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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  Sorry to see it go... - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By skyhogg - June 26 - 10:00 am

  but after 10 months, I just cant live with the crappy mileage. I fill the tank (39 bucks) and I get about 275 miles out of it. And now, Nissan says that the 05s are even bigger, with even worse MPG. Im sorry to see the last pure SUV for real people go this direction. If it werent for the gas suck, Id keep it forever. Rides nice, looks great, great offroad, etc. Just decided to go the other way. Honda Element, here I come!

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  Head liner - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By pellab - June 25 - 7:20 am

  I bought my Nissan Xterra 05/24/04 brand new. My headliner is falling down on my head, I have to pin it up with tacks. I have noticed other Xterras in parking lots and most of them have the same problem. The glue on the headliner was not designed for Florida heat and this is a manufactor problem. Wrote Nissan but have not received a response

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  Xterra World Championship Edition - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By yellow x - June 24 - 10:00 am

  This is a great all around SUV. It gives enough space for cargo or people with out being excessive. The V6 gives it get up and go power when needed. It handles the highways well and off road even better.

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  Bad - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By bithc - June 14 - 8:06 am

  i hate this car i bought it and then 4 months later i hade to replace the engin because it blew that cost me 4,000$ and then a week later i had to bring it in to get a new muffler because the orignal one fell off i guess the clamp was not on and it just droped and i was driving down the street and it almost hit a person behind me i hate this car is is the worst car in the world

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  Love My Xterra - 2010 Nissan Xterra
  By BStanky - June 13 - 12:50 am

  I had my eye on the Xterra after buying an Altima for my wife last year. This year I traded in my old Explorer and after considering the smaller Escape, I drove over to the Nissan dealership and am glad I did. I love this vehicle. The performance from the 4.0L 6cyl engine is superb. The ride is smooth thanks to the 17" wheels and tires, comfortable beyond belief. I wish fuel economy was better, but I am getting 20 MPGs. As the Edmunds model review notes, the brakes take a little getting use to as they are a bit mushy. I love the Rockford/Fosgate audio system with XM, 6CD disk, 9 speakers and blue tooth. This is a very well built vehicle, no rattles or squeaks, and a pure joy to drive.

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  Not a bad SUV for the right type of buyer... - 2015 Nissan Xterra
  By AJ - June 8 - 2:22 am

  ... good value overallThe 2015 Xterra is more or less unchanged from the previous years. I own a brand new Pro-4X in the Night Armour color with the cloth seats. Several aspects of the Xterra attracted me to it in the first place. First of all was value, I paid in the low to mid 30s for a relatively powerful 6 Cylinder SUV with 4 wheel drive, off road capability, a navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity, heated seats, and a cool overall look. Granted the car hasnt been redesigned in quite a while but it still looks good. I specifically enjoyed that this is among a small group of cars that you can get heated seats on cloth seats. That makes it nice and cozy in the winter without the experience of hot leather in the summer. Inside, the Xterra offers a very easy to read and operate instrument panel. The infotainment system is basic but it never freezes or gets stuck. The climate and audio controls are easy to use with simple but quality dials. Personally, I love technology but the new cars with the complicated screens have gotten too intricate and they take my attention from the road. The Rockford Fosgate sound system (optional) is one of the best stock sound systems Ive ever heard. The heating and air conditioning unit works great in all types of weather, the "MAX A/C" option works tremendously in hot weather. The cargo room is great and there are plent of hidden storage areas throughout the cabin. The front seats are comfortable but not very big. The back seat is even tighter with difficult ingress and egress. While all of the switches and electronics work well the materials of the interior are very much sub-par. I have already had several squeaks and rattles develop in a car with less than 9,000 miles, this is unacceptable. If Nissan had put a little more time and effort in quality materials this would be one of my favorite automotive interiors. Outside, the car has a very utilitarian look with nifty cargo spots and steps for accessing the roof. Care needs to go in maintaining the exterior plastic trim as it can fade quickly in the sun. Use an exterior trim gel to keep it looking good. Mechanically, the Xterra has a great engine with a sub-par transmission. 5 Speed Automatics are incredibly out dated and this one shows its age. The engine has great power for regular driving as well as highway passing and off-roading. The gas mileage is extremely poor as I usually get aroung 14-16 in the city and about 17-18 on the highway. If Nissan could get this same power from a new engine while bumping fuel economy to the mid to high 20s it would have itself a great engine. However, most people dont buy an Xterra for fuel economy. This SUV is designed to handle anything the road throws at it. The Xterra is amazing in snow, rain, mud, and sand. It will get you to work when everyone else can get past the snow in their driveway. The 4 wheel drive system along with the off road gadgets in the Pro-4X make sure this SUV never gets stuck. Furthermore, for an off-road inclined SUV it has a fairly compliant ride on-road with not an obnoxious amount of road noise on the highway. It is easy to drive and park and the Pro-4X has a backup camera to help with parking. Overall, its a shame that Nissan is rumored to be pulling the plug on the Xterra after 2015. This is a good fun SUV for the younger crowd that doesnt have kids or doesnt need tremendous gas mileage. This car looks and feels sporty and rugged without being too harsh on its occupants. Its a great weekend trip car and it has enough technology and entertainment to be competitive in todays tech world. If Nissan could improve gas mileage, interior quality, and give it a fresh redesign I truly believe there would be plenty of buyers for a future Xterra generation, myself included.

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  owner - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By markie - June 5 - 10:00 am

  love the xterra dealer sucks

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  Never better - 2007 Nissan Xterra
  By Jamie C - June 4 - 8:20 pm

  It has been a hassle for to find a car that really affordable to my budget. The Xterra has served me well. I have take this off-roading with my kids. Lots of leg room, very comfortable.

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  In Front of the Class... - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Consult410 - June 3 - 4:13 pm

  My last Nissan, was a 1994 Pathfinder, which is still running like new, so when it came time to purchase a new model, the New Pathfinder didnt fit what I was exactly looking for, so I decided to test drive the 2005 Xterra. It was love all over again... The Xterra is an incredible off road SUV, and drives pretty comfortably in the city too. I am so pleased with my final decision to purchase the new Xterra... If you want a true SUV, Xterra is the model you should check out, because it is an incredible SUV.

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  A real SUV - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By Jimmy Neutron - June 3 - 7:16 am

  I love our Xterra. It really is a 4wd. The sunroof is useless and the front seats could use a bit more leg room. Plenty of room in the back seat and lots of cargo space including the top.