By Cars.com Staff
Cars.com National September 5, 2008Vehicle Overview
Nissan's truck-based Xterra is geared toward young and/or active buyers — or those who want to appear that way. A standard 4.0-liter V-6 drives either the rear or all four wheels. Unlike some SUVs, it's a truly capable off-roader, with an available Off Road edition. The other trim levels are X, S and SE. Its competitors include the Toyota FJ Cruiser and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.
New for 2009
The Nissan Xterra gets a revised front-end appearance and standard side curtain airbags.
Exterior
The Xterra's styling is an evolutionary design, mimicking the original's design heritage. The Xterra is defined by its standard tubular roof rack and stepped roofline. At 178.7 inches long and 72.8 inches wide, the Xterra is smaller than the FJ Cruiser but larger than the Wrangler Unlimited.
- Revised front-end appearance
- Optional running boards
- Bodyside moldings (SE)
- New roof-mounted offroad lights (Off Road)
- Newly available 17-inch aluminum-alloy or 16-inch alloy wheels
Interior
Five people fit inside the Xterra. An optional fold-down front passenger seatback that allows for hauling long items can accompany the SUV's standard 60/40-split folding rear seat. For 2009, there are new seat materials and colors, plus new trim level content. The Xterra has 100 cubic feet of passenger volume, about the same as the FJ Cruiser and Wrangler Unlimited.
- Remote keyless entry, cruise control and auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Double-deck glove box
- Easy-to-clean floor
- Newly available leather-appointed seating (SE)
- Redesigned instrumentation and new switches for climate controls
Under the Hood
Nissan's 4.0-liter V-6 is the only engine offered. It develops 265 horsepower and 284 pounds-feet of torque.
- Six-speed manual transmission
- Optional five-speed automatic transmission
- Available part-time four-wheel drive
- Double-wishbone front suspension and multi-leaf solid rear axle
Safety
The Nissan Xterra has a three-star rollover rating, which is fairly poor, even for an SUV. It gets an Acceptable rating in side-impact crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety with its newly standard side curtain airbags.
- Electronic stability system
- Antilock disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist
- Seat-mounted side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags
Additional Reviews
Cars.com Expert Reviews
| Cars.com Staff | Cars.com National | September 5, 2008 |
Affiliate Reviews
| Scott Burgess | The Detroit Newspapers | April 11, 2009 |
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