The Nissan Xterra is a truck-based compact SUV that Nissan Motors produced and sold between 1999 and 2015 across two generations, with the first (1999–2004) sharing a chassis with the Nissan Frontier pickup and the second (2005–2015) also using the Frontier’s platform.
Although the two Xterra generations differed greatly, both made body-on-frame construction and underbody skid plates a priority and put price and toughness before luxury[3].
[4] Both iterations also featured a two-box design with rear door handles situated on the c-pillars, an asymmetrical back window, a bump-out in the tailgate for a first aid kit that could be accessed from the inside, and a noticeable two-tiered roof that allowed stadium seating in the second row. The sloped roof allowed for the installation of a normal roof rack at the back and a lower, removable gear basket roof rack at the front.
Nissan produced the SUV in Nissan’s Smyrna Assembly as well as at Canton, Mississippi, and licensed the Xterra moniker from the XTERRA off-road triathlon competition series[5]. Additionally, variations were produced in China and Brazil.
The Xterra was the first Nissan vehicle entirely conceptualized, developed, and manufactured in the United States. It was designed by NDI Director of Design Tom Semple[1] and developed at Nissan Design America in La Jolla, California[6].
[7] The goal of the Xterra designers, according to Jerry Hirshberg, president of Nissan Design International (NDI), “was to build an economical, tough, and high-quality piece of equipment.” [2] It’s a garage tool that says, “Treat me harsh,” and it’s made to look better dirty than clean, according to what he later said. [8]
The Xterra is a “honest SUV that doesn’t strive to be a luxury car alternative or try to hide its truck underpinnings,” according to Road & Track.
[9]
It was described as a “knockoff of the Land Rover Discovery” by Jalopnik.
[10]
It was described as “rugged without bluster” by The Washington Post.
[4]
In This Article...
A Nissan Xterra is a sedan, right?
The 2015 Nissan Xterra, a real body-on-frame SUV built for rugged trails and marketed for off-road enthusiasts, isn’t hesitant to give up any comfort and convenience in the city to do it correctly.
Nissan stopped building Xterras for what reason?
- After a makeover in 2005, the Xterra’s sales began to decline significantly, and it was terminated in 2015.
- A tough SUV with all-terrain tires, skid plates, and a rear locking differential was the Xterra, especially the Pro-4X model.
- According to Automotive News, dealers are pleading with Nissan to bring back the Xterra since consumers are snapping up all the new off-road-oriented cars.
Fans of the tough off-roader have been clamoring for the Nissan Xterra to come back ever since it ceased manufacturing in 2015. Nissan’s North American vice president hinted that the Xterra would return in 2017, giving those supporters some cause for optimism. As buyers demand capable, adventure-focused models, Nissan dealers, according to Automotive News, are now pleading with the manufacturer to bring back the tiny body-on-frame SUV.
Describe Xterra.
Cross triathlon (also known as off-road triathlon) races are within the Xterra racing category. All of the competitions include some form of open water swim, mountain bike (instead of road cycling as in regular triathlon competitions), and trail running (instead of road running).
Depending on the environment and topography, the races differ greatly. Depending on the amount of elevation and the difficulty of the trails, some races may be more difficult than others. That’s what I find intriguing about Xterra—each race is a brand-new adventure.
There are usually Xterra races nearby no matter where you are. The list of competitions appears to go on forever with the American, European, Pan American, Asia-Pacific, and Canadian Tours. The penultimate race of the year, the Xterra World Championships, is annually held in Maui, Hawaii.
Many people are unaware that there are other off-road triathlon competitions, such as ITU Cross Triathlons, TNatura Events, TreX Cross Triathlons, Winter Triathlon, etc., even though Xterra is one of the most well-known and frequently contested off-road triathlon series in the world.
Nope! Championship/professional and sport/age group categories are available in Xterra tournaments. The distances of the sport-level competitions are often a little bit shorter, comparable to a sprint distance in an on-road triathlon. Xterra presents a challenge for everyone, whether you are an experienced on-road triathlete, curious about trying multi-sport for the first time, or a professional athlete.
Xterra is fantastic not just because of the competition, the trails, and the incredible locations, but also because of the people you get to meet. I’ve competed in Xterra races all around the world for the past eight years. France, Italy, the Philippines, Hawaii, Tahiti The sense of family that permeates these races is what has most impressed me. People compete against the environment and themselves, not against one another. Regardless of the outcome, the sense of brotherhood in this racing format permeates your entire being. The cultures I’ve encountered and the individuals I’ve met along this rocky path have been motivating, energizing, fascinating, and instructive. Xterra is like a family to me.
How long is the Xterra’s lifespan?
A Nissan Xterra should last for 200,000 kilometers. With meticulous maintenance and judicious use, you can get roughly 13 to 15 years of trouble-free performance out of the car if you drive an average of 15,000 miles per year.
Is the Nissan Xterra a reliable car?
Nissan Xterras: Are They Reliable? Major dependability assessments give the Nissan Xterra above-average ratings. Consumer Reports scored the SUV a 3 out of 5 stars, while RepairPal gave it a 3.9 out of 5. J.D. Power gave the 2015 Nissan Xterra an above-average rating for dependability and resale value.
Do xterras cost a much to maintain?
The annual auto maintenance costs for the Nissan Xterra come to $514. The table that follows provides a detailed ranking of each car in this overall scheme for comparison’s sake. The Nissan Xterra is significantly less expensive to maintain when compared to the average car ($651 annually vs. $514 for the Nissan Xterra).
What Nissan Xterra issues are most prevalent?
Four typical Nissan Xterra issues
- Sunroof explodes and rattles. Owners of Nissan, beware!
- Transmissions are destroyed by coolant leaks. Some Nissan SUVs and trucks from the model years 2005 to 2010 have automatic transmissions that are vulnerable to radiator damage.
- Defects in the timing chain.
- Gas spills and EVAP clogs.
Nissan superior to Toyota?
Dependability and Excellence Toyota is known for producing some of the most dependable vehicles on the market. The business was rated as the second most dependable brand overall by Consumer Reports for 2021. Nissan ranked in sixteenth place, substantially further down the list.
Nissan produces trucks, right?
You may be sure to find a vehicle that can assist you in tackling the most difficult tasks or terrains thanks to a variety of accessible safety and technology features. Discover the full- and mid-size pickup trucks from Nissan with strong horsepower, torque, and towing capacities.
Are Nissan Xterras suitable for off-road driving?
The Nissan Xterra Off Road is Nissan’s best SUV for off-roading and other environments. If you’re a true off-road enthusiast, it can manage both a leisurely hike up a route and a more challenging off-road duty.
A reliable off-road vehicle is necessary for your upcoming vacation if adventure is on your mind. When you leave the paved roads behind, the world seems broader than it has ever been, but which cars are the greatest for off-roading and which ones are simply for show?
Does the Xterra still in production?
Jeep has the Compass and Cherokee siblings, Ford has the Bronco Sport and Escape pair, and Mazda has just joined the fray with the CX-5 and CX-50 made in the United States. Therefore, even if just virtually, why not Nissan?
The present adoration of trucks, SUVs, and crossovers in the automotive business is so enormous that automakers are now adding double outfits to their segment offers. This is due to the fact that some people will like the gentler crossover side of things, but others will only have rough passion in their hearts and thoughts. To address both use case scenarios, automakers came up with novel solutions.
Ford, Jeep, and Mazda, among others, are now returning to niche vehicles for each mindset rather than having one vehicle to satisfy most purposes. They must, given how little emphasis is now placed on passenger cars. Nissan may also be considered along the same lines, albeit informally, but we won’t call it a well-cooked plan just yet.
After previously satisfying the desires of the Toyota FJ Cruiser rebirth, the Philippines-based virtual artist Enoch Gabriel Gonzalez, also known as enochgonzalesdesigns on social media, wants to give AWD Nissan lovers a moment to celebrate. As his recreated 2024 Nissan Xterra sprung back to a digital existence that is robust, tough, and completely off-road ready, the pixel master fortunately did not wander too far from the rugged way of life.
Just in case anyone forgot, the first two generations of the Nissan Xterra were produced from 2000 to 2015, with the tiny pickup-based SUV serving as the first Nissan to be entirely designed, developed, and built in the United States. It originally competed against the then-smaller Toyota 4Runner, among others, by piggybacking on the Nissan Frontier (Navara) pickup truck chassis.
Now, Xterra would act as the alternate off-road-focused nameplate next to Nissan’s 2022 Rogue, which starts at an MSRP of $27,150 in the United States, and make them into a double ensemble in the compact SUV sector, much like the Murano and Pathfinder do throughout the mid-size crossover SUV range. Even so, we are aware that it is unlikely.
Nissan Xterra gas mileage?
For instance, the 2003 V6 SUV 4D XE 2WD (4 Cyl. 5 Spd.) gets a combined gas economy of 21.5 miles per gallon, whereas the 2004 V6 SUV 4D SE SC 4WD trim model has a combined gas mileage of 16.5 miles per gallon (11.1 liters per 100 km) (14.4 liters per 100 km).
Depending on the trim and model year, the Nissan Xterra can achieve a city fuel economy of 12.4 miles per gallon (12.4 liters per 100 km) to 16.8 miles per gallon (16.8 liters per 100 km) and a highway fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon (9.8 liters per 100 km) to 24 miles per gallon (13.1 liters per 100 km).
For hybrid automobiles, the gas mileage displayed is the miles per gallon equivalent.
How many kilometers can the Nissan Frontier handle?
Your Nissan Frontier should last up to 100,000 miles, but with proper maintenance, it might last up to 200,000 miles.
Maintenance is the secret to your truck’s lifespan. Your Frontier could last 200,000 miles or longer if you are careful with maintenance.
How far can a Nissan travel?
In a recent analysis, RepairPal averaged the dependability ratings for 345 different Nissan models. In terms of reliability, the Japanese brand placed ninth overall out of 32 different automakers. Nissans go to the shop for repairs roughly 0.3 times a year.
Of course, reliability ratings differ by model and year. The top Nissan models offer fantastic fuel efficiency, effortless handling, cutting-edge technology, and stunning appearance. For instance, the Pathfinder’s ratings have risen recently despite previous editions of the game being a little slow.
Nissans require $500 in maintenance annually, which is a little more than the national average. Your Nissan will survive longer than many other cars if this doesn’t concern you.
How many miles can a Nissan last?
The majority of Nissan owners report that their cars last for about 250,000 miles. Naturally, driving history and maintenance practices might raise or lower this figure. Your Nissan might potentially last well beyond 300,000 miles with excellent maintenance.