There used to be a time when off-roading in the United States was not equivalent to shelling out tens of thousands of dollars. Back when Nissan had a significant share of the rugged off-road SUV market, car buyers had more affordable options for vehicles.
So when Nissan announced it is discontinuing the Xterra in the US market after the 2015 model year, which meant the brand would no longer have a body-on-frame SUV in its US lineup, it’s safe to say many were disappointed.
But now that Nissan has returned to selling the Xterra in the Middle East for the 2021 model year, there have also been renewed calls for the off-roader to return to America. And with other popular models such as the Ford Bronco making a triumphant return, Nissan’s dealer network thinks it’s time for the SUV to make a comeback.
According to reports, Nissan dealers are projecting annual sales of 70,000 to 80,000, not to mention a boost on the brand’s image.
“At a time many automakers might be combing through corporate archives for off-road vehicles from long ago, Nissan finds credibility almost right in front of it with the Xterra,” said Tyson Jominy, vice president of data and analytics at J.D. Power.
Jominy believes bringing the Xterra back could be a great opportunity for Nissan, which is still facing financial problems stemming from a couple of years back. However great the opportunity, though, the automaker made it clear that it won’t be ringing the China-spec Terra to the US.
Should Nissan decide to revive the Xterra, it will face tough rivals from Ford, Jeep, and Toyota. But then again, an affordable off-road SUV is always welcome in the US automobile market.
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love my xterra will not get rid of it because i can’t replace with a new xterra. xterra for life.