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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  Nissan Is #1 - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By Beverly Edwards - May 3 - 6:56 pm

  This is 2nd X-terra - my first was not a four wheel drive - but she traveled extremely well - the one i own now is a four wheel drive and i love her even more - i can not imagine owning another vehicle but if i do somewhere down the line - i promise it will be a Nissan - i will never go back to any other vehicle - Nissan is the best made auto!!!

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  Nissan Xterra Grande - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By keithcap - May 2 - 10:00 am

  I have had no problems with my Xterra. Its drive is very comfortable and smooth. The power is perfect for most of my applications.

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  Nice Vehicle even as "bare bones" model - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By Che57vy - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Bought vehicle used with 39,000 miles. Now it has 84,000 miles. So far, only part replaced was thermal sensor for the fuel injector, A.K.A. "wax kit", which measures engine heat for the fuel injector through a radiator hose. Wax kit, dealer installed, was $230.00. Covered under accessory warranty (3yrs/36K miles), not under drivetrain warranty (5 yrs/60,000 miles). The 4 cyl/5 spd manual is nice and economical with hwy/city mileage almost always 20 MPG with regular gasoline. Its easy to work on mechanically, with a lot of extra room in the engine compartment. Rides nice and secure on the highway. The 4 cyl / 5 spd manual is an excellent value, even if purchased brand new.

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  Greatest Bargain SUV out there - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By carmoose0082 - May 1 - 1:23 pm

  Love this SUV. Very rugged yet great on or off the road. Great list of standard features for a $20K base price mid size SUV. No money wasters on this one only the things you need. Not one complaint in almost 2 years of driving and 25K miles. 4.0L VQ engine is awesome, pulls hard and tows great and quiet to boot.

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  This is the best car ever! - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By Lindsey - April 30 - 2:00 am

  This car is one of the best cars I have owned in a long time! When this car gets old (which shouldnt be soon), I will just get another Xterra. They are great dependable cars and very reliable for any needs. I would recommend them.

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  XTERRA"ED - 2007 Nissan Xterra
  By randy - April 29 - 3:26 pm

  Traded in used 2005 model for new 2007 S model. LUV IT! Very easy to drive, handles, well, and lots of rear cargo space. Got thru first VT winter with factory BF Goodrich tires w/no sweat. Acceleration for a 6-cylinder, 4-liter is great! Nice CD stereo and speakers to start but upgraded w/after market Kenwood system & Jensen Speakers. Decent mileage at 20 plus on highway for this size/weight SUV. Outstanding value for the price versus domestic comparison SUVs from Ford, GM, and Dodge!

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  Less Enthusiastic Than Most - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By Grumpy - April 28 - 9:16 pm

  I bought the OR model to use off road after driving an 88 4x4 Pathfinder for 342K miles (great vehicle!) By comparison, the Xterra rides like a buckboard & handles like a baby buggy on mountain roads (mushy steering, feels unstable - tho it might not be). Cant get rid of constant squeaking from under carriage, despite 4 trips to the dealer. Unnecessarily tall inside (about same capacity as old Pathfinder, so why?). Worse mileage than advertised, poorly engineered cruise control.

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  Happy Customer - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By Satisfied Owner - April 27 - 1:50 pm

  My previous vehicle was a Chevy S-10 with the Vortec V-6. This Nissan blows my old truck out of the water. It has plenty of giddy up, lots of room inside, and handles remarkably well for a large vehicle. The gas mileage I get is a lot better than advertised on the sticker. I usually get about 18 miles per gallon city. I also enjoy how quite it is inside the cabin. This vehicle is very well built.

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  New Xterra well designed - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By RichieGil - April 23 - 9:06 am

  Nissans entire product line has come a long way since its bland offerings of the late 90s. The new Xterra is no exception. Traded a 2 year old RAV4 with a rattly dashboard and 4 cyl. engine. This is my wifes car. I have an 04 Frontier w/3.3 liter engine (same as 04 Xterra). 4.0 liter in 05 is noticable peppier. We actually went to buy an 04 on clearance and decided to spring for the extra $. My wife loves it and it is a head turner. Test drove a Highlander (nice car, but boring) and a Pilot (surprisely uncomfortable seats) and settled on this cool car and Nissans reputation for dependability. Similar to Pathfinder in looks, but a lot more affordable.

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  Wills "Xterra" Files - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By CF24MVP - April 19 - 8:46 pm

  I previously owned a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder and purchased a 2003 Toyota Tundra. I missed the capabilities of an SUV and my 2005 Xterra SE 4x4 has filled the void! Love the "new" style. The 265 hp engine delivers. Solid and sturdy on the highway and looking forward to taking in off-road. Lots of storage space and the rear bumper step feature along with tubular steps helps access the roof rack. The 380 watt Rockford Fosgate audio system "rocks". You feel the deep bass in the driver seat.