Rugged off-road SUVs are as popular as ever. The Ford Bronco just achieved its best third-quarter sales results in history, up 42 percent so far this year. But soon, Ford and others will have major competition in the form of a third-generation Nissan Xterra.
Nissan’s facing a tough financial recovery, and any turnaround plan requires fresh product. A new Xterra, which Nissan has already confirmed, will give the automaker something to offer in one of America's most highly profitable vehicle segments.
We already know Nissan will build the new Xterra at its Mississippi facility alongside the Frontier pickup. The rugged SUV will undoubtedly share a lot in common with the Frontier, including its V-6 engine—although the Xterra will most likely go hybrid.
While we don’t have all the specifics just yet, Nissan Americas chairman Christian Meunier has provided several exciting bits of information that give us an idea of what to expect when the new SUV debuts in a few years. This is everything we know about the new Xterra.
What Will Nissan Call It?
Nissan will call its new body-on-frame SUV the Xterra, a name the automaker previously used on the first two generations of the Frontier-based SUVs in the 2000s and 2010s. Nissan introduced its off-road alternative to the Pathfinder in 1999 before discontinuing it in 2015.
What Platform Will It Ride On?
The new Xterra will likely ride on the same body-on-frame platform as the Frontier. Nissan will build the new SUV at its Canton, Mississippi, factory, where it currently assembles the pickup. We doubt the cash-strapped automaker will develop an entirely new architecture for the SUV.
What Will the New Xterra Look Like?
Nissan will have to be careful with how it styles the new Xterra. While it’ll likely adopt the boxy cues of the Frontier and Armada, the new Xterra needs to have certain hallmark design features to win over enthusiasts.
The first- and second-generation Xterras featured a hatch bump for additional storage and a roof bump that increased the ceiling height for second-row passengers and the cargo area. This allowed for stadium-style seating inside the cabin, with the rear seats positioned higher than the fronts.
We don't know if Nissan will go that extreme, but we do expect some subtle cues from the previous Xterra to carry over. Our artist used elements of the Armada and Pathfinder in this exclusive rendering, with lighting and detailing reminiscent of the outgoing second-generation model.
What Will the Interior Look Like?
The Xterra will likely have an interior that closely resembles that of the Frontier. It will have a central screen, likely available in two sizes, a rugged-looking center console, and similar hard points throughout.
The second-row seats will fold down to provide additional cargo space, and it’ll also have to feature a built-in first-aid kit.
What Will Power the New Xterra?
The new Xterra will use a V-6 hybrid powertrain, but we don’t know the specifics. The SUV is likely to share its platform with the Frontier, which features a 3.8-liter V-6 engine under the hood that produces 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque.
A hybrid system would increase the output, but Nissan doesn’t offer a V-6 hybrid in any other model, so it isn’t easy to estimate how much such a powertrain could produce. The 2.4-liter hybrid that’s available in the Toyota 4Runner makes 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, but it’s a four-cylinder.
We also don’t know if Nissan has plans to offer a non-hybrid variant. It’d certainly help lower the cost, but hybrid powertrains are quickly becoming the standard in the automotive industry.
When Will the new Xterra Debut?
Nissan hasn’t announced a debut date for the new Xterra. It’s scheduled to arrive in 2028, but we don’t know if that’s when the SUV will actually reach dealers, or if we'll have to wait another few months still. We can expect a debut sometime in 2027.
How Much Will the New Xterra Cost?
We won’t have pricing details until we’re much closer to the Xterra’s launch, but it will slot below the Armada in Nissan's lineup, which starts at $61,030 for 2026, and serve as a more affordable off-road option. The Frontier, which is likely the basis for the new SUV, costs $33,845, and we expect the Xterra to cost more than that.
The Frontier doesn’t have a hybrid powertrain, and an SUV variant will naturally cost more. We wouldn’t be surprised if it started around the $40,000 mark. The four-door Jeep Wrangler begins at just under that, while the 4Runner and Bronco start in the low $40,000 range.
The Xterra’s hybrid powertrain could add significantly to the cost. The Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid and 4Runner hybrid both SUVs cost over $50,000 to start.
