Reviving these three models might save Nissan from bankruptcy

With the recent announcement that Nissan has about 12-14 months to survive before reaching bankruptcy, we can't help but wonder why Nissan doesn't use its existing platforms to create models that the North American market has literally been begging for. From off-road SUVs to sensible station wagons and performance sedans, reviving these three iconic models could give Nissan the revenue boost they so desperately need. 

The following renders have been created using generative text-to-image artificial intelligence to provide visual examples of the hypothetical models proposed in this article.

North American dealers have been begging for a new Nissan Xterra
The beloved, affordable, rugged, body-on-frame off-road SUV that was the Nissan Xterra was sold in North America from 1999 until 2015. It was Nissan's rival against Toyota's 4Runner, using a shortened version of the Frontier pickup truck's platform and sharing a few of its powertrain options, including the KA24DE 2.4L straight-four and the VQ40DE 4.0L V6. 

Nissan offered the second-generation Xterra, essentially unchanged, for an entire decade from 2005 to 2015. Not only was it popular with buyers looking for an inexpensive off-roader that could happily take a beating, it was also lauded by journalists as well who adored its simplicity. 

The Xterra won "SUV of the Year" awards from Motor Trend and 4Wheeler Magazine, proving it was not only a great SUV, but also a truly great off-roader. Unfortunately, it was eventually phased out as sales declined, simply because Nissan never cared to update the product and its rivals were much fresher.

For the 2021 model year, Nissan finally updated the Frontier pickup truck – which had also remained unchanged since 2005 – but the Xterra remained buried deep in its grave. With the existence of an updated Frontier, it seems like a major missed opportunity for Nissan not to offer an Xterra-branded SUV using the same platform. 

Powered by a naturally aspirated 3.8L VQ38DD V6, the current Frontier produces 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque. Compared to the 2015 Xterra's 4.0L V6 which produced 261 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque, the new engine would be a welcome upgrade in a new Xterra, providing improved power and fuel efficiency without sacrificing the signature rugged simplicity of a naturally-aspirated Nissan V6.

Sticking with the V6 would not only keep development costs extremely minimal for Nissan, but it could also win over potential buyers who are concerned about the long-term reliability of the Toyota 4Runner's new turbocharged, mild-hybrid four-cylinder powertrains. It would also ensure the Xterra makes comparable power and would be incredibly simple to maintain – the hallmarks of what made the Xterra desirable in the first place. It would truly be "Everything You Need, Nothing You Don't."

A Nissan Laurel revival could pick up where the old Dodge Charger left off
The sales success of the Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Chrysler 300 have proved that offering an old recipe (or an old Mercedes recipe, for that matter) with modern technology and amenities at an affordable price makes for a compelling product in the North American market. Since Ex-CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, personally decided to axe those models and all Hemi V8 engines, there's now a gap in the market left by their absence. 

Nissan needs a product that can achieve high-volume sales success without needing to shell out much coin on development costs. Using the Nissan FM platform, which underpins the current Z and Infiniti's Q60, Nissan could offer an affordable, mid-size family sport sedan with plenty of space and enthusiastic handling.

North American buyers would likely appreciate the Laurel's skillful combination of simplicity and enjoyability.
Nissan already has the right powertrain options for the job here. For the base model, the same naturally-aspirated, 310 horsepower 3.8L V6 found in the Frontier is a perfect suitor, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission and the option between rear and all-wheel drive. An upgraded model could offer the Nissan Z's twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6 which produces 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque.  

The return of a Nissan Stagea could broaden the Laurel's appeal
Employing the same platform as the proposed Laurel – Nissan's FM platform – a Stagea station wagon could be offered with unique trim packages. Constructing a station wagon on this platform opens up possibilities for both an off-road-focused variant to compete with the likes of Subaru's Outback and a sport-focused variant to offer a budget-friendly alternative to high-performance wagons like the Audi RS6 Avant and Mercedes-AMG E63 Estate.

The Nissan Stagea was once a mid-size station wagon, offered by Nissan exclusively for Japan, which used a rear-wheel drive-based platform and came with many of the same powertrains found in the beloved Nissan Skyline, including the GT-R's infamous 2.6L RB26DETT twin-turbo straight-six. It has since gained a massive cult following despite never having been sold new in North America, thanks to its superb combination of everyday practicality, year-round usability, and supercar levels of performance potential all for a Nissan-level price tag. 

A revived Stagea could offer the North American market the affordable, enjoyable mid-size station wagon that almost every other manufacturer refuses to offer here. A 3.8L V6-powered "PRO-4X" model could mock the Subaru Outback by offering a lot more power for a similar price and by offering the 9-speed automatic transmission – a welcome alternative compared to the loathsome CVT found in the Subaru.

A performance-oriented variant of the Stagea wagon is ambitious, but hear me out
If Nissan served up a hot new Stagea, they should have the guts to offer it with the 420 horsepower, 384 lb-ft of torque twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6 found in the 2024 Z NISMO. Mated to the same Mercedes-sourced 9-speed automatic transmission and ATTESA-ETS all-wheel drive (used on the GT-R and some Infiniti models), this wagon would be a genuine monster – offering the North American market a "forbidden fruit" level performance wagon at a palatable price point. Plus, if Nissan goes bankrupt anyway, at least they'll have gone down with a fight this way.

Nissan is doomed if it doesn't try something different
Nissan might as well throw in the towel now if they don't plan on at least taking some creative risks. It boggles my mind how an automaker as storied and as provenly capable as Nissan once was could be only a single year from sheer financial ruin. 

In more recent years, we have seen the management of many automakers cut or neglect many of the products people have long enjoyed in favor of dull and unrefined quasi-crossovers with offensively unreliable transmissions (which has even resulted in a class-action lawsuit). The same is true for Mitsubishi. Suddenly, nobody wants to buy their products anymore, and for some reason, it seems no one at these companies can wrap their heads around why that may have happened. 

When I look at Toyota, I see a waiting list for Tacomas and 4Runners so lengthy you'd be lucky to get a TRD Pro for less than MSRP within six months. Now, they sell the Land Cruiser with the same powertrain and similar dimensions for a similar price, meaning Toyota literally offers two rivals in that same class – that's how popular it has become. It is beyond me why Nissan doesn't play in this sandbox when it has the Frontier's platform ready to go.