- The new Xterra will debut with an ICE-only powertrain.
- It will use a V6 engine, not a turbocharged four-cylinder.
- No manual transmission option is planned.
Connoisseurs of simple and powerful off-road vehicles may rejoice. Nissan’s US head of product planning says “there will be a pure ICE V6 version” of the upcoming Nissan Xterra revival, along with a hybrid V6 variant. That is good news.
When talking to Car and DriverHead of Nissan US Product Planning, Ponz Pandikuthira, explains the plans for the upcoming Xterra. Of course it will be an old-school body-on-frame SUV like the Toyota 4Runner, but it will take a different strategy from Toyota.
Instead of a small turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain, Nissan will stick with a V6 engine. Which V6 is unclear, but Nissan currently has two: a twin-turbo 3.0-liter in the Nissan Z and Infiniti Q50, and a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter in the Frontier. Most likely Nissan will use a 3.8 liter engine… but wouldn’t it hurt if it used a twin-turbo engine?
Whatever happens, Pandikuthira made one important promise: A special ICE variant. This keeps it simple for buyers looking for longevity and simplicity, and it’s particularly attractive with its naturally aspirated V6 engine. This means Nissan will be making an old-school truck with new tricks, and that’s especially interesting in a market full of complications.
That doesn’t mean the options aren’t there. Pandikuthira continued, Nissan will only build a hybrid from the ICE version, meaning it is very likely that Nissan will launch a non-hybrid Xterra. If buyers want higher efficiency and power, then they will be able to buy more.
What’s missing are plans for a manual EV Xterra or ICE Xterra. This will just happen automatically, which is a shame but not completely unexpected. However, a pure ICE V6 Xterra in a market powered by a downsized, emissions-capable engine is an attractive proposition. We just have to wait for 2028 when the new Xterra debuts.
Motorcycle Pickup1: Nissan offering a non-hybrid petrol V6 Xterra can only be seen as a good thing. This will keep the truck simple to build, develop, and own. And, it will attract buyers looking for something simpler.
