Nissan Xmotion Concept: Is This the Next Xterra?

Nissan has gone all in on crossovers, with its Pathfinder having migrated to a car-based platform, the Murano providing a more premium alternative, the compact Rogue selling like gangbusters, the slightly smaller Rogue Sport wedging in just below, and the newly introduced Kicks replacing the Juke in the tiny-ute space. Only the supersize Armada retains the traditional rear-drive-based SUV layout and demeanor. But as the brand looks ahead “to 2020 and beyond,” Nissan appears to be circling back toward that old-school SUV look—at least that’s the indication from the Xmotion concept.

The Xmotion isn’t retro, but as its maker tells it, the concept “features strong hints of a traditional SUV—the high stance, high-utility proportions and bulked-up fenders stuffed with all-terrain-ready wheels and tires.” The utilitarian machismo is tempered with a Japanese appreciation for nature, seen particularly in the cabin’s materials and visuals.

Could X Mark a Return?

The concept is compact in size; at 180.7 inches long, the Xmotion is some four inches shorter than a Rogue, but it’s also four inches wider. The 109.6-inch wheelbase, however, is 3.1 inches greater than that of the Rogue. The relative closeness of their dimensions means that the concept could be an indicator of the future styling direction of the Rogue, whose next generation can’t be far off. But the X in its name, as well as the emphasis on ruggedness and utility, suggest instead that this could preview a replacement for the departed Xterra.

The passage of time has burnished the reputation of that Frontier-based, adventure-themed sport-ute, and Nissan’s current lineup has nothing equivalent. In the years since the Xterra’s demise, low gas prices have fueled a renaissance in rugged truck-based SUVs that can set themselves apart from the crossover herd. Sales of the Toyota 4Runner are up, Ford is working on a new Bronco based on the mid-size Ranger pickup, and Nissan’s VP of product planning has indicated the company’s interest in an off-road-themed SUV.

Chunky Monkey

The Xmotion’s exterior is rendered in chunky forms and with traditional, squared-off proportions—you’ll see none of the brand’s flowing design language here. The beltline is high and the roofline fairly low, while the huge wheel arches are outlined in thick black bands to look even bigger. The 21-inch wheels are integral with the tires: the off-road tread is laminated onto the aluminum wheels. The resultant combination is designed to make the wheels look bigger, and it offers run-flat capability.

Like the Rogue, the Xmotion stuffs three rows of seats into a relatively compact package (here, each row sports a pair). Acknowledging that this leaves little room for luggage, the concept features a meaty roof rack with an integrated cargo carrier that collapses when not in use. The design of both the center console, which spans the length of the interior, and the lower dashboard are said to be influenced by Japanese wood-joining techniques, and both are covered in real wood veneers. In a further nod to nature, the cargo area features an image of Mount Fuji.

Technology, however, also is prevalent. The cabin houses a total of seven displays, with screens spanning the width of the upper dash, including those showing images from the side-view camera—and there even is one on the ceiling. Fingerprint identification replaces a push-button ignition, and gesture controls (with the motion sensor located in the center console) are used as well. There’s also a virtual assistant—rendered onscreen as a Japanese koi fish.

Toss aside some of the show-car fantasy, however, and the Xmotion strikes us as an attractive starting point for a rugged SUV, a vehicle we’d welcome back in Nissan’s lineup.