Nissan Has a New SUV Called Tekton, And It’s a Baby Armada in Disguise

• Nissan reveals the Tekton, a new compact SUV inspired by the brand’s flagship SUV
• The design takes cues from the Nissan Armada and blends premium ruggedness
• Built on Renault-Nissan’s CMF-B platform, it shares roots with the new Dacia Duster
• Launch expected in 2026, with India production and potential exports planned

In Nissan’s SUV family, the Patrol, known as the Armada in the US, sits at the top as the brand’s ultimate off-roader, especially with the introduction of the Armada Nismo.

But while the Armada commands highways and deserts, Nissan is now looking to scale that identity down into something more accessible. Enter the Tekton – a compact SUV designed to capture the essence of Nissan’s largest SUV in a smaller, globally adaptable form.

The Tekton is part of Nissan Motor India’s “One Car, One World” strategy, which aims to create models built in India but sold beyond it. Developed with Renault and assembled at the Chennai plant, the Tekton will serve as the brand’s second new product under this program, positioned to compete in the crowded C-SUV segment.

A Baby Armada/Patrol with French Bones

According to Nissan, the Tekton’s styling borrows heavily from the Patrol’s imposing attitude. The front features a sculpted bonnet, bold lower bumper, and the brand’s signature C-shaped LED headlights – elements that lend a sense of size and strength unusual in this class.

Along the sides, the SUV’s muscular stance continues, with the front doors featuring a subtle mountain range motif inspired by the Himalayas. The rear features a full-width red lightbar connecting the taillights, with the “Tekton” nameplate set prominently across the tailgate.

Despite the Nissan styling, the Tekton is not a completely new model. It’s based on the latest Dacia Duster, sharing much of its sheet metal, greenhouse, and proportions. The hood features “Tekton” lettering but retains the Duster’s familiar shape.

To distinguish itself, Nissan added unique side gills, new alloy wheel designs, and subtle trim revisions. Underneath, it rides on the Renault-Nissan CMF-B architecture – a versatile platform also used by several European models across the alliance, including the new Nissan Kicks.

Scheduled for Launch in 2026

Powertrain details remain under wraps for now. However, given the Dacia Duster bones, we expect the Tekton to share its turbocharged 1.0-liter and 1.3-liter gasoline engines, both paired with manual or CVT options. Nissan has yet to confirm whether a hybrid or all-wheel-drive version will be part of the lineup, though the platform supports both.

The Tekton is scheduled for launch next year – produced and sold in India, and, as mentioned earlier, to several export markets. According to Nissan, the Tekton name was derived from the Greek word for “craftsman,” which “aligns with Nissan’s ethos of precision engineering and innovation that enriches lives.”