According to a Ward’s Auto report, the Xterra may be the victim of the success of other, less fuel-efficient Nissan models, as well as the overall midsize SUV segment.
In 2009, automakers sold 211,042 midsize SUVs. By contrast, at the beginning of the decade, they managed to move close to 1.65 million out the door. Nissan is also in the throes of balancing its larger, thirstier SUV portfolio with its small-car offerings, to offset a negative CAFE profile, according to Larry Dominique, Nissan vice president of advanced product and product planning and strategy.
“Xterra’s in a tough segment; the segment’s falling apart,” Dominique said. “Xterra’s going to be a tough vehicle to keep around.”
He attributed the lagging sales to a market moving away from traditional, body-on-frame SUVs, but confirmed that the Nissan’s pickup lineup and its Pathfinder sport-ute are not going anywhere. The Frontier currently holds third place among compact pickups in the United States, behind the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma.
via Ward’s Auto (subscription required) courtesy of Automobile Magazine
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