The Xterra was unfortunately discontinued back in 2014 due to its old design and rather an unappealing interior. If Nissan would have updated the car in the time, it would still be on the market, but unfortunately, they didn’t so people don’t have a choice now. However, there are some rumors suggesting a new 2017 Nissan Xterra is coming and that it will be based on a new platform altogether. This model would use the same chassis as the newest Navara, which has been released only a couple of years ago. The design will also change dramatically, but Nissan is expected to keep some of the well-known design traits of the original so you can clearly see the influence of the previous versions.

Price , Changes & Release date

Even though they haven’t said anything official about the car, considering that the crossover market is booming once again it would make a lot of sense releasing the upgraded version of Xterra. The car would likely be revealed some time at the beginning of 2017, but it wouldn’t hit the market until 2018. Most optimistic rumors say that it might come in the first quarter of the next year, but this hasn’t been confirmed. This would allow it to be just in time to compete with cars like the new Bronco or the upcoming Trailblazer. Like these, the Xterra is expected to start at less than $25,000 which would be a slight increase in price when compared to the older model. This should allow Nissan to market the car more aggressively and steal some of the Wrangler’s customers.

Unfortunately, though, the 2017 Nissan Xterra will be a bit late to the party, but it will still have a good chance of taking some of the top spots. Because it will be a body on frame design, the car will have quite a few advantages in off-road over many of its rivals. Also, unlike the previous model which was quite poor on the road, the new car should be a lot better. The chassis of the new Navara is also lighter and quite a bit stiffer, so it should improve the ride quality and also allow for a larger towing rating than before. With the new chassis, new engines are going to be installed as well, one true redesign.

2017 Nissan Xterra Powertrain

The previous model of the Xterra was only available with a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V6 unit. This powerplant has been around since the early 2000s, so it is not exactly state of the art and lacks technology and smoothness compared to the competition. The upcoming model, on the other hand, is expected to be released with at least two different powertrains to make it a viable choice for more people. The base model should receive a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 with as much as 300 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. This would easily handle the lower weight of the car, and it should be quite a bit more efficient than before as well. On top of it, diesel has been rumored for a long time as well. However, instead of offering a large unit like its competitors, the 2017 Nissan Xterra may receive a 2.3-liter twin-turbocharged inline-four diesel with as much as 200 horsepower and more than 350 lb-ft of torque. This means that it will be more powerful than pretty much any other diesel crossover on the US market which would be a great feat. And we do know that there are only a few options when it comes to U.S. market. A six or seven-speed automatic is likely going to be the only choice for it.

Exterior and Interior Design

One of the least interesting features of the previous model was its interior. The new car should get a very similar interior to the new Navara. This would mean that it will receive nicer materials, a better driving position as well as a more modern design. The design of its body might retain the rear door configuration of the original. However, in the front, it should be more rounded while it will feature a completely revamped design with a more sculpted look at the back.

Video of 2015 Xterra