Excellent Small SUV
Pros:
Powertrain, interior room, nifty features, handling for a truck
Cons:
fuel economy (expected with an SUV), standard radio
The Bottom Line:
This is a great SUV worth buying. I recommend to anyone who wants a reliable and powerful SUV.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I purchased a 2006 Nissan Xterra after I traded in my 2003 Jeep Liberty. The Jeep Liberty was a good truck, but I wanted to look for something with more power and refinement. I settled on the Nissan Xterra. I've had the Xterra for about a month and right now there are about 1000 miles on it. I know I've only had the truck for a little time, but I want to share my thoughts about the most important parts of the SUV- the engine, ride, handling, features, etc.
EXTERIOR STYLING
Although Nissan didn't change the Xterra that much from the previous one, I still like the design. When I was purchasing my Jeep back in 2003, I also liked the Xterra because of its styling. But I choose the Jeep then because the Xterra had weak engines. Overall, though, Nissan did a great job on the styling; they kept the overall concept there, but updated to look modern.
PERFORMANCE
If there is one thing Nissan improved, its the performance. Nissan got it right by putting the 3.5L V6 from the 350Z in the truck and boring it out to 4.0L. Acceleration of the Xterra is quicker than trucks with a V8. The engine is very smooth and responsive. The 5 speed automatic is also very smooth.
Handling, I noticed, is fairly nimble for a truck of its size. It handles the curves very good and doesn't feel top heavy.
The ride in the Xterra is not too harsh, but don't expect a luxury car ride. This is still an off road capable SUV and it will have a jittery ride at times.
One thing I put down as a negative is fuel economy. Yeah, this is expected too with an SUV. It gets around 17 MPG, but you can use regular fuel, which saves money.
FEATURES
The Xterra comes with many nifty features, such as a cargo area that is washable, compartments under the cargo area to keep items, a step rail in the back to step on to get something on top, and a cargo container on the top in the front.
INTERIOR
The interior is nicely finished with good fit and finish. The styling is a bit bland, but everything is within reach of the driver. The gauges are legible and all controls are too. Interior room is plentiful and you don't feel confined when driving. I am 6 feet tall and I have plenty of head room.
OVERALL
I recommend the Xterra to anyone who want a rugged SUV that will have excellent performance and is reliable. My family has had many Nissan's and they were very reliable, so I expect the Xterra to be.
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