Shut up! You had me at "22 mpg"!

Enter the 2006 Nissan Xterra 4x2. Flavor = SE. At the 3,200 mile marker on the odometer, I am re-assured that the final $27,600 price tag was well worth every penny spent (and not just because I spent it!)

Going into the purchase of a new vehicle that loses $10,000 when you drive it off the lot is no small consideration. We were originally lured in by the idea of buying either the S or X models because of the obvious reasons – price, and price. I like manual transmission as well so that was a big selling point, but not entirely necessary. I’m a big fan of money, but after months of grueling (for the salesmen) dealership test drives, the SE ultimately came out on top. The S, X and OR (Off Road) models are excellent machines and ride with a very stiff suspension, but the SE is where the tire really kisses the road.

Why I Really Bought the Xterra SE

The Xterra takes off like a rock star. The 261 horsepower V6 responds in kind to your foot and will not disappoint you in traffic; ever. If a vehicle could be labeled as ‘perky’, the Xterra would be it, and with the 4 wheel disc brakes (picture reverse calipers on the rear) stopping on a dime presents no issues. I have not had the misfortune of having to test out the VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) system. This is Nissan’s proprietary ‘don’t lose control of your monster’ feature, assisting you via power transfer /braking when someone doesn’t see the BIG SHINY TRUCK and pulls out in front of you. Generally it is supposed to kick in whenever unstable road conditions are present like rain, gravel, whatever - when it’s rainy or just generally miserable and not particularly safe to drive.

As long as we’re on the topic of safety - mine is yellow, highly recommended in color because traffic seems to flow away from you. And it’s not the Ford Pansy Yellow either, just a nice, burnt orange-ish ‘Solar Yellow’ tastefully chosen by Nissan. While being a color that’s a bit over the top for most people, I like being able to 1) Keep my insurance down by being very obvious and 2) spot my car in the parking lot at a glance (I tend to lose my vehicles in parking lots) and finally 3) enjoy people not opening their door into mine in a parking lot because they -know- they will drive away with yellow paint on theirs. I’ve watched it from a distance. People really are much more careful around bright colors. I get to be the shortest school bus on the road, too.

I also bought the Xterra because it looks cool and it’s not a minivan. I’ve wanted an Xterra since 2001, but with the advent of the 2nd generation, I couldn’t resist what Nissan did to the body (see 2005 body style at http://www.epinions.com/pr-Cars-2005_Nissan_Xterra - as the one listed above is not correct as of this writing on 11/02/2006). So that’s what it’s really about, isn’t it? Projecting a certain image? The Xterra is that image. It says, “My kids do more than just play soccer.”

Ooh, and I got the tent, too. I’m looking forward to using that.


Shut up! You had me at "22 mpg"

I didn’t buy the Xterra because it’s a gas sipper - I get about 18.1 mpg in traffic and about 21 mpg on the highway. It’s a 21 gallon tank so it dents your wallet filling up, no matter what. Nor did I buy it for the 4x4 ability (more parts to potentially break, a self-perceived fear). I bought the Xterra primarily because of its reputation. Some companies advertise their reliability but Nissan actually demonstrates it. The Xterra’s rabid customer base verifies it, as do independent safety tests. Go and try to find more than a small handful of bad reviews on an Xterra. They will be few and far in between and possibly attributable to care and feeding issues and not manufacturer related. I like to feel good about what I’m buying (see above: money + me = good).


And Then there was Sound…

If a solid steering and capable vehicle wasn’t enough, Nissan hit it for a home run with the Rockford Fosgate package that comes in the SE - it will make you weep. It is easily a $1000+ stereo system and it is the first system in 17 years of vehicles that I have been able to play at a moderate volume and have the system deliver a ‘loudness’ and full dynamic range you wouldn’t get out of some high end retail systems I’ve heard, researched or purchased. We’re talking the depth and breadth from the open guitar punch in Foo Fighters’ Learn to Fly, from US3’s Cantaloop to Thunderkiss 65 without any distortion, ‘slapping’ or protests from the four speaker, two mid-range, two tweeter and one bass speaker ensemble (nine speakers total). Nissan scored a lot of points on this one with me because in the past several years I have come to the sorry conclusion that it’s easier just to ignore upgrading the audio in your vehicle and concentrate on those in your home theater system because the reality is there are SO MANY bad in-vehicle audio products out there.

The steering wheel mounted stereo controls should totally be advertised as a safety feature. I get frustrated when I drive my care and I reach for the volume button, only to realize I have to take my eyes off the road to address what I want to do with the radio.


The Interior and Controls

The entire interior is easy to clean plastic! Smartly placed hooks for lots of dry cleaning and the seats are easy to fold down to port large objects when necessary. The seats are durable and the driver’s side even has a lumbar support for long trips. This is particularly useful for those of us who have a tendency to slouch. The gauges are clear and the trip computer is slow but a nice toy – you get to see what your average speed and MPG are, miles before running out of gas and standard A and B trip meters. The O/D (overdrive) button on the auto shifter is nice, too, because you don’t have to move your foot down on the accelerator to go a little faster on the highway.


Pleasantly Surprised

Having driven in front of my own vehicle in my Honda Civic, I can say the headlights are thoroughly blinding. Coupled with the fog lights even more so. Don’t drive with the fog lights on unless you must or are compelled… its pretty rude. The full sized spare comes with a thick cable and padlock to prevent someone from easily running off with your expensive wheel while the solid 17” alloy wheels come protected with a keyed lug nut lock to prevent your wheels from sprouting legs and running off at 3 am some Sunday morning.


Dislikes

I can’t say much of anything negative about this vehicle. If I had to gripe, it would be because the ‘panic’ button on the keyless entry is too easy to set off when you put it in your pocket. Also, the gas cover is manual (which is good, less parts to break) but you must purchase a locking gas cap because the vehicle does not come with one. I have heard from multiple sources that this is standard in the SUV industry. As a final parting shot, the auto dimming rearview is wonderful, but the side mirrors do not dim. I will survive.


Recommneded?

Yes, Yes and Yes. Unequivocally, unabashedly and whole-heartedly I recommend the Xterra line. Hopefully the Xterra continues to sell well and hopefully Nissan will continue to improve on their formula for the Xterra.