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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  BAD MILAGE 10 MPG CITY- SUPER CHARGED - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By xterragirl - October 2 - 10:00 am

  2002 6 cyl. Super Charged. Specs say 15/18 est. milage. I get 10 mpg and 7 mpg towing. The service department said everything is within specs. Did I get a lemon? I am under the 12/12000. Domestic v8s get better milage than this. This is the 4th Nissan I have owned, and the last if this isnt resolved. I love the Xterra, this is the second one I have owned, but the milage is KILLING ME!

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  Dependable - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By Diesel - September 29 - 6:43 pm

  Bought used with aprox. 20,000 miles, in 2006. Now has 80,000 in 2010. I have only changed the oil, the air filter, the head lights, wipers, and battery. Did every thing but the oil myself with ease. My good friend, a mechanic, recommended I buy an Xterra. I am glad I did. I owned a 2000 Frontier that never gave me a problem either, so I was happy to by another Nissan. Id bet it has the same 2.4 litter engine, but geared lower. I removed the roof rack air dam for better mileage.

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  x-terra - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By kirvin - September 26 - 10:00 am

  It is a great SUV. It rides really smooth and gives you a lot of neat features...but it still feels sporty.

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  Great Car - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By marie - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This was my first new car that I bought and I love it. It handles awesome especially in the winter, and its factory rack is great to hall your skis on the top!!

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  XTERRA - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By DD214 - September 14 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT EXCEPT THE GAS MILEAGE WHICH IS 14-15 IN SUMMER USING A/C. GETS ABOUT 20-21 ON THE ROAD W/ AIR CONDITIONING ON. NOT GOOD FOR SMALL WOMEN OR WOMEN W/SHORT LEGS.

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  Durable, Functional, and a Great Ride - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By kdeprey - September 14 - 2:00 am

  After test driving the Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, and sitting in a myriad of its competitors, I chose the Xterra for its durability, funtional interior, REAL 4X4, and masculine good looks. This is a truck and can be used like one, yet the ride is suprisingly smooth and comfortable. Something to note, the Tribute and Escape may seem to have "smoother, car- like rides", but in a world of Midwestern pot-holed streets, the Tribute and Escapes short wheelbase and compromised suspension leave the driver bouncing up and down constantly, in a choppy fashion. The Xterra soaks up bumps, distributing them through the solid truck frame.

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  great - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By Tim nicholas - September 14 - 2:00 am

  Great truck for off roading, but it drives like a truck....great music system........

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  Great suv - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By Ben Killion - September 11 - 7:43 am

  Bought with 90000 miles and its now at 185000. And besides a driver window switch that I bought from eBay I have done nothing but routine and preventative maintenance, i.e., timing belt replaced.

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  my wife and I love it - 2011 Nissan Xterra
  By cottonchopper - September 10 - 4:14 am

  Im 60 years old and have owned lots of other vehicles this is the best/ It can "Do It All". Great in the mountains / rides and handles great /tows our boat no problem/ lots of room/fun to drive /we go everywhere in it. Only regret is I did not buy one years ago. we have 2011 xterra S 2wd and it goes every where we want to go /I can only imagine what a 4x4 is like.

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  225,000 Miles & Still Going Strong! - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By vstro - September 8 - 5:30 pm

  Bought this Xterra new in 2001 from Al West Nissan. About a year later the dealership told me that it was recalled to correct some problems at no charge-still under warranty. Since that the only thing I had to have done besides the usual oil changes (sometimes I was a little slack on that)& and a battery here and there is points/plugs last year at about 200,000 miles!She is now 9 years old. Unbelievable! Dependable! Reliable! Love my Xterra and wish it would just keep going forever- I might just see how many miles we can get to and then go buy another new one. Ive been very happy with it!