Could This Mysterious Nissan SUV Be the Upcoming Xterra? | Carscoops

      Production of Nissan's new "adventure-oriented SUV" in the United States is set to begin in the first quarter of 2028.

      Nissan has hinted at an “adventure-oriented SUV” featuring an electric powertrain designed for the North American market.

      Although the name remains unconfirmed, this EV might mark the return of the Xterra nameplate.

      The model is expected to launch by the first quarter of 2028 and will be assembled at the plant in Mississippi.

      Among the various models showcased by Nissan in their recent product roadmap presentation, one particularly stood out: a mysterious electric SUV for North America. Although information is limited, this SUV seems like a prime candidate for a contemporary revival of the Xterra.

      This SUV was included in a group teaser alongside the refreshed Pathfinder and new iterations of the Rogue (X-Trail) SUVs. Nissan referred to it as an “adventure-oriented SUV” and confirmed that it will be an electric vehicle.

      Nissan announced that this “all-new” electric SUV will be manufactured at the Canton plant in Mississippi, with production expected to start at the close of the Japanese fiscal year 2027, which concludes on March 31, 2028.

      From the official (darkened) image, the SUV looks to feature a boxy design, sturdy roof rails, and a fully covered grille equipped with integrated LED graphics and a lit Nissan emblem. The rear shoulders are well-defined, while dynamic lines run across the hood, and rugged plastic cladding around the wheel arches enhances its adventurous look.

      According to Car and Driver, the design prototypes they've encountered lean towards an off-road style, further igniting speculation that this could be a spiritual successor to the Xterra.

      The electric SUV (above) was first seen in a group teaser (below).

      Compact and Ready for Adventure

      The SUV seems to be smaller than the Pathfinder and Rogue, indicating it will fit into the compact segment. While Nissan hasn't disclosed detailed specifics, it’s likely that this new EV will utilize a unibody architecture, differentiating it from the ladder-frame construction of the former Xterra. However, a reinforced suspension, dual-motor all-wheel drive, and off-road capabilities could still provide it with the ruggedness that the Xterra was known for.

      A Brief History of the Nissan Xterra

      The Nissan Xterra was originally launched in 1999 as a tough, off-road-capable SUV built on the Nissan Frontier truck's platform. The second generation appeared in 2005, with both generations available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) configurations. Unfortunately, production of the Xterra ceased in 2015 without a direct successor.

      In 2018, Nissan introduced the Terra, a Navara-based SUV aimed at Asian markets. It was updated in 2020 and rebranded as the X-Terra for the Middle East, but it was never available in North America.

      Last year, Ponz Pandikuthira, Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for Nissan Americas, mentioned that a new generation of the Nissan Xterra was being “actively considered,” describing it as an “authentic and serious truck” at a relatively reasonable price. More recently, there have been reports of Nissan potentially developing a modern Xterra concept for the 2025 SEMA Show, referred to as “Project X.”

      We will have to wait a bit longer to find out more about Nissan’s plans for reviving the Xterra, but an affordable, boxy SUV with an electric powertrain, like the one teased, should grab attention.