Nissan is trying to revive another long-forgotten name, it is the 2023 Nissan Xterra. Xterra was an SUV that was produced from 2000 to 2015 and was beloved among drivers. It had a great start, but a remodel in 2005 messed everything up for Nissan. Sales started to plummet steadily after the dredged remodel. But with the introduction of the new Frontier, Nissan has a chance to re-introduce another name. Xterra was a body-on-frame SUV and we all know how well these work off the road.
Besides the Wrangler and the new Bronco, there aren’t many SUVs that can do well off the road. It has standard locking differentials, skid plates, and off-roading tires. It was an off-roader’s dream come true. Nissan started pondering this idea after too many calls came in. All of them ask if the new Xterra is planned. Seven years is a long time in the automotive industry. Style has changed a lot, not to mention technology in the cabin and under the hood. So Nissan might as well start from scratch when drawing up the new 2023 Nissan Xterra.
Let us take a look at what the new Nissan SUV could look like if it happens.
Image Source: motortrend.com
2023 Nissan Xterra Interior
On the inside, there is nothing that the old Xterra has to offer. The style is outdated, technology is obsolete. So what could Nissan do to overcome this obstacle? Well, some rumors say they might take inspiration from the new Frontier. After all, it is modern, contemporary, and equipped with a lot of cool gadgets.
The brand new 2023 Nissan Xterra is supposed to be an off-roading beast. Putting some extra comfortable seating inside should be the primary concern. As we expect the SUV to go wildly off the tracks and experience some bumpy roads, racing-type car seats come to mind. Extra cushioning and some better lumbar support can do the trick. Heated and ventilated seats also help with comfort since they will allow people to enjoy long rides without getting stuck to the seat due to heat. Modern SUVs also have a lot of luxury-looking cabins. Perhaps putting some chrome or wooden accents along the interior would increase the luxury feel. A little bit on the instrument panel, perhaps some chrome inside the doors.
The central infotainment system is standard in today’s industry. The size should be no less than 12 inches so everyone can join in on the fun. We heard there won’t be a third row for the new 2023 Nissan Xterra. This means 5 passengers can sit comfortably with headroom and legroom to spare. It is 2022 after all and hopefully, there aren’t too many buttons on the panel. However, putting some on the steering wheel is needed to keep drivers focused on the road ahead. This improves the safety aspect of any vehicle.
Also digital dashboards, or putting a simple screen for a dashboard also helps. That way you can customize the dashboard to track everything you want and not get distracted. Putting an infinity roof or panoramic roof would be excellent. That way people can enjoy some sunshine or starry nights during long off-road drives. Ambient lighting is almost standard at this point.
Safety Features
Nissan should put in some sort of driver’s aid system. Standard pedestrian detection, lane change alert, collision alert, and automatic braking are probable. There are a handful of hands-free driving systems on the market nowadays. Most successful are SuperCruise by GMC and BlueCruise by Ford.
It will be interesting to see if Nissan invests in a system of their own. That way drivers can relax a bit behind the wheel while still going down the road. All they need is to not doze off and stay on pre-mapped roads and all will be fine.
Redesign
On the outside, the 2023 Nissan Xterra will be resembling its cousin, the Frontier. Expect to see tall ride height due to it being an off-roading vehicle. Wheels are reportedly 20 inches, with beefy off-roading tires as standard. Prominent bumpers both front and back. They protrude quite a lot and give it a mean and aggressive look. Also, we have a front grille that lets a lot of air under the hood to keep things cool.
That way drivers can push their Xterra’s to the limits without worrying about overheating issues. Headlights could use a redesign. Making them more linear and stylish is easy to do. Of course, adding another LED bar on top of the SUV would do wonders for visibility. Also, expect the overall body shape to be more curved than blocky and edgy. This makes the Xterra more aerodynamic and ergonomic so it decreases wind drag and improves fuel economy. It will also feature skids on top for extra storage space.
2023 Nissan Xterra Engine Specs
Under the hood, the new 2023 Nissan Xterra is borrowing stuff again. Frontier’s powertrain will move the big SUV. This is a 3.8 liter V6 with 310 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This is more than enough to move the big SUV around. Drivers have the option of all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive. The fuel economy is decent for its size. All-wheel drive should be 17mpg in the city and 23 on the open road.
While rear-wheel drive it should be 18 in the city and 24mpg on the road. It will have a new nine-speed automatic transmission. The Chinese market will reportedly feature a smaller engine. It is a 2.5 liter 6-speed automatic transmission.
Is Nissan Bringing Back the Xterra?
Expect to see the new 2023 Nissan Xterra on the road, sometime in late 2022. Hopefully, the date doesn’t get pushed back due to supply chain issues. No official price was given. But estimates put this SUV under the $30.000 mark which is more than generous.
Have a 2017 yellow Xterra , have had 12 cars in my life and now at 60 I can say this Nissan is the best vehicle I’ve ever owned….Cool design should be expanded, not
redesigned. Everyone still talks about it..don’t make it into a family car when it belongs off road..with Jeeps .
Do you own a 2023! I currently drive a Grand Jeep trail hawk! Want something similar. Our son owned an older model Xterra! I loved it!
One of the great things about the old Xterras was the high undercarriage. When you go off roading, you need to be able to clear small rocks, etc… doesn’t appear this will be the case. And the foglights on the top of roof gave it a sporty and rugged look. The 3rd item that made an Xterra unique was the inserts to put your feet to step up to attach that kayak or canoe to the roof. Now it looks more like a sedan. It used to stand out on the road. They did the same thing to the Pathfinder: made it look like every other vehicle out there. So disappointing.
Nissan made the z from 1974 to 1996 and ceased production…..They were planning to bring back an affordable z by bringing back the classic shape from 74-83, but ultimately decided to try to compete with corvette and Porsche, making it unaffordable. Hopefully, Nissan can re-create the original Xterra theme: “Everything you need and nothing you don’t”, which is what attracted me to the Xterra in the first place. I’m enjoying my 2011 Xterra with 159,000 miles, and will be first in line for a Pro4x in the $40k range😎
Drove Nissan x terra once…loved it…..would buy if they make again
Please bring back the Xterra! Never should have sold mine. Best car for visibility, night driving, and safety. Mine was rear ended 3 times. I was always lucky even though at full stops. Great in bad weather. Have Murano now, love it but miss my X.
Still waiting for Nissan to satisfy the truck guys with a body on frame rear wheel drive Xterra. My 2011 Pro 4 X has 165,000 miles. “Everything you need and nothing you don’t” was what sold me on the Xterra in the first place. The closest body on frame is the Toyota 4 runner, with the same classic style since 2012.
I would still like to see a fun replica of the early “Z” ! What a ride from 74-82……
Brent Jones
Please bring back the X. Worse thing I ever did was to sell mine and I still miss it. 350,000 and still looked good and was a great ride. Visibility was outstanding. Would trade my Murano in a heartbeat for a new XTerra. Add some “bells and whistles” please, heated seats and wheel for one.
Please bring back the X. Worse thing I ever did was to sell mine and I still miss it. 350,000 and still looked good and was a great ride. Visibility was outstanding. Would trade my Murano in a heartbeat for a new XTerra. Add some “bells and whistles” please, heated seats and wheel for one.
Nissan should avoid the pitfall of changing a beloved Xterra design into a crossover or sedan style look. I dont want a sedan/station wagon look that will barely clear gravel. An SUV should look like an SUV. High clearance and rugged looks, so buyers arent afraid to use it for its intended purpose.
Bought a used 2000 Xterra with 30K on it and loved it. When the Dodge died we opted to purchase a 4 year old 2006 Xterra with 60K on it. I was ready to turn in the 2000 for a newer version, but heard it was being discontinued. Too bad. Kept the 2000 and invested a couple thousand to rebuild engine at 180K miles. Still runs great. If it dies, I will rebuild it!
I have a very nice 2009 Xterra Off Road and love it ! I like the looks and the interior better than most other SUVs out there as it stands out and looks good in a rugged way ! And the V6 in it is a great reliable powerful engine, on the highway I can get 20 mpg, good for a SUV on frame 4X4. I’ve had 6 different Jeeps and 4 different Toyotas and will not give up my Xterra! If Nissan brings back the Xterra they better keep it true to its heritage of the older Xterras and not turn it into another soccer mom SUV !