Nissan has been reviving iconic nameplates recently. First, the brand announced it was rebooting the Xterra for the US market. Now in China, the Japanese brand has used name recall for its upcoming product – a rugged off-road SUV with plug-in hybrid tech.

Showcased at Auto China 2026 is the concept version of the Nissan Terrano PHEV, which marks the return of a nameplate used by the brand previously for the SUV version of the Frontier / Pathfinder model.

Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa presented the Terrano PHEV Concept in Beijing, calling it “a true SUV with Nissan’s off-road DNA”, while addressing the dual needs of outdoor adventure and urban commuting with its plug-in hybrid powertrain.

With boxy styling, a raised ride height, high-clearance bumpers, and mud-terrain tires, the Nissan Terrano PHEV Concept looks the part to challenge the likes of the Jetour G700 and the GWM Tank 700 in the segment. The off-road concept even comes with a roof rack, auxiliary lights, bright colored tow hitches, and a tailgate-mounted spare tire.

Nissan is yet to reveal details about the Terrano’s PHEV powertrain along with its interior. But considering Nissan used to utilize the Frontier / Pathfinder’s chassis and engine in the past generations, there’s good reason to think it could also be sharing its PHEV powertrain with the Frontier Pro pickup truck that’s coming to the Philippine market.

In the Frontier Pro, the PHEV system consists of a 1.5-liter turbo gasoline engine and a single electric motor, with a four-speed dedicated hybrid transmission. The combined output is rated at 416 PS and 800 Nm of torque, with a full electric range of up to 135 km based on the CLTC cycle. 

For now, the Terrano PHEV has only been confirmed for the Chinese market, where a production version is scheduled to be unveiled within one year. But with Nissan making China as its global innovation and export hub, then the door’s not closed for the Terrano PHEV making its way to other markets.