Overview & Reviews

The Nissan Xterra is a traditional midsize SUV with seating for five and serious off-road capability. Thanks to stout body-on-frame construction shared with Nissan's Frontier pickup, the Xterra is a beast on the trail and can tolerate a fair amount of abuse. The downside is that this Nissan lacks the on-road polish of car-based crossover SUVs you might buy instead.

The Xterra debuted for the 2000 model year. Later Nissan Xterras are similar in appearance and personality to the early models but have a slightly longer wheelbase, a roomier interior, more power under the hood and a few extra features. If you want a reasonably priced off-roader and find the Jeep Wrangler too crude for everyday driving, the Xterra is worth a look.

User Reviews:

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  Disappointed - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By Disappointed - November 24 - 4:46 pm

  I have just over 99,000 miles on my Xterra, and I have already had to replace a cracked exhaust manifold and the supercharger. Now I am being told that the head gasket is leaking. I love the styling and capability of the Xterra, but I have been very disappointed by the reliability. I dont know if the 3.3 liter engine was not properly designed for the stresses associated with the supercharger, but it has definitely not lived up to my expectations.

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  good suv - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By ewaller - November 22 - 10:00 am

  great suv i will buy another one looking forward to the 2005 great for work or play

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  Gas Mileage sucks - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By HCSD13 - November 8 - 7:53 pm

  This car is good for getting from point a to point b but anything else it lacks. You can get a better deal on a nicer suv. The car is actually not bad to drive but severely lacks in power and gas mileage. The most I have gotten in mileage on the road is 18 with cruise control at 65-70. At gas prices today, I would get another suv thats nicer even though they get the same mileage.

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  A Great Choice - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By stroblight63 - October 25 - 2:00 am

  This is a fun, large car to drive, in a good price range

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  Its not your soccer moms SUV. - 2011 Nissan Xterra
  By Samantha Edwards - October 18 - 8:52 pm

  Got the Pro-4X with leather package. Has Sirius/XM, Fosgate stereo with iPod and AUX and the Utilitrack in the cargo area for tying stuff down to keep it from sliding. I didnt want a SUV look-alike that seemed tough on pavement but caved under the pressure of an off-road situation. The first weekend I had my X, we took it off-roading in Big South Fork and at one point got it almost completely on its side.. but after flipping a few switches, she pulled out like a champ and was none the worse for wear. Not sure why people are knocking the tires. The BFG Rugged Trails have worked fine for me. Just put on my second set at 53k miles. Add a Weathertech cargo mat and its great for dogs!

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  Replaced Jeep Unlimited Rubicon - 2007 Nissan Xterra
  By Liz - October 10 - 6:23 am

  We have owned 5 Jeeps, Land Cruiser, Explorer,Sequoia, etc. XTerra offers Excellent power,very comfortable and quiet compared to 7 Wrangler 4dr. Flexible, convenient,roomy interior design with good visibility and real 4 dr.access, especially compared to FJ. RF Audio has good sound quality. Our thorough test drives, on and off pavement through the WY mtns., revealed good ride and handling for a genuine, seriously off-roadable 4x4. OR model comes well equipped for offroading yet is comfortable on pavement and Interstate. Not A Car Based Poser. Very good value for the money.

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  Xstatic - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By SPJ - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Recently took my Xterra out to Death Valley and it performed great! Took it on an 86 mi. washboard dirt road over a mountain range and it performed like a winner! Plenty of power and torque at lower speeds and for towing. My Xterra has proven very reliable and I like its rugged good looks. Gas mileage could use a little boost as I am only averaging about 17 - 18MPG. I would consider buying another, but I think this ones going to be around for a while.

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  2001 XTERRA - I Like it! - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By Richard C. - October 6 - 10:36 am

  Plain Macho SUV. No frills, just clean practical design. Very reliable so far. Substantial power with V6, but needs a 6th speed for overdrive. 3000 RPM at 65 is too costly with fuel. But around the city it is fun and peppy to drive. Good value for the buck overall. But wont impress those yuppie friends of yours, my kids really like it though. Hell with the yuppie SUVs, enjoy it yourself with your family and all their loaded gear. Id buy another new XTERRA if gas wasnt going up so much these days. RLC

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  Another Xterra Fan - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By Huntress - October 5 - 10:00 am

  I think that the seats are fine. I do long highway drives (17 hours straight) often and rarely have to stop except for gas. However, I have to stop too often for gas.... Room inside for two bikes, camping equipment and people. Disappointed at depreciation rate. Seems much higher than comparable vehicles. Even without 4WD it handles great in snow on fairly steep rodes.

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  Paint Problems - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By Angela Bailey - September 27 - 8:46 pm

  First I have to say, I love this truck. There are few things I would change if given the opportunity. Ive put a lot of miles on this vehicle-56,000 & I keep it in the garage when at home. The paint around the windshield is peeling off. Not cracking or chipping--peeling. Not just the clear coat or even top coat, but base coat down to bare metal. Apparently, Nissan & Co think its perfectly normal for paint to peel off. Sadly, Nissan support & customer service is greatly lacking principles and integrity.