There’s one truck-y SUV everyone wants to talk about today and that is, of course, the Nissan Xterra. Just kidding. What everyone wants to talk about is the Slate EV, which is what I also want to talk about. Unfortunately, all my colleagues proposed stories first, so I’m going to make The Morning Dump a Slate-free zone so you can have a break from all that.
It’s an interesting challenge of the modern world that news like this happens now outside of auto shows, giving us the space to write a million articles in one day about the same thing. The goal this morning was for all of us to pen some non-Slate things just to variegate the timeline a bit, so TMD is dedicated today to the Nissan Xterra, which Nissan’s Americas boss says would be here “tomorrow” if he had any control over it.
Should the Xterra be an EREV? Probably. China is going crazy for EREVs and now, sadly, the rest of the world is playing catch-up. Should it be self-driving? It’ll be easier for the automaker if it’s Level 2, thanks to a new rule from the Trump administration that clearly benefits Tesla.
Audi isn’t quite as lucky, as the redesigned Q5 is almost now way more expensive under the current tariff regime.
‘If I Could Bring A Car Tomorrow, That Would Be Xterra’ Says Nissan’s Meunier
Automakers love to do this thing where they build an extremely popular car and then dump the name for no good reason, only to bring it back when it might already be too late. Remember when Ford ditched the Taurus for the “Ford 500” and then quickly backtracked? The Bolt wasn’t even off the market before GM had to about-face on its decision to end the nameplate.
Nissan’s stout and capable Xterra is just one of those cars that everyone loves in retrospect, even if they’re still insanely cheap. While the Xterra never had the cachet of a 4Runner or Bronco, that market is big enough for alternatives, and there’s something uniquely cool about the Xterra.
Nissan Americas Chairman Christian Meunier agrees, telling Automotive News he shares all of our impatience with the return of the vehicle:
“If I could bring a car tomorrow, that would be Xterra,” Nissan Americas Chairperson Christian Meunier told Automotive News. “We’re working on it. We’ll find a way.”
Meunier said the Japanese automaker has a “big” capital expenditures budget and robust pipeline of U.S. market-tuned products, including an electrified Frontier. It’s been planning to infuse some of the Xterra’s iconic design elements into an EV launching in 2028: a brawny crossover with squarish rear styling and a boxy headlight design, Karkaria wrote.
“It’s about prioritization,” Meunier said in the story. “Is there any room to compromise on one project — eliminate one — and do what we think is more of a white space?”
Nissan is probably going to cancel two likely uncompetitive-priced U.S.-built electric sedans, so this might open up some room. Also, this basically confirms the Baby Xterra rumors from last month, right? Make it a PHEV like the Nissan Frontier Pro Plug-In Hybrid, and I think I’m sold.
Decade Of The EREV Hits China
If Auto Shanghai reminded us of anything, it’s that there are countless EVs you can buy in the Chinese market right now. That’s great for those consumers. Some people want a little more range than current batteries can provide, though, which is where Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs) are the perfect solution.
As a regular TMD reader, you’re already likely familiar with the technology, which pairs a small generator with a large battery pack purely to charge the battery and not motivate the car (therefore differentiating it from PHEVs). David wrote a whole pro-EREV argument, which makes the correct point that for extremely large vehicles, it’s more practical and efficient to have some kind of generator.
Don’t trust me, trust all the Chinese consumers lining up for these things. Here’s Reuters with a dispatch from Shanghai:
Both EREVs and plug-in hybrids grew faster than pure EVs in the China market last year, pushing the whole electrified sector to about half of all new cars sold, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association.
EREV sales jumped 79% to 1.2 million vehicles and plug-in hybrids soared by 76% to 3.4 million, while EV sales grew 23% to 6.3 million units.
Assuming some huge battery breakthrough comes, this might be a transitional technology. Some people on the Lucid Left hate this idea, which is merely allowing perfect to be the enemy of a-lot-better.
Tesla Gets A Break On Crash-Reporting
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, pictured above, gave Tesla a huge gift last night when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that it would revise its approach to automated vehicles in a way that is curiously good for Tesla.
The argument behind this change is, on the surface, quite reasonable:
“This Administration understands that we’re in a race with China to out-innovate, and the stakes couldn’t be higher,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy. “As part of DOT’s innovation agenda, our new framework will slash red tape and move us closer to a single national standard that spurs innovation and prioritizes safety.”
Getting rid of a bunch of state rules and implementing a national standard for something as important as automated driving is logical. Complex issues that impact everyone, especially their safety, should probably be handled at the federal level. Especially when it comes to autonomy… of cars, at least.
What’s curious here, though, is that NHTSA is walking back the Standing Government Order (SGO) for crash reporting on Level 2 vehicles and seemingly not much else.
[U]nder the revised rule, a crash only has to be reported if the vehicle has a Level 4 automated driving system, like Waymo. Vehicle crashes involving Level 2 systems that don’t involve a fatality or vulnerable road user are now exempted from reporting. And who benefits the most from this change?
“This has a huge impact on one particular company, Tesla, because Autopilot and [Full Self-Driving] are only L2 systems, not automated driving systems,” Abuelsamid explains. “Tesla has long complained about the fact that the vast majority of SGO reports are from their vehicles and this will eliminate all of the reports that don’t include a fatality or hitting a vulnerable road user.”
Perhaps Level 2 is so good now that having to report every crash with a Level 2 vehicle that doesn’t involve a fatality or hitting a pedestrian/biker is so onerous. However, if Tesla’s Level 2 self-driving is so good… wouldn’t the lack of crashes mean less reporting, therefore making it less onerous?
Is The New Audi Q5 ‘Unsellable’ Here?
Man, the new Audi Q5 looks really good. It’s Audi’s most important car in North America, and Audi definitely needs a win. It’s maybe not going to get it! The Trump tariffs right now are extremely bad for the Q5 in particular.
Why? The vehicle is built in Mexico and isn’t, for now at least, compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. That means it’s subject to a 25% tariff on imported cars, on top of a 25% tariff (for non-US parts), and a 2.5% fee on being non-compliant.
That doesn’t math, as Automotive News points out:
One consultant told Bloomberg that the Q5 would be unsellable in the U.S. because of the tariffs. However, sources within the company told Automotive News that Audi is committed to bringing the Q5 to market and making it attractive for customers.
The redesigned models will begin arriving at U.S. dealerships in May, Audi said.
“The relief for Audi, and the Q5 especially, would be the greatest if those tariffs would be changed to what they were originally,” Volkswagen Group of America CEO Kjell Gruner said during an April 16 roundtable at the New York auto show.
What have German companies done to deserve all this bad luck?
What I’m Listening To While Writing TMD
“Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas is maybe the corniest non-Drake song ever written, which doesn’t make it any less brilliant. It’s just one of those perfect pop songs that almost anyone can listen to at any time, in any place. Rob Thomas reportedly wrote the lyrics after being inspired by his wife, who you can see dancing in the video. Rob Thomas is a wife guy! Just like me.
I put this song on the other morning to wake up my family, and it was meant as an ironic little joke… at least the first time I did it. Every time after that, it’s just because this song is a jam.
The Big Question
What should the new Xterra be?
Top photo: Nissan
The only thing about this EREV thing is that it’s no where close to being production ready outside of China.
To be ready in 18mo; it should follow the Frontier’s ethos by being less complicated and better for it.
Fill in the shortbed Frontier with cargo area and move the current bench 5″ further back.
Do better than Toyota at finding a place to put a small hybrid battery pack, keep the NA six and pair it with a ~40kW assist/regen motor for 350 combined HP and boost mileage 20-30% over the current truck.
Split the trims not unlike what Ford did with the Bronco and Honda with the new Passport: If you want to offroad in ____ this is the trim/outfit you need
Provide some sort of factory support for aftermarket accessories with mount points and electrical switches that are already hooked up to battery power
A carpet delete/usable floor drains should be available on every build to show you’re serious
Selling it for an easy yet still profitable 8k less than a 4runner and it’ll have no problem seeing 100k/year
To beat my dead horse again, battery tech is no longer the limiting factor for most people. Putting 200 miles on your EV in 15 minutes is good enough. The problem is that the charging infrastructure isn’t there to support it.
If I had to choose between doubling the capacity and/or charging speed of cars, or doubling the number and/or reliability of charging stations, it’s a no-brainer. You double the charging stations.
As evidence, see all the people buying EREVs. They have a “charging station” (AKA gas station) on every corner and still have most of the benefits of EVs.
It’s debatable whether pure EVs are even better than EREVs in a lot of places. Unless your electricity is heavily renewable-based, the EREV is probably the lower polluter of the two. But power plant emissions are an externality, while everyone can smell the exhaust coming out of their car.
The Xterra should be exactly what is was like before just an updated power train probably hybrid like new 4 runners. As I discussed on here before I cross shopped Xterra’s and FJ cruisers and decided to go with the FJ as I just liked the styling and the feeling of driving it better. But the Xterra was also nice to drive and sure it would have been just as fun off road.
The first Xterra was a relatively low buck development- they just took that era’s frontier and closed the ass end off, and gave it some cool styling. At the time I was in high school and had a friend who’s Dad worked for Nissan. He brought a brochure for us to see before it was official and I remember wanting one so bad when they came out.
So, take the new Frontier, square off the back, give it the rear stadium seats and a roof basket and you’re done. Keep the simple mechanicals and price it below the 4Runner.
What should the new Xterra be?
I’ll say it again. The new Xterra should be the square bodied, rugged Land Rover Defender that JLR didn’t have the guts to build.
Nissan is a stupid car company.
The first gen Pathfinder was a competitor to the first gen 4Runner. They kept the same idea with the next gen, but then went full Land Cruiser with the 3rd gen R51 (massive and 7 seats) and moved on to completely ruin the Pathfinder name with the soccer mom mobile R52, trying to go against the Toyota Highlander. Meanwhile, Toyota just kept churning great 4Runners, sticking to the formula.
Now they want to bring back the Xterra because they lost their only real 4Runner equivalent.
We already have a new Xterra today. It’s sold in the Middle east and based on the Navara:
https://www.carscoops.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2021-Nissan-X-Terra-SUV-1555.jpg
Just sell it here.
GM has that international Trailblazer (based on the Colorado) that they’re too stupid to bring over here.
Dont forget the Ford Everest
But that shape tho
Beetle EV. Real world 200 mile range, floor pan battery, frunk and rear hatch, and some simplicity like the Slate (I particularly like the bring-your-own mobile device and Bluetooth speaker mount with physical HVAC controls, though I’d prefer power windows and mirrors.). Retro style and flat floor.
D’oh, I think I posted this on the wrong article.
Make it just like the old XTerra but on the D41 Frontier platform.
Same frame, drive train, interior, everything.
Bonus points for HEV/PHEV option and / or manual transmission availability.
Just take the Frontier Crew Cab Pro-X cut a little of back and enclose the bed? Boom, new X to the T Xterra. It’s kind of weird they haven’t already done this. If your Nissan, seems like the obvious way to build some hype cheaply. Just got give it some roundish headlights as a homage, and all-done! Please send me Venmo for consulting fee Nissan.
I just know it should NOT be another goddamn EV crossover. Boy howdy, if I see another soulless blob EV crossover taking over a cherished nameplate, I may have the temptation to just lay down in front of it in traffic.
I agree!! I ahve 3 tall dogs and crossovers with sloping back are not an option.
If the Xterra is a competitor to the Wrangler and Bronco, does it really have a snowball’s chance in hell to sell well, even if it were demonstrably more capable than them?
Depends on pricing. If it were the same price, no. At a 10% discount, yes.
Depends on
pricingfinancing.To me, it feels very much like enthusiasts’ “we’d appreciate it, but wouldn’t actually buy it” sort of thing. It just wouldn’t have the enormous brand presence of the competitors.
I’d buy one. I’ve already owned 2 Xterra’s and enjoyed them both would still have one if it were bigger. I bought them both exclusively because they’re equally capable but significantly cheaper.
Mark my words: they will ruin it by making it an egg just like everything else. Give me boxy or give me death!
Yes the back window and back hatch should be perpendicular to the ground.
Boxy seems to be coming back in the last couple years.
LC/4Runner/GX, Santa Fe, Slate, Scout, new Traverse, I’m sure there are many more I’m forgetting.
New traverse? Lol. No. And yes, I’ve seen it. They’re not fooling anyone.
If you asked me whether the new Traverse more resembled a box or an egg, I know which I’d pick.
I like square butts and I can not lie!
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
The Xterra is the red-headed stepchild of the overland/off-road world. Having owned 2 they are highly capable and very reliable minus the early issues with the transmission coolers which were sorted by 2010 and can be prevented on pre-2010 models with a radiator replacement. Nissan was dumb to abandon this segment and let the platform languish to be 15 years old when it died (although it technically lives on as the current gen Frontier is just a modified form of it).
If they want to bring it back they need to do it right. BOF, true 4wd with a low range, solid rear axle with a locker option. Sizing should slot in around the 4Runner if not a hair bigger. The void in the market (IMO) is a capable SUV that can also be a GOOD family hauler. Price it in the low $40s.
Ford might be better positioned to bring the Ford Everest
The XJ proved you can Unibody the off-road world. The running gear just has to be proper.
The XTerra should NOT be a rugged Pathfinder/Pilot/<tough-looking-street-SUV>. That will mean playing in the Bronco/Wrangler/4Runner space that doesn’t have as much market share, but do not despair. The XTerra could be a leader by covering the less expensive half of that market and doing it with much more reliability than Jeep could ever muster. If Nissan doesn’t put some little turbo engine and CVT in it, that should go a long way towards being reliable. Since it will be Fontrier based (stick to the plan), it will have that advantage built in from the start.
I don’t care what anyone says, Smooth is a great song.
To each their own, but if we’re voting, I both thumb down hard as can.
Yup, certified great. Honestly, most of Supernatural is great. I’m not even a huge Santana or Rob Thomas or Matchbox Twenty fan. Just a solid guitar heavy pop song.
Supernatural was the last album I can think of where every song was catchy and a potential single. Have there been any albums like that since? Supernatural was a bolt from the blue in 1999.
EREV? Isnt that just like how trains work? Is this crab theory but for cars, where instead of everything evolving into crabs, everything evolves into trains?
EREV is just a fancy new name for a series hybrid. Trains are sort of like that in that they don’t mechanically directly drive the wheels, but most trains don’t have batteries to store extra power (it’s starting to become an area of development, however).
I appreciate the clarity! I was being a bit facetious with my original comment but I do have a lack of understanding in the world of trains and more information is better!
The Exterra should slot into the Rogues price point range but be based off the Frontier with regard to on frame design, engine layout and off road options. Basically make the Frontier in to a Truggy with fully removable roof and door panels. Would not hurt to offer the Bronco 7 speed manual with Crawl gear either.
Even easier take the current frontier Pro4x short box and just extent the hard roof all the way back like the old days of 4runner/pathfinder of yore. no three rows, just rubber floors and a few hvac ducts.
you can get that very car new, right now, (if you are willing to move to Russia) as the Oting Palasso
Cool, that would be nice! If I got to buy Russian it would be an UAZ-452
Make the XTerra on the Frontier BOF platform, put a plain old VQ in it, proceed to print money. You’re welcome Nissan. Give me a loaded Z and we’ll call it even.
You’d have to be loaded to desire the Z, imo.
The New Xterra should be a Bronco Sasquatch/Wrangler Rubicon X/4runner Trailhunter level SUV for under $50K. F/R lockers 33-35in tires, loads of skids/rock rails and way cheaper than the others. If it was a EREV that is frosting on the awesome cake,
the issue with Erev is of course the Electric part of the vehicle and the design concessions over just a gasser. Also currently the price premium. Rogues start under 30K, make a base Xterra match that and let the options dictate final price.