Nissan’s been trying to climb out of a financial hole for what feels like forever, and now they’re betting big on vehicles that has people’s emotion attached to it. Cost cuts are one thing, but without exciting rides hitting dealerships, it’s all just talk. The redesigned Leaf and Sentra are fine for everyday drives, yet the 2028 Xterra revival? That’s the kind of move that could get buyers excited towards Nissan.
Christian Meunier, the chairman at Nissan Americas, has talked to the Bloomberg sit-down—no more beating around the bush. The Xterra’s locked for 2028, powered by a hybrid V-6 that’s smartly pulling from Nissan’s e-Power tricks or something akin to the Ariya’s setup. We’re talking maybe 300 to 350 horses, where the electric boost kicks in for that instant torque punch, making it easier to tackle steep inclines or haul gear without the thirst of a straight gas engine.
This is expected to have over 25 mpg in mixed driving, They’ll build it in Canton, Mississippi, on the same sturdy body-on-frame rig as the Frontier, which means it’s tough enough for serious towing—up to 6,000 pounds—and won’t flinch on rocky paths.
Meunier dropped another nugget: an Infiniti version might join the party, it will feature air suspension that adjusts on the fly or a slicker screen setup. Dealers are practically high-fiving over it; these frame-based SUVs print money, pulling in margins that unibody crossovers just can’t touch, often 15-20% higher.
The Xterra fits right in the sweet spot—midsize grit without the Armada’s boat-like size and $61,030 sticker shock for 2026 models. It’ll probably start around $40,000 to $45,000, edging past the Frontier’s $33,845 base but delivering hybrid perks and off-road goodies like locking diffs and underbody armor as standard.
This planning started at last April at the New York Auto Show, when Nissan bigwig Ponz Pandikuthira admitted the team’s all-in on bringing the Xterra back. Then Automotive News got the scoop from a Vegas dealer meetup, pinning down 2028 and spilling extras—like the Z Nismo snagging a manual tranny, which Meunier sealed official not long after.
There’s even chatter about dusting off the Q50 sedan with a 400-hp twin-turbo V-6 and a six-speed stick lifted from the Z. If that works out, Nissan’s clearly chasing that thrill-seeker vibe across the board.
Compare it against the competition, and the Xterra’s got real shot. Toyota’s 4Runner kicks off at $40,705 and is getting its own hybrid V-6 soon, while the Jeep Wrangler starts cheaper at $31,895 but climbs fast for electrified options.
Nissan might win on bang for buck: think 65 cubic feet of cargo room for overlanding gear, plus ProPILOT Assist to ease the drive home from the mountains. And with hybrids cutting emissions by 20-30% versus old-school V-8s, it’s a nod to greener regs without ditching the fun—perfect for buyers torn between adventure and the planet.
Nissan’s got storms ahead, though. they are shutting seven plants, firing 20,000 jobs, and scaling production from 3.5 million to 2.5 million cars yearly? this is an unwaning and disherating situation.
They’ve got a team of people laser-focused on squeezing out more savings. Still, CEO Ivan Espinosa’s pinning hopes on gems like the Xterra—and maybe that GT-R facelift fans won’t shut up about.
