The last body on frame mid-size SUV by Nissan was discontinued in 2014. The Japanese carmaker is ready to come back to the market with a new model. Experts are starting to speculate if that one will be the 2021 Nissan Xterra. It is a familiar name on the US market. This SUV was one of the most recognizable vehicles on the market. But, slow sales killed it, at least for North America. The model continued its life in other markets, and it is now on the way back.
Nissan is offering Pathfinder in a mid-size segment. But, this one is not too capable for off-road action. The body on frame is what will boost the impression. The 2021 Nissan Xterra is a BoF SUV with great capabilities. Well, the company can’t count on a miracle on the market. The good thing is there is no big competition there. Toyota is still delivering 4Runner on the body on frame architecture. Well, this model is doing well. Also, the upcoming Ford Bronco is going BoF to offer better off-road skills. So, this is enough for fans to start the rumors mill about the Xterra comeback.
We will see when will 2021 Nissan Xterra appear. Also, the question is – what would they call it? Xterra is definitely a favorite. It is a well-known name in the industry, although it’s been five years since the discontinuation. Still, we must leave options for changes and a new start for Nissan’s mid-size body-on-frame segment.
2021 Nissan Xterra Rumors
Recently, Nissan’s fans could see the premiere of the new mid-size SUV for the Chinese market. It is called Terra. Sounds familiar, right? Compared to the Pathfinder, this model is slightly smaller, but it still belongs to a mid-size class. Overall length is 192 inches, and the wheelbase is 112 inches long.
Under the hood of the new Terra SUV are either petrol or diesel engine, while the transmission options are manual and automatic. The US market will get a unique drivetrain, without a manual gearbox. Reliable and powerful, a 3.5-liter V6 engine could be on duty for the 2021 Nissan Xterra. Of course, the Japanese company could surprise us all with a V8 or a new unit. However, both of these options are less likely than to see the new Xterra with a turbo-four engine.
2021 Nissan Xterra Redesign
There will be a lot of changes on the upcoming 2021 Nissan Xterra compared to the previous edition. Well, it is expected after a 7-year break. Some details are already leaking about possibilities for the new SUV. Its size (112 in wheelbase) is nearly the same as for the Murano mid-size crossover SUV (111 inches) and 2 inches shorter than for the 7-seat Pathfinder. Experts are sure that 2021 Xterra is not coming with the third row of seats. Extra seating spots would have tight legroom, and these would decrease comfort for passengers in the second row. So, the SUV is definitely not offering this option.
Its Chinese sibling will go through an update next year, so we will monitor what is going on overseas. The new 2021 Nissan Xterra will use the same design language as Terra SUV. Of course, the Japanese company will prepare numerous upgrades for the US market. But, the shell should be pretty much the same. Of course, the off-road package will include skid plates, unique suspension with shocks, and a special exhaust system. All-terrain tires are going to wrap wheels, but we still can’t guess the size.
Interior
The biggest differences between 2021 Nissan Xterra and Terra will be under the hood and inside the cabin. Buyers in the US are spoiled, and the Japanese company must meet many requirements to meet the expectations. It is not a problem if the non-US model comes without Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. But, in the United States, this became required lately. In two years, who knows, these two could be overcome. We can hear that Nissan is developing a new infotainment system. Well, we can’t tell you too much about it, but only this one is coming for the 2021 year models. At the right time for the new Nissan Xterra.
Being an off-road SUV means the ProPilot and other self-driving features are not so helpful. This equipment can throttle or brake, park the SUV, and do a few other things. But, you won’t need it off the road. Sensors are registering surrounding objects to keep a distance from them. Making this technology available for an off-road drive would be nonsense.
2021 Nissan Xterra Debut, Possible Price
The 2021 Nissan Xterra is arriving late in 2020, probably the last quarter. Well, next year’s Detroit Auto Show is going to be held in the summer. So, the new SUV could have the premiere there. But, nothing is official yet. We won’t compare the price of the upcoming Xterra with its mid-size stablemates since the price of BoF architecture is higher. But, the main rival is going to be Toyota 4Runner, that costs at least $36,000. Xterra will start somewhere there, and it will go up over $55,000 for models with Pro-4X and Platinum trims. It will be interesting to see how the SUV is going to deal with the new 4Runner TRD Pro model.
2021 NISSAN XTERRA is going to be a hit.