Nissan is considering the return of the Xterra. Since the nameplate was retired in 2015, there has been a resurgence in the off-road utility segment and the Japanese automaker might want to regain some skin in the game through the release of the next-generation Xterra SUV.
Speaking with Wards Auto, Michael Bunce, senior vice president of product planning for Nissan North America, revealed that the automaker is "very, very closely" looking at a return to the off-road utility segment.
Nissan's renewed interest could be due to the popularity of the recently released 2018 Jeep Wrangler along with the building hype for the Ford Bronco, which is slated to arrive in 2020. The off-road SUV segment also appears to be on the minds of other automakers as Toyota unveiled the FT-AC Concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2017.
If Nissan does push through with the development of a new Xterra-badged body-on-frame SUV, it would be to attract and meet the needs of a new generation of consumers.
"We know (via research) the Millennial male, through devices they're becoming more isolated. And they want to reconnect with friends, family, outdoors. And a vehicle is an expression, a way to do that. We're doing a lot of work in the space to understand that customer very well," Bunce explained.
While the Xterra may be "a great asset in terms of name and a badge," Nissan is not actively developing the said vehicle. However, the nameplate may still see a revival sometime in the future.
According to reports, the upcoming Frontier redesign could set the stage for the next-generation Xterra. While the latter was still in production, both vehicles used the same architecture. The new Frontier pickup truck is expected to use an updated version of the F-Alpha platform, allowing for new engine options and interior upgrades. These technical specifications may also find their way to the new Xterra — should Nissan greenlight its production.
Meanwhile, Nissan is also slated to introduce a new body-on-frame SUV, rumored to be called Terra, at the Beijing Motor Show in April. The upcoming vehicle could also serve as the basis for the third-generation Xterra.
