Which xterra for off road

Each comes standard with a potent hp, 4. Optional are four-wheel drive and a five-speed automatic transmission. For our road test, Nissan lent us an Off-Road 4WD equipped with the standard six-speed and the optional part-time four-wheel drive with a low range. The Off-Road 4WD differs from other trims in that it gets BFGoodrich Rugged Trail tires, a locking rear differential, Bilstein shocks, three skid plates, black body-side molding, and blue fabric seats.

And because it's the rock climber of the group, the Off-Road gets more generous approach and departure angles The former holds speed downhill while the latter prevents rolling backward on an incline when off the brakes. Our three-pedaled tester also featured a clutch-interlock-override button that makes daunting maneuvers less scary by alleviating the use of the clutch when starting the vehicle and performing first-gear crawls.

For this test, we focused on where most Xterra buyers drive their vehicles-the pavement. Approach the new Xterra, and you'll wonder who threw a flashy chrome grille and a set of big flared fenders on the old model. This latest vehicle's sturdy-looking shell, although entirely new, appears absolutely familiar. Nissan designers didn't mess with the original's styling success; thus, there's no mistaking the new Xterra for some other SUV. Part of the familiarity lies within the Xterra's dimensions, which have grown modestly.

Height and length have increased by about an inch and width by 2. It is indeed bigger, but more in a toned than bulky way. The wheelbase, at On the road, it's quickly clear the vehicle no longer suffers from the shakes and rattles that plagued its predecessor. There's solidity to the structure now and cohesiveness to the interior, where bits seem firmly locked in place.

Speaking of the interior, although we appreciate the straightforward layout and efficient ergonomics, we'd also appreciate more color diversity--the blue seat inserts do little to liven the shades-of-black ambience--and more foot space under the front seats for rear-seat passengers, who are otherwise treated to theater-style viewing and plenty of headroom.

Going down the road, there's little to suggest that the Xterra is anything but a truck. The ride remains distinctly bouncy over bumpy roads, as if you were leisurely navigating rolling seas in a Boston Whaler, and the handling dynamics still fall short of those exhibited by car-based utes. With 9. We're not knocking Nissan here; rather, we're simply pointing out that the Xterra is what it is--a truck.

Peek under the bumpers, and what you see are common truck bits: steel control arms up front and a rigid axle with leaf springs in the rear. As noted, our Off-Road example also had the mud-loving BFG tires and the heavy-duty Bilstein shocks, whose primary objective isn't to coddle you on the highway or make you smile through the twisties but rather to get you over a particularly ugly mountain pass.

If you're looking for a more carlike ride, opt for the S or SE, or just ante up and get a Pathfinder, which features an independent rear. That said, the '05 Xterra does ride and handle markedly better than its forebear, thanks to the extended wheelbase, stiffer structure, and communicative steering. Those are almost identical specs to the 4Runner. Well, today, we change that by outfitting this PRO-4X with all of the entry-level bits necessary for a fun weekend on the trails. These guys can do everything from in-house dyno tuning and performance part installs to track alignment and corner balancing in their modern, professional facility.

We like to throw them curveballs now and then, too, by bringing them something out of their realm, and they handle it with ease every single time. Since , the company has been supplying a burgeoning 4WD community with quality offerings. The Old Man Emu contains heavy load front coil springs, Nitrocharger Sport front and rear struts, medium load rear leaf springs, a sway bar fitting kit, new U-bolts, and extra bushings for the leaf springs.

The installation was pretty straightforward, removing the old suspension pieces and replacing them with the upgraded alternatives. This duo is not your average off-road bumper. Paired with what went into its creation, this setup combines LED fog lights and indicators for more versatile and safer remote travel equipment. Meanwhile, the Superwinch Tiger Shark winch with synthetic rope was fastened into place.

As its name suggests, this winch is rated for 9, pounds, uses a 5. The Xterra PRO-4X was the longest-lived, and more common of the two, lasting all the way until the truck was removed from the market after the model year, and it's the one to target for the most out-of-the-box all-terrain capability. When looking at a potential Xterra trail rig, make sure to watch out for rust, especially on first-generation SUVs, as well as a specific type of radiator failure known as the Strawberry Milkshake of Death on automatic-equipped second-generation models.

Large diameter tires, starting at around 35 inches, have also been known to cause front differential failures. Properly kitted out, the Nissan Xterra—from either generation—is a fun off-road rig that won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Reasonably reliable, cheap to buy, and with enough guts to get you through all but the most complex rock-crawling obstacles, it's a strong counterpoint to the Wrangler religion. Sign up for more restomod content to add horsepower to your inbox. This value disparity continues on the used market, where the Nissan 4x4 is often one of the least-expensive of the 'modern' truck-based SUVs The modestly-sized first-generation Xterra was nudged into the void left by the Nissan Pathfinder's push into the three-row family segment in the mids, receiving a redesign and a size boost to help give more all-around appeal.

Back To Basics When the Nissan Xterra first hit the scene for the model year, it followed a playbook familiar to fans of American off-road vehicles by borrowing its platform from the brand's Frontier mid-size truck. Redesigned For More Brawn In the previously-mentioned Nissan SUV shake-up saw the Pathfinder kicked upstairs to its new role as a family-friendly tow platform, which meant that the Xterra could inherit its hand-me-downs under the hood and not poach too many customers.

Why Not Go Xterra? Check out all the reasons to step up to the Nissan Pathfinder. Recommended For You. Subscription Confirmed! Look for the latest news stories and features, sent straight to your inbox!