Nissan’s Latest Nismo SUV Isn’t Coming Here — But Would You Even Want It?

Nissan’s Latest Nismo SUV Isn’t Coming Here — But Would You Even Want It? originally appeared on Autoblog.

Nissan is preparing to launch another SUV under its Nismo performance banner, but this one might leave buyers wanting more. The X-Trail Nismo, set to debut in Japan on August 21, brings sharp looks and a few chassis tweaks, but not the kind of firepower usually expected from the Nismo name. Since the X-Trail is the overseas counterpart to the Nissan Rogue, American buyers won’t see this one, which might be for the better.

A Meaner Look Without The Muscle

Nismo has been expanding into Nissan’s SUV lineup, most recently with the Armada, and now with the X-Trail. According to Creative Trend, you can expect a sportier front end with a massive splitter with complementary side skirts, a redesigned rear bumper, flared wheel arches, and plenty of red accents. It will ride on 20-inch Enkei alloys wrapped in Michelin rubber, with six colors available, including some two-tone options. At the end of the day, this is more of an appearance package than anything else.

Same Power, Subtle Tweaks

Despite the badge, the X-Trail Nismo keeps the same 211-hp e-Power hybrid system as the standard model. That setup pairs a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with dual electric motors, good for a respectable but unchanged 0 to 60 mph time of around 7 seconds. Instead of added horsepower, Nissan has focused on smaller refinements: firmer suspension, recalibrated steering, and tweaks to the e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive system. These adjustments should make it sharper in corners, but don’t expect it to transform the SUV into a performance machine.

What About The US?

For now, Nissan hasn’t confirmed whether the Rogue will ever get a Nismo variant. But even if it did, it’s hard to imagine much demand for an SUV that looks like a racer but can barely hold its own against a Toyota Prius. Compare it to the Nissan Z Nismo, a car that backs its aggressive styling with real upgrades under the hood, and the X-Trail Nismo feels more like a 16-year-old upbadging his first car. Reports suggest the next-generation Rogue, due in 2026, might get its own Nismo trim. If that happens, let’s hope Nissan gives it a treatment that lives up to the badge.

Nissan’s Latest Nismo SUV Isn’t Coming Here — But Would You Even Want It? first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 20, 2025

This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 20, 2025, where it first appeared.