Nissan Confirms Will Restart Xterra Model, There Is Hybrid Variant

Nissan Xterra. (Photo: Drive)

JAKARTA - Nissan has finally confirmed plans to revive the legendary Xterra model in 2028. The formidable SUV will be repositioned as an off-road medium-sized vehicle that is ready to compete with competitors in its segment.

The chairman of Nissan Americas, Christian Meunier, said that Xterra's latest presence had been awaited by the dealer network. "The dealers are very enthusiastic because this will be a real example that Nissan is back on the rise," Meunier told Bloomberg, quoted from Drive, Friday, October 3.

The new model is planned to be produced at the Nissan facility in Canton, Mississippi, United States. However, the decision also marks the postponement of the electric SUV (EV) production project in the US. Nissan chose to prioritize Xterra with conventional and hybrid engine options.

A Nissan representative explained to Car and Driver that Xterra is being considered to be present in the hybrid version. Currently, the production process is still in the evaluation stage.

"We are considering reviving the name Xterra as a hybrid SUV with a potential launch in 2028. Production is being evaluated for our facility in Canton, Mississippi. The return of Xterra will be a strategic step to strengthen our position in the mid-road SUV segment," he said.

Although technical details have not been announced, the Automotive News report states that Xterra is likely to use a hybrid V6 engine. This is expected to be able to provide a combination of large energy with better fuel efficiency than the previous generation.

For the price, Nissan has not provided an official figure. However, if marketed in the range of USD 40,000 50,000, or equivalent to Rp. 640 million to Rp. 800 million. This value places Xterra competing with other medium-sized SUVs, but with additional attractiveness in the form of Nissan's typical offroad capabilities.

The return of Xterra is believed to be Nissan's strategy to strengthen its image in the SUV market, especially for consumers who are looking for tough vehicles but are still relevant to the electrification trend through a hybrid choice.