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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  good stuff! - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By jmoo - May 29 - 2:00 am

  love this car with all the extras...only big downfall is that is sucks down as much gas.

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  Great Truck - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By hect2r - May 24 - 10:00 am

  Awesome truck, great ride, not so good on gas....but, who cares? Its a good looking truck and I love it.

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  Love it so far - 2007 Nissan Xterra
  By pinenut - May 23 - 11:23 am

  I love this truck. The only thing I dont like is the snow builds up on the roof due to that storage compartment and the rails. Its a pain when it turns to ice and starts to slide around up there. MPG as advertised. I live in the snow and this vehicle can get me anywhere I need to go.

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  cheap seats - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By jana - May 22 - 10:00 am

  Ive had over 20 different cars and these are by far the WORST!!!! The foam is like a marshmellow. If I would have known how bad I would have never bought the car and probably will not keep the car...I cant believe the in dash ash tray is an accessory so you have a hole in the dash that looks like crap.. Im really disapointed with this car, I know its not a luxury car but please....Oh by the way this is not my first suv its my third...

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  A No-Frills,True Off-Roading Vehicle - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By JosephF - May 18 - 10:00 am

  This is a fully capable, no-frills off- roading truck. The 4WD transmission is amazing; This truck can handle almost any off-roading obstacle you throw at it. The low-end torque really comes in handy when traversing perilous trails (I was able to haul my friends Wrangler out of a good one and a half feet of mud without straining my truck at all). The lack of power in the 4th and 5th gears is to be expected. This is a real truck, not a Ferrari; so dont expect to be winning races with it anytime soon. I would recommend this vehicle to those who want a fully capable off-roader to get them to where they need to go.

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  Very dependable - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By redness - May 16 - 9:10 pm

  Bought mine new and have had no problems at all. It has 106,000 miles on it now. Besides regular maintenance no one problem at all! Good truck very reliable.

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  i love this truck - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By jlacourt - May 15 - 2:00 am

  i have been waiting to buy one of these for about two years now. it was well worth the wait. it doesnt ride like a car but its not supposed too--its built for offroading. you can tell the difference in the engine (180hp vs. 170hp) especially with a k&n filter installed. i did not to get the sunroof- -its not useful in an xterra anyways-- but on the 2003s they have a cargo net in the ceiling in its place. great place to keep things you want to keep from sliding around. the turning radius is amazing. its as good as my civic--it feels that way anyways. overall its a great truck. i would recommend one to anyone.

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  My bad a** xterra - 2010 Nissan Xterra
  By jjabb - May 12 - 2:03 am

  Loving my xterra out here in the Arizona desert. It is the SUV you want. Nice clearance and great power to get you through any terrain.

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  Going on 4 years... - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By chowe - May 4 - 10:00 am

  I bought the 2000 XE V6 4WD and I am impressed with the reliablity and ride after +60K miles. Sure, Gas Mileage could be better, but what are you going to do. My X has capably handled several snowy winters in the last few years and annual trips out on the beach in North Carolina. It has "passable" comfort for long trips, but it certainly isnt a Benz...Then again, there are no SLKs pulling up to the surf on the beach! Ive had a couple of little rattles and squeeks, but overall, I am pretty impressed.

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  Happy Consumer - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By jordan - May 4 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my 02 XE S/C 4wd for just over 6 months now, and I couldnt be happier. Im coming from a 96 Blazer that was as reliable and fun as anyone could ask, but I dont miss it a bit. My only complaint about the Xterra is having to remove the back seat cushions to fold them down flat. They either take up space or you have to leave em at home. Other than that the truck rides great and is a blast to drive. I couldnt ask for more. I would recommend this truck to anyone who seriously uses their SUV like a truck, but still wants to be able to get from point A to point B in comfort and with some fun.