The Xterra will arrive in late 2028 as a 2029 model, built in Mississippi.
First hinted at by dealers about six months ago, the upcoming Xterra has now been teased by Nissan, showing off a front-end design that looks heavily inspired by the Frontier Pro midsize pickup. That truck, which traces its roots to the Dongfeng Z9, is offered with a plug-in hybrid turbocharged four-cylinder.
For the Xterra, though, Nissan is taking a different route. The SUV is expected to use a self-charging hybrid system paired with a V6 engine. Alongside it, there will also be a traditional gas-only V6 option. It’s still unclear whether Nissan will stick with the U.S.-spec Frontier’s naturally aspirated 3.8-liter engine or introduce a new forced-induction six-cylinder.
The teaser reveals three rectangular amber running lights встроеd into a full-width black trim piece, giving the SUV a bold, upright look. With its body-on-frame construction already confirmed, the new Xterra is shaping up to be a serious rival to the Toyota 4Runner. There’s also speculation it could serve as the foundation for the next-generation Pathfinder.
Infiniti may follow a similar path, as both Nissan and its luxury division are reportedly working on at least five body-on-frame vehicles. The Xterra will be the first to launch, arriving in the second half of 2028 as a 2029 model.
Production will take place at Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi plant, where the SUV will wear a prominent Nissan badge just below the amber daytime running lights. Slim DRLs are also visible beneath the main headlight units, suggesting a split-headlight design.
There’s a chance the Xterra could share some engineering with Mitsubishi’s new Pajero, although it’s not confirmed whether that means a connection to the L200 pickup. Another possibility is the use of Nissan’s F-Alpha platform, currently underpinning models like the Armada.
As a midsize off-road SUV, the Xterra will enter a crowded U.S. market. Key competitors include the Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Land Cruiser, Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, and Land Rover Defender. More rivals are on the way too—Hyundai is reportedly working on its own body-on-frame SUV, and GMC could bring back the Jimmy nameplate by the end of the decade.
The Canton facility currently builds the Frontier pickup and Altima sedan. Nissan describes the Xterra as a “heartbeat model,” shaped by customer demand, and it may use an updated version of the Frontier’s 3.8-liter V6.
That engine currently produces 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque. Properly equipped, the Frontier can tow up to 7,150 pounds, making it one of the more capable trucks in its class.
Nissan originally discontinued the Xterra in North America after the 2015 model year. Since then, a related SUV based on the Navara pickup has been sold globally as the Terra, and in some markets, it even carries the Xterra name.