Nissan Confirms Xterra Will Return as Body-on-Frame SUV

Off-road and outdoorsy vehicles are big business now. From Honda’s TrailSport line to Subaru’s Wilderness-trimmed vehicles, it seems most automakers are either making full-blown off-roaders or models that have the appearance of being able to venture off-road. Nissan has been contributing to this popularity with Rock Creek editions of the Pathfinder and Rogue SUVs, but while they have the looks, they’re not particularly capable and there’s nothing else in the brand’s lineup that is. That’s expected to change in a few years with the return of the Xterra, which Nissan announced at a global event outlining its future direction.

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Body-on-Frame Toughness

Nissan says the new Xterra will be built in the U.S. and ride on a body-on-frame platform, making it a true off-road competitor to models like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco. Nissan also confirmed that the Xterra will arrive using a V-6 or available V-6 hybrid system, though no further details were given on output or engine size.

Surprisingly — and possibly even bigger news than the return of the Xterra itself — Nissan also confirmed that along with the Xterra, four other body-on-frame models will join the brand’s U.S. lineup, though no other information was given.

The Xterra originally debuted for the 1999 model year. Riding on a platform shared with the Frontier pickup truck, it was initially available with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder or 3.3-liter V-6, while a supercharged version of this V-6 debuted for 2001. In addition to the four-speed automatic transmission, a five-speed manual was available with both the standard and supercharged V-6 engines, which made the Xterra popular with enthusiasts. A second-generation Xterra debuted in 2005 with refreshed styling and the V-6 was enlarged to a 4.0-liter. Another small refresh came in 2009, and the Xterran ran until 2015 when it was dropped from Nissan’s U.S lineup. The brand cited its poor fuel economy — which was worst with the manual transmission at 17 mpg combined — and declining sales as two of the main reasons for its departure.

More on Nissan From Cars.com:

• Nissan Xterra – Model Years, Generations & News
• Nissan Discontinues Xterra
• 2025 Nissan Rogue Adds Rock Creek, Hands-Free ProPilot Assist 2.1 Now Available
• 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek Quick Spin: The Art of Looking Tougher Than You Are
• 2024 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X Review: A Rugged Pickup That’s Just the Right Size

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