Does the current Nissan Pathfinder live up to its name? A new body-on-frame Pathfinder SUV could be in the works.
Remember when the Nissan Pathfinder was built on the same frame as the Hardbody pickup and could actually take you off-road? Nissan’s senior vice president just hinted that it could happen again. With the Xterra making a comeback in 2028, the company’s planning a whole family of truck-based SUVs built in American factories. The current Pathfinder is basically a family crossover, but Nissan admits they made it too soft and soccer-van-like. Here’s what a return to the Pathfinder’s rugged roots could mean for buyers who want real capability.
Pathfinder or Xterra or both
The Nissan Xterra could return for 2028 as the truck-based SUV that Nissan has been missing. This would give the brand a real Toyota 4Runner competitor, ensuring Nissan is playing in the same sandbox as its chief competitor. An alternative to the Xterra would be to have a truck-based Pathfinder revival that uses the Nissan Frontier platform. This would hint at the Hardbody pick heritage and bring a real off-road-capable SUV to the Nissan lineup. Of course, if you like what you see so far, you might wonder why Nissan can’t do both. That is certainly another possibility.
The Pathfinder got too soft
The old-school Nissan Pathfinder body-on-frame SUV has been missing from the brand’s lineup for several years. This formula is everything we want in an SUV that could be perfect for the future. Why did the Pathfinder go soft? Call it peer pressure if you will. Other SUVs in its class were transitioning to unibody layouts with an appealing build for families, and Nissan followed right along. The only problem was that when the Xterra went out of production, Nissan no longer had an off-road SUV capable of tackling trails like the Toyota 4Runner or Jeep Wrangler.
US production localization could bring back the Xterra
Even if the Pathfinder doesn’t become the off-road champion we desire, if Nissan can bring back the Xterra and build it on the Frontier platform, that would do the trick. Nissan intends to localize the production to the United States, where off-road SUVs are in high demand, and build the Frontier and Xterra in either Canton, MS, or Smyrna, TN. Once they determine where to build these two vehicles, the Nissan brand will once again have a true off-road SUV to compete with the rest of the market.
The Nissan Pathfinder body-on-frame SUV can reclaim its identity
The Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition has been a slightly more off-road capable SUV than the regular Pathfinder, but this name could be used for a real body-on-frame model that is meant to be a hardcore off-roader. Adding a Pathfinder that uses the same platform as the Frontier will give Nissan three real off-road vehicles, which means shoppers should have some great options. The Frontier would be the truck, the Xterra would likely be a two-row SUV to compete with the 4Runner, and the Pathfinder would be the three-row off-road SUV that takes on some of the larger models. This could be a dynamite trio of excellent off-road vehicles from Nissan if it happens.
Is it the right time for an off-road Nissan SUV?
If the recent Los Angeles Auto Show is any indicator, it’s time for Nissan to head back to its roots. While most automakers, including Nissan, are looking forward and working toward more hybridization and electrification, taking the Pathfinder back to its heritage could be a smart move. The LA Auto Show featured a floor filled with off-road vehicles. Instead of every brand showcasing new electric prototypes, many brands presented new off-road vehicles that could be the future of overlanding, off-road weekends, and serious fun. It’s time that Nissan joined in on this fun with the Pathfinder and Xterra.
When will these changes take place?
The new Nissan Pathfinder body-on-frame SUV isn’t likely to arrive until at least 2027, when it’s time for the next generation. For 2026, you’re stuck with the boring unibody model, but that could be the last time the Pathfinder wears this garb. After that, the old-school qualities of the Pathfinder should make their way to the market. Of course, it’s also exciting to see that the Xterra will make its return to the market and be one of the three impressive Nissan off-road vehicles offered.
Will you wait for the new Nissan Pathfinder body-on-frame SUV, or do you prefer the road-focused version that’s part of the current lineup?
