The popularity of off-roaders could give the Xterra a second chance.
Key Takeaways
- The return of the Nissan Xterra could shake up the off-road vehicle market, competing with the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, and Toyota Land Cruiser.
- Nissan is considering adding a true off-road vehicle to its lineup, not just a beefed-up version of an existing model.
- The Hyper Adventure concept car may hint at how a future off-roader will look.
There are a growing number of options when it comes to picking an off-road vehicle. The fan favorite Jeep Wrangler gets serious competition from the likes of the Ford Bronco and new Toyota Land Cruiser. There are trucks in the mix, too, with the all-new Ford Ranger Raptor and Toyota Tacoma. Nissan doesn’t plan to miss this trend, which could mean the return of the Xterra.
The Nissan Xterra hasn’t been sold in the US since the 2015 model year when the company decided it no longer fit with the brand’s lineup. That was nearly a decade ago and a lot has changed. Not only are there more off-road vehicles, there are even off-road trims like the Wilderness lineup from Subaru or the TrailSport from Honda. It’s a good time to bring back the Xterra.
Return to The Past
While the Xterra isn’t confirmed, Nissan Americas Senior VP and Chief Planning Officer Pons Pandikuthira told Autoblog that there’s something in the development. He acknowledged that the company is looking at adding an off-road vehicle to its lineup.
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This wouldn’t be just a Pathfinder with beefier wheels and slightly higher ride height, which would be fine, but wouldn’t exactly compete with a Bronco. Instead, this would be a true off-road vehicle with genuine capability.
Look To The Future
Bringing the Xterra back would be a great way for Nissan to reintroduce a much loved vehicle from the past with all the modern technologies of today’s off-road champs. Could the Hyper Adventure concept car that debuted late last year give a hint at what we might see in a new Xterra?
It’s an EV with a high-capacity battery to make camping out easier. All-wheel drive is standard and it’s aerodynamic to help improve range. There’s a funky door setup with rear doors that lift up to provide better access and a set of stairs that deploys from the back, so you can climb right inside. It’s a funky and futuristic design that would make for a brilliant new Xterra.
