2021 Nissan Xterra US Release Date, Specs, & Photos. It’s been five years since its discontinuation and the 2021 Nissan Xterra could come back into production. It would be a unique compact crossover with the body-on-frame platform. There are no truck-based small SUVs in the market, so the Xterra would have more chances for success. Still, there are a few other pretty capable 4 × 4 crossovers out there, so Nissan is not going to have an easy job.
Although the 2021 Nissan Xterra is not confirmed, there are a few hints that the comeback is possible. The company introduced the new crossover SUV for the Chinese market, called Terra. All the fans are seeing this one as the replacement for the Xterra, or its predecessor. For the US market, the company could use the old nameplate. Plus, the new Frontier is going to introduce a fresh version and maybe even the new generation. As the truck-based crossover, Xterra is going to share some solutions with the working machine. Of course, it will also make the job easier to designers and engineers.
One of the reasons for discontinuation was poor efficiency. Now, the new crossover SUV needs a cleaner engine with more miles. Nissan is exploring different options, and even the all-electric motor can not be excluded. Again, the Japanese company has been working on such drivetrains and we already saw the first concepts.
2021 Nissan Xterra vs Terra SUV
A couple of years ago, the Japanese company added the latest product to its crossover SUV portfolio. Terra is the mid-size model that will take the position between X-Trail compact crossover (Rogue in North America) and full-size Patrol (Armada in the US). Nissan is using different nameplates for the United States and other markets. Terra could become the 2021 Nissan Xterra and debut next year. On the other hand, that means the new vehicle is going to be larger than before, gaining more than 10 inches in length.
Still, the new Terra seems to be exactly what we expect from the Xterra. Its styling is bold and the SUV offers plenty of features and space inside the cabin. Plus, powerplants and drive setup provide fun on and especially off the road. A downside is a single petrol engine option. Buyers in China can also purchase the SUV with diesel units, which are unlikely to appear in the US.
2021 Nissan Xterra and Frontier Truck
The previous edition of the Xterra crossover SUV was based on the pickup truck. The compact model could not compete with lighter and more agile rivals. Efficiency and gas emissions required a heavy investment in improvements, so Nissan has quitted from the development. Now, five years later, when the crossover SUV market is expanding, the Japanese company is ready to bring back the truck-based crossover SUV.
The carmaker made a break this season and chiefs planned a lot of debuts for 2021. One of the priorities was a redesign of the Frontier mid-size truck. The same platform would underpin the 2021 Nissan Xterra. It saves some money for the company since they won’t have to develop two projects. Also, fans are already talking about this revolutionary idea and they are waiting for the premiere eagerly.
Xterra Could be an EV
One of the options for the new SUV is the become an all-electric vehicle. Well, that would solve one of the downsides which lead to the discontinuation. The zero-emission model is the hottest project by Nissan. The company introduced the Ariya concept, which will underpin all the future EV crossovers and SUVs. Now, the 2021 Nissan Xterra is on that list too. Still, there are no details about the possible range and capacities. On the other hand, the electric SUVs segment is becoming real, with Tesla’s two models already there, Ford Mach E, and a lot of interesting concepts on the display. Rivian R1S and Cadillac Lyriq are probably the closest to the production.
What’s more, Nissan recently announced that the engineers are working on the autonomous drive system. According to words from the company, Level 4 is possible. Still, this is the big bite even for the Japanese carmaker. Tesla currently offers the most advanced system, which is at Level 2. Nevertheless, the difference between Level 3 and 4 is not huge, so companies will develop a higher class of self-driving systems.
2021 Nissan Xterra Release Date
The next two seasons will be big for the Japanese manufacturer. They plan to redesign and launch many new vehicles. New generations, electric drivetrains, and who knows what more is coming. The 2021 Nissan Xterra should be one of the stars since it was out of the production for five years. Compact or mid-size vehicle, it will have a place in the lineup, since all other Nissan crossovers and SUVs are based on the unibody platform. The body-on-frame will add another dimension to the company’s offer.
