2005 Nissan Xterra Review

Specifications

An Even More Serious SUV Contender

Just where I developed a soft spot for hard core sport utilities Im not sure. No doubt it was probably during the few hundred times my Dad and I trekked off into the wild green yonder to test the waters with our rods and reels in one of his pickups, or even better, his ultra-tough FJ40 Land Cruiser.

Thats probably why I immediately fell for the Xterra when it arrived on the market in 1999 as a 2000 model. Nissan dubbed it “a backpack on wheels,” an accurate description, and added an equally apropos “in-your-face functional” catch phrase.

“Xterra was a cornerstone vehicle in launching Nissans remarkable product revival in the late 90s, showing the automotive industry that good things happen when you focus on meeting customers unmet needs, rather than following the competition,” stated Mark McNabb, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. “With this new generation design, Xterra still has no equals,” said McNabb.

Details like its impressive 4×4 capability, tubular roof rack and removable load basket, no-nonsense (read that as meaning pretty darn basic) interior, stadium-style rear seating, and accessory bike mount to haul a pair of bicycles safely in the large cargo area, that incidentally is accessible by a cavernous rear door-opening and enhanced with 50/50 split-folding rear seatbacks, set Nissans compact SUV apart from mere pretenders. True to its mission, Xterra typifies the “utility” in SUV, and does a pretty good job in the “sport” department too, as long as youre describing its mountain climbing abilities - a slalom skier its not.

That last factor is mostly due to the fact its built off of the Frontier pickup chassis, not the brands Altima sedan which is the basis for the lithe Murano SUV. Hey, different strokes for different folks. Nissans willingness to target specific niches in the market is probably reason enough it sells so many sport utility vehicles.

Nissan isnt about to veer off its chosen path anytime soon, as seen by the barrage of new SUVs the Japanese brand has recently released. Taking up the largest chunk of real estate is the massive Armada, a military fleet unto its own. More recently Nissan unveiled its next-generation Pathfinder, a smaller, more athletic looking variation on the Armada theme. Smaller still is the brands latest SUV offering, the completely redesigned 2005 Xterra.

Nissan chose to debut it in downtown Manhattan on the evening before the first New York International Auto Show press day. So there it was, covered in mud and perched high atop a makeshift rocky crag. Two New York “campers” were set up just underneath, tent up and sleeping bags out in the open, while onlookers sipped wine and snacked on appetizers and cheese plates at Morrells Wine Bar & Café just underneath Rockefeller Plaza.

Its entrance to the show itself was even more spectacular. A muddy Xterra charged out onto a stage only to be showered off on its turntable. As it seems, automakers reserve this final major event of the season for those special cars, trucks and SUVs that deserve a little extra attention. Nissan turned up the jets and attention it got.

And Im glad they did, as the vehicle everyone came to see looks similar enough to the full-size Armada SUV, at least at first glance, that I needed a double take to put it into its much smaller perspective. Larger than its predecessor, the new “compact” SUV is still tiny compared to the XXXL Armada it takes much of its design language from. On that thought, however, Nissan is making no excuses about giving its trucks and SUVs a familiar familial resemblance, the Xterra being the last to conform since the upcoming Pathfinder was revealed earlier this year.

“The changes in the new Xterra are evolutionary, though with a capital E,” added McNabb. “For 2005, weve made key improvements in the areas customers want most - power, driveability, smoother on-road dynamics, more interior space and cargo versatility and, of course, greater off-road performance.”

Now that Ive had a chance to digest what Ive seen, the new Xterra carries over many of the styling cues that still make the outgoing version so popular. While the bold grille and masculine front fascia feature all the toughness of its larger siblings, its general shape is much like its predecessor. The utilitarian two-box designs rugged styling is accentuated even further with substantially sized wheel arches front and back. From the rear it continues the rough and tumble appearance package, highlighted with an asymmetrical rear window and tailgate. Altogether the new model incorporates elements of the larger Armada design language, but does a pretty good job of infusing them with current Xterra traits to give it just enough of its own impudent personality.

That tubular roof rack remains as a key design element on the new Xterra, but now includes a slim “basket” complete with a hinged lid and handle. Not only is it more useful, especially in inclement weather, but its shaped to push air overtop itself and the roof rack, improving aerodynamics. To access the roof rack Nissan has added handy foot indentations at each rear corner, complete with rubber grips to keep the toes in place while climbing.

I took a moment after the crowds had dispersed to clamber around the vehicle, spending most of my time in the drivers seat. Its definitely roomier, as expected, with the associated improvements in utility that go along with increased size. Its also laid out better inside, with higher quality materials and a more modern design. I particularly like the round cutouts for the chromed interior door handles, the slim bending armrest fixed to the front door panels, and industrial-like center stack with integrated audio and HVAC interfaces. The four little divots embossed into the arcing instrument shroud add a little flavor to what would otherwise be a slab of plastic, something I havent seen attempted quite this way before. Nissan has also included its trademark 3-spoke aluminum steering wheel, a sporty touch for this class of SUV. Last but hardly least, the seats not only look terrific, theyre quite supportive from what I could gather during my limited research.

A quick sit in the back made it easy to appreciate how rear seat riders will notice the “biggest” changes with regards to head, shoulder and legroom. The seats are still stacked slightly higher than those in front, stadium-like, especially ideal for smaller children. The now larger cargo area includes a washable floor, as well as adjustable channels integrated within, similar to the Utili-track system offered on the new Nissan Titan and upcoming 2005 Frontier pickups which are ideal for tying down loads. A total of 10 cargo area utility hooks are included, with those on the floor capable of 110 pound loads.

Nissan states the 2005 Xterra will deliver greater off-road capability than the outgoing model. Thats impressive, as the current compact SUV is quite handy at gobbling up people and cargo while escorting them from civilization to the wild unknown in relative comfort. Without doubt the new SUVs fully-boxed all-steel frame plays an important role by serving up a much stiffer structure overall, resulting in better on- and off-pavement handling and more manageable maneuverability, plus higher crash tolerances.

What about power? The upgraded model gets a 250+ horsepower 4.0-liter V6 said to be capable of putting out more than 270 lb-ft of torque. Transmission choices will include a 6-speed manual or 5-speed electronically controlled automatic. Only BMW and Porsche offer 6-speed manuals in their SUVs, so Nissan is in very lofty company indeed.

“We expect the new Xterra to offer best-in-class horsepower and torque, with exceptional acceleration and driveability, such as acceleration coming out of a corner,” commented McNabb. “Weve given it the hardware to get the job done, on highways and any paths that lead to adventure.”

With adventure in mind, the Xterras part-time four-wheel drive system continues forward, which is a good thing as the compact SUV is one of the last true 4×4s around. The system includes 2WD mode for fuel economy savings, plus 4H (high) and 4LO (low) for extreme adventure.

In the end Nissan seems to have done a good job keeping true to the original Xterras down to earth values while updating and refining the model significantly, which should bode well for the new SUVs acceptance among its many devotees.

“Xterra has a very large, very loyal following - owners who love the combination of purposeful styling matched with practical size and functionality. Our task with the new design, which I think weve accomplished, is to update the look without losing any of the originals distinctive character,” said McNabb. “You should be able to tell with just a glance that this is the next Xterra.”

Nissan has scheduled the 2005 Xterra to go on sale in early 2005.