawny, go-anywhere vehicle won’t arrive alone, as a more luxurious Infiniti counterpart is also planned, presumably with a higher price tag.
Nissan has a busy agenda ahead, since the new architecture is also expected to underpin the next Pathfinder, Frontier, and QX60. All of these models are said to offer “electrified” powertrains, meaning hybrid and/or plug-in hybrid options. Meanwhile, the next-generation Rogue should break cover later this year and reach the market in 2027.
While the NADA meeting mostly revolved around SUVs and trucks, one car was also mentioned by Nissan. Dealers learned the seven-year-old Altima is getting a stay of execution, but the midsize sedan will inevitably bow out at the end of summer 2027. There’s no mention of a successor, leaving the new Sentra as the sole surviving car following the recent axing of the entry-level Versa.
Motor1’s Take: A new Xterra can’t come soon enough, as rugged SUVs remain all the rage in North America. Reviving a once-popular nameplate and leaning into off-road capability with a two-speed transfer case (including low range) should appeal to buyers seeking alternatives to the Toyota 4Runner.
The Infiniti version, however, may face an unexpected rival by the time it reaches the market. BMW is reportedly plotting its own rugged SUV to lure buyers away from the Mercedes G-Class and Land Rover Defender.
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