--- title: "The Next-Gen Nissan Xterra Is Real, and Here’s Your First Look" date: "2026-04-13" modified: "2026-04-13" authors: - name: "Kyle Cheromcha" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/heres-your-very-first-look-at-the-next-gen-nissan-xterra" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Nissan News" - "Trucks" tags: - "Nissan" - "Off-Road" - "suv/crossover" --- # The Next-Gen Nissan Xterra Is Real, and Here’s Your First Look ![front end of next-generation nissan xterra SUV in yellow]() *\Nissan\* The jury's still out on whether [Nissan]() CEO Ivan Espinosa was right [when he told us that "Nissan is back"]() last year, but one thing is certain: the Xterra sure is. Tonight, alongside announcing a new strategic plan for Nissan and Infiniti, the Japanese automaker shared the first image of the next-generation Nissan Xterra as it commits to relaunching its once-popular off-road SUV in the next few years. The teaser image shows the Xterra's blocky front end above the bumper and below the windshield, revealing a segmented light bar across the nose with the daytime running lights as bookends, lower projector lamps with integrated turn signals, a three-section grille, and deep character lines running down the hood to set off the fenders. NISSAN is stamped across the nose in big letters. (Which, was anyone else hoping for a badge there?) It's real yellow, [as we reported it would be last year.]() As per usual with these releases, running the image through Photoshop reveals a clearer picture, but not much more information. ![new nissan xterra front end revealed]() *Do those side indicators look a little like Hyundai's pixels to anyone else? *Nissan** But! Here's a tip. If you want a slightly better sense of how the Xterra might look, take a look at the new Nissan Frontier plug-in hybrid pickup the automaker recently revealed for the Chinese market. That truck is based on a different platform made by Dongfeng so the details doesn't line up 1:1 with the new Xterra, which will be built on the *actual* Nissan Frontier platform while also offering a regular hybrid option (confusing, I know), but you can see the lighting signature and overall motif are largely the same. ![original nissan pickup and new nissan frontier pro plug-in hybrid]() **Nissan** Honestly, it's pretty good. I won't lie, as a fan of vehicles with actual faces, I'd much prefer Nissan just slapped the current Frontier's nose on the Xterra and called it a day, which is basically what it did with the original Xterra. But this one is undeniably sharper and does feel more suited to sharing a lot with the Nissan Z, for example. And unlike the Z's beautiful design going unappreciated as prices rise and the sports coupe market keeps contracting, the Xterra just might deliver what Nissan needs most of all: sales. We've been all over the Xterra's relaunch since rumors first started spilling out, breaking the news that Nissan plans to [start pricing below $40,000](), [use a V6 engine]() instead of a turbo-four, and use the Xterra as a base to build a new "family" of body-on-frame trucks [that just might include a new Pathfinder](). As mentioned above, today's announcement also came with the expected confirmation that the Xterra will offer both hybrid and non-hybrid V6. If it wasn't obvious before, it has the [Toyota 4Runner]() squarely in its sights. [This will be interesting](). *Got a tip about the new Xterra? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()