Nissan Xterra excels at rugged, no-frills simplicity

With a 16-year model lifespan and more than 750,000 units sold, chances are you’ve seen plenty of Nissan Xterra SUVs on the road over the years. What made them so popular in Utah and beyond?

The sport-utility segment grew in popularity in the late 1990s, and automakers worked swiftly to meet surging market demand. Nissan saw the opportunity to diversify its product lineup with a vehicle focused on rugged capability. Enter the compact Xterra, which was launched in 2000 as a five-door SUV based on the Frontier pickup. 

The Xterra relied upon body-on-frame construction and was designed, developed and manufactured in the United States. Nissan called the Xterra highly usable, with a spacious interior and a rugged and muscular exterior. See Nissan Xterras for sale

First generation (2000 through 2004) See listings

The Xterra was first introduced as Nissan’s entry-level SUV in 2000, with two available trim levels — the XE and SE. Its starting price point was $18,119. By comparison its sibling, the Pathfinder, started at $26,399. The Xterra fit the bill as a value-oriented and capable vehicle, no matter the terrain.

Under the hood, power came from two available motors: a 2.4-liter inline-4, rated at 143 horsepower, or a 3.3-liter V6, rated at 180 horsepower. Transmissions came in 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual variations.

Unique to the Xterra was an asymmetrical tailgate that contained interior provisions for a built-in first aid kit. Additionally, the vehicle’s roofline was stepped up toward the rear which allowed for a sort of stadium seating feel inside the spacious cabin.

A subtle facelift was applied in 2002 that incorporated rounded headlights and revised interior features such as additional power points, a new parking brake design and a different instrument cluster.

Second generation (2005 through 2015) See listings

The second-generation Xterra debuted in 2005 on the Nissan F-Alpha platform. Nissan went through changes across the entire model lineup that year. In fact, even the Pathfinder grew into a new generation — now with available three-row seating, which set it apart even further from the two-row Xterra.

The Xterra received a styling facelift to both the front and rear in 2009. A host of technology enhancements were made, too, such as an available updated audio system with steering wheel controls and Bluetooth connectivity. Browse Xterras from 2009 and newer

This generation had only one available engine — a 4.0-liter V6 that produced 261 horsepower. Available transmissions included a 5-speed automatic and a 6-speed manual. One criticism of the Xterra was its fuel economy. The Environmental Protection Agency rated the Xterra at 15 mpg in the city and 20 on the highway. 

Beginning in 2011, the off-road variant of the Xterra took on the name Pro-4X. Otherwise, the remaining model years of the Xterra continued with just subtle updates. The Xterra was discontinued after 2015 without a replacement vehicle in the lineup. 

Real-world feedback

Kathy Jones, of Brigham City, has owned an Xterra from each of the two generations. Her first Xterra was a 2000 that she kept from 2002 until 2012. After reaching about 160,000 miles without any major mechanical surprises, she upgraded to the next model. She drove that for another 11 years and 126,000 miles. If Nissan hadn’t discontinued the Xterra after 2015, she would be driving a new one today.

“I bought the Xterra because it was a true SUV, built on a truck frame and made for off-roading,” she said. “The lack of bells and whistles was actually attractive to me.” Jones admired the go-anywhere capability, tight turning radius and cargo-carrying room. 

“With the rear seats laid down, you could haul a snowblower or lawnmower with the handle up, a dresser or other large items. It was easy to tie a canoe to the roof rack, and it had pretty good towing capacity,” she said.

No vehicle is perfect, and Jones mentioned a few drawbacks. Among them, the audio system on her second-generation Xterra lacked USB ports and the available Bluetooth connectivity, so she added an aftermarket interface to overcome that. Also, the seat fabric was not very durable or easy to clean, and she noted the driving dynamics in snow were not great unless four-wheel drive was used. In four-wheel drive, though, she said her Xterras were unstoppable. Check out Xterras in your area

Xterra excellence

If Jones’ 200,000-plus cumulative (and very happy) miles on her Xterras are any indication, there is a lot to love about the Nissan Xterra — even if it wasn’t the most luxurious or smooth-riding SUV on the road. “I drove Xterras for over 20 years — that equals two of them,” Jones said. “No frills, no gimmicks, just basic git ‘er-done vehicles.” 

If the Xterra sounds like a vehicle that would fit your needs, head on over to KSL Cars and find one for yourself.