Nissan Exec Calls the Xterra ‘Badass' and Shows a Never-Seen-Before Teaser
It's Really Happening
For the longest time, Nissan kept mentioning the return of the Xterra. Since then, many renders of the SUV have been made, including from us, and we've been waiting for the day the company shows us at least a snippet or two.
It finally happened during the global launch of the all-new Rogue and Juke. On screen was a small section of its front end, giving us the glimpse we've all been waiting for. Safe to say we haven't been this excited about a Nissan product for so long, and it's a simple, honest-to-goodness body-on-frame SUV.
But Wait, There's More
At the time of the announcement, Nissan showed just one part of the upcoming SUV. There were even more bits of the future Skyline/Q50 shown during the presentation that gave us a better idea of what the sport sedan might look like. Still, that one photo was more than enough to get everyone's attention.
But for those wanting a few more views of the Xterra, we have Nissan Americas Chairman Christian Meunier to thank. Meunier posted a different teaser photo of the SUV on his LinkedIn profile, one that wasn't shown during the event and not yet posted on any of the company's press sites or social networking sites. The executive called it a "badass," and finally, we know its shape.
Look Out, Bronco and 4Runner?
Now, we tried to enhance the photo to see if we can pry more details out of it. Perhaps Nissan figured that many would try to do the same, and blacked out significant details of the revived Xterra. Oh well.
Still, we see a boxy profile with straight and honest lines. It looks like it has good approach and departure angles, too, a must for off-roaders. Fingers crossed that's a chunky roof rack up there, and we're hoping the 'kick-up' roof makes a return here. Interestingly, the spare tire is mounted on the tailgate, which wasn't present in previous models.
First of Many
Nissan has committed to expanding its SUV/pickup range with a new ladder frame platform that will underpin more models. The Xterra will be the first of four models that will ride on this new chassis. The next-generation Frontier will ride on this frame, as well as the reportedly more off-road-oriented version of the future Pathfinder. There will also be an Infiniti version.
For powertrains, it has been confirmed that Nissan won't take the downsized turbo-four route with the Xterra. Instead, it'll be a V6 that'll reside under its hood, though its displacement remains unknown. Of course, Nissan is aware that there are some folks out there who'd like an electrified version; hence, a V6 hybrid has also been touted.
Nissan calls the Xterra "A Heartbeat model for the U.S, offering an adventurous spirit, body-on-frame strength and purpose-driven design." Given all the buzz and hype surrounding it, we're inclined to agree. As for the debut, it'll likely be sometime in 2027, and the SUV will be for the 2028 model year.
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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 7:00 AM.