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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  ol trusty - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By daless - March 8 - 8:03 pm

  Bought this baby new in Sept 01. Other then couple of small issues, this thing is tough an reliable. Put off- road tires on and now ok in snow and mud-the General OEM tires sucked for traction. I have 120,000 on it now and definitely think I will get to 200,000.

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  Better then suggested - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By buckeye boy - March 8 - 2:00 am

  We looked at every mid-sized SUV on the market before deciding on the Xterra SE (loaded). My wife drives it daily (with two small children) and she could not be happier. Reviews said after the newness wore off people would not like it. WRONG!! We love the ride, the security, the quality, etc. We would recommend this to anyone looking for a practical SUV.

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  I Love xterra - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By jack russel - March 7 - 2:13 am

  I owned a 2002 xterra and loved it. I was hit by a drunk driver and i was heartbroken. Insurance paid off my loan and I decieded that another xterra would be great. When i picked it up I had a permanent smile on my face. The inside and out has been redesigned and its awesome. i like the sporty interior and the aggressive exterior. Compared to my 2002 the seats are way more comfortable. The new engine is amazing, my old xterra only went 95 before the govener kicked in, this one I have gone up to 115 and boy does it get there fast. over all it handels awesome and rides smooth and i would buy 100 of them if I had the money.

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  Fun tank to drive! - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By girlofsummer - February 21 - 2:06 am

  The 2006 Xterra has amazing power. It definitely gets up and goes on the freeway. Im amazed at the smooth and quiet ride.

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  Love It! - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By Versitile SUV - February 13 - 11:13 am

  After owning several Pathfinders I decided to go with the Xterra, and Im loving it! It handles more like a car than a truck and feels very sturdy on the road. Decided on the automatic instead of the 6 speed, with the 265 HP there is plenty of power. Ive taken it off-road twice and it handled amazing well.

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  Awesome little SUV - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Pwrl3ss - February 13 - 9:00 am

  My wife and I are really happy about our decision to buy a new 2nd gen. Xterra. We were considering buying a H3, but in comparison to what you get for the price, the X made more sense. Dont get me wrong, the H3 is nice (under-powered though) but its not worth the extra $10k for it. I would say the fit and finish of our Xterra is as good if not better than the H3. The cabin is quiet when cruising around. Interior noise under acceleration though seems a little loud but hey thats a good thing because it reminds you got a little monster under the hood. The X definitely has power on tap, which was I think the biggest factor in our decision to buy the X.

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  do-it-all SUV and a great value - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By RP - February 12 - 9:43 am

  superb drive train with 6 speed, ample power for running at 2000 RPMs max through the gears (for acceptable MPG) or moving quick if necessary. Only turns 2000 RPMs at 70 MPH. Nice build quality, solid and quiet. Great for family, recreation, hauling, or off-road. The best price / value available in the market.

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  Love my new Xterra! - 2007 Nissan Xterra
  By chrislynn - February 12 - 8:10 am

  I did a massive amount of research on this vehicle and could find nothing wrong with it. Not only did the Xterra win top ratings in 2006 across the board, but I could find no substantial cutomer complaints. In addition, these SUVs sell like hotcakes in my neck of the woods, which is a good sign. Aside from the obvious performance features the Xterra has to offer, the lack of complaints and overall customer satisfaction aspect proves this vehicle was a good investment. Im in love with my Xterra!

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  xterra hot little number - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By Skog - February 10 - 10:00 am

  The Xterra is definately a looker. It attracts attention from both sexes..... especially in the 20 to 40+ age group. The ride is very nice for a truck and the interior is great for the average consumer who wants sporty looks and a little prestige. I have not had any problems with it mechanically. As far as the noise goes with the roof rack, crack the front windows a bit. Also, does not feel tippy to me! Great rear room for alot of gear compared to other SUVs in its class.

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  terrible!!!! - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By happygirlbrum - January 27 - 10:00 am

  We brought a brand new Exterra last year. It was defective . We have taken it back to be fixed over 10 times. The customer service is terrible and they are not willing to work with us. I do not recommend this vehicle to anyone!!