AFTER a decade, one of the most beloved and commercially successful SUVs of all time is set to return to United States.
Nissan confirmed that the vehicle will be back on the market in 2028, and will be built on American soil.
The original Nissan Xterra was an off-road SUV just as suitable for city streets[/caption]
The Xterra’s return interrupts Nissan’s previously set EV plans[/caption]
Nissan’s revival of the Xterra was officially announced earlier this week, with the company claiming it will be available to purchase in the US sometime in the 2028 calendar year.
“The dealers are super excited because it’s going to be a great example of Nissan coming back,” said Christian Meunier, chairman of Nissan Americas, to Bloomberg.
Since the truck-based midsize SUV was discontinued, Nissan had yet to introduce a true replacement, instead pushing customers onto the larger and more expensive Armada or forcing them to shop elsewhere.
Likewise, the returning Xterra is expected to directly compete with rival brand Toyota’s 4Runner and Land Cruiser, as well as Lexus’ GX and LX upscaled equivalents.
However, the returning vehicle may not take the same approach to its fuel system and drivetrain that the original did.
The revived Xterra is currently planned to share a platform, hybrid powertrain, and various parts with other vehicles under the Nissan umbrella.
This includes the midsized Nissan Frontier pickup and Pathfinder SUV, as well as the Infiniti QX60 and, potentially, another currently unnamed Infiniti SUV.
This would suggest that the unnamed Infiniti SUV could be a more luxurious and upscale sibling to Nissan’s less expensive Xterra.
As for the exact type of hybrid it will be, currently available information suggests a hybrid V6 powertrain per Automotive News. No other details, officially confirmed or otherwise, are available as of this writing.
Alongside this announcement, Nissan also confirmed that it is pausing plans to build an EV SUV in the United States at a Mississippi plant.
This space will instead be used to build the Xterra, which will also limit the impact of President Donald Trump’s automotive tariffs on the vehicle.
The move will “bring scale back to the [Canton, Mississippi] plant and get the costs at the right level,” according to Meunier, who added that “with the market being very uncertain about EVs, [he] think[s] it’s the right thing to do.”
Part of the uncertainty stems from the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate EV incentives, such as the discontinuation of the $7,500 tax credits for EV purchases at the end of September.
However, Nissan seems to be grateful for the administration’s varied interventions in the automotive industry.
Why aren’t people buying EVs?
In January, many EV makers reported slow demand. Reuters said there are a few valid reasons for a slow in demand:
- High initial costs. Many automakers, like Tesla, Hyundai, and Ford have conducted “price slashes” on their flagship EVs to attract new buyers, though demand remains slow.
- Higher insurance costs. Some insurance companies cite fire risks, high costs of battery replacement, and higher vehicle weight as reasons for higher premiums.
- Charging anxiety. A large percentage of people remain fearful of being in a situation where they won’t be able to charge if they run out of battery due to a lack of infrastructure.
- Range anxiety. In many instances, EVs still don’t have the range and infrastructure of gas-powered vehicles.
- Poor performance in extreme temperatures. Reduced range in extremely hot or cold weather makes potential buyers wary.
Source: Reuters
“I keep saying it’s a good thing for Nissan, it forces us to rethink. It forces the company to do the right thing. When you think about a big market like the US, you need to be localized,” said Meunier.
The Japanese automaker certainly needs to reconsider its path forward, especially in America where sales declined by 6.5% in Q2 2025 after a disappointing first half of the calendar year.
The Xterra’s undying popularity, as well as new gas and hybrid options for its most popular models coming in early 2026, may be the stateside shot in the arm the brand needs.
REVIVAL ROUNDUP
In addition to the Xterra’s return, the era of American muscle is making a comeback thanks to Stellantis’ revival of the HEMI V8 in time for the upcoming model year.
On the other end of the spectrum, September saw Honda officially announce the revival of the Prelude, but in a form much different than what old school enthusiasts were expecting or hoping for.
While not officially announced, Ford had plans leak which suggests it intends to revive the Ranchero platform as an EV.
