If you were dreading that Nissan might follow Toyota in downsizing the next Xterra’s powertrain, don’t fret.
EcoBoost this, i-Force that, and hey, how about a Hurricane while we’re at it? Downsizing has been the status quo over the past few generations, as automakers move to curb emissions and improve fuel economy while maintaining acceptable power (at least on paper). The latest Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco kick off their lineups with four-pot turbo engines, and Toyota jumped on the bandwagon with the sixth-generation 4Runner. In fact, on that last one, it went all-in, as your only option is a turbo-four. But Nissan’s saying “nah”, as a company executive affirmed what a lot of enthusiasts have been hoping for as it prepares a revived Xterra SUV.
Nissan North America’s Senior VP and Chief Planning Officer Ponz Pandikuthira told the folks over at The Drive exactly that leading up to the New York International Auto Show.
“They (the customers) prefer a V6, they want the V6. It’s for the driving personality of a V6 over a four. So decision number one, the ICE will be a V6, and it’ll be hybridized. So if you invest correctly in the V6, pick the right V6 that’ll deliver that.”
Pandikuthra went on to cover the torque curve, fuel efficiency and emissions of delivering a hybridized V6 powertrain. Now, the general consensus leading up to this conversation is that the next Xterra would have a V6, though the key here is to see it as a more clear-cut statement of fact. Things are always subject to change, of course, but folks sweating whether Nissan would toss in a turbo-four over sticking with a six-cylinder option can breathe a sigh of relief.
There are a few other matters to consider. First off, in the real world, Nissan seems confident it can basically give you the best of all worlds with a beefier V6 mated to an electric motor than wringing out a four-pot. The hybridization brings in better fuel economy, while a larger and naturally aspirated engine delivers a more linear power experience than introducing forced induction (or, as automakers like Volvo previously have done, adding in turbocharging, supercharging and electrification).
Nissan also has a few variations of V6 to choose from. Its VQ engine family has more or less been the backbone of its six-pot offerings for 30 years, right through until today. Right now, there are three flavors: the 3.5-liter VQ35DD in the Pathfinder, the enlarged 3.8-liter VQ38DD in the Frontier, or the twin-turbocharged VR30DDTT in the Z.
Odds are the 2028 Nissan Xterra won’t feature that last engine (although if it ever needed a Bronco Raptor/Wrangler 392 fighter…), but likely one of the existing naturally aspirated options. Perhaps the 3.8-liter mill in the Frontier since the last Xterra was closely related to the Frontier. We’ll have to wait and see, of course, but this is one launch Nissan has to get right, and the company knows it. Fortunately, it seems they are listening to feedback, so we’ll have to see how this Xterra revival pans out. The more competition in this space, the better.
H/T to The Drive and Senior Editor Caleb Jacobs for the initial story, info and quotes.
