2004 Nissan Xterra Review
2004 Nissan Xterra Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Rugged looks and the off-road capability to match, lots of room inside, solid construction.
Cons
- Sloppy on-road ride and steering, four-cylinder and standard V6 lack power, spartan cabin design.
What’s new
For 2004, 17-inch alloy wheels are now standard on non-supercharged SE models, and 16-inch, four-spoke alloys are standard on the XE-V6.
Edmunds says
A truck-based compact sport-ute for those who actually plan to go off-roading. Those seeking a refined urban runabout should look elsewhere.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2004 Nissan Xterra XE I4 Rwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $5.35 per gallon for regular unleaded in California.
Monthly estimates based on costs in California
$339/mo for Xterra XE
Xterra XE
vs
$278/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
Vehicle overview
Ever since the mid-'90s, compact SUVs have become a huge market. Most manufacturers offer one, and with so many available, it is often hard choosing which one is right for you. The majority of compact SUVs for sale in 2003 are so-called "crossover" SUVs, meaning that they are car-based rather than truck-based. The advantages to having a small crossover SUV are that they are comfortable to drive and possess secure handling characteristics. Nissan's Xterra, now in its fourth model year, is somewhat of a rarity. It is based on a real truck; namely, the Frontier compact pickup. Its wheelbase is shared with the Frontier, and so is the independent front suspension and leaf-spring and solid axle setup at the rear. As such, the Xterra (terra for the land it crosses and X for the generation it intends to target) is tailored to the outdoor enthusiast. Its spartan interior, bucking-bronco ride and utilitarian design are not focused on providing comfort for wide bottoms, though we still see it driven by middle-aged folks to Pottery Barn parking lots. The Xterra is extremely capable off-road; jam it into 4-Lo via the floor-mounted lever, and it bounds over rocks and gullies with abandon. But when compared to other SUVs like the Honda CR-V or Ford Escape, the Xterra's on-pavement performance seems sloppy and numb. It's also more expensive, especially with the higher trim levels. If you truly plan to get your future compact SUV dirty, though, the Xterra should be seriously considered. It has the right styling, the right attitude and the right hardware. It also has good build quality and a strong reputation for reliability, giving you peace of mind as you head out on your favorite trail.
Performance & mpg
Base XEs come with a 2.4-liter inline four that makes 143 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque. As this truck weighs almost 3,600 pounds, acceleration is modest, at best. A five-speed manual transmission is standard with this engine. The larger 3.3-liter V6 makes 180 hp and 202 lb-ft of torque. SE-S/C models have an Eaton supercharger bolted on that boost horsepower to 210 and torque to 246. You can get a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic on the XE-V6, but all SEs and SE-S/Cs come with the automatic only. Four-wheel-drive Xterras have a part-time 4WD system with shift-on-the-fly capability. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds (with V6 and the automatic transmission), considerably more than that of most crossover SUVs.
Safety
All Xterras have antilock brakes (front discs and rear drums) with EBD. In the backseat, the center position has a lap belt only. Side curtain airbags, an unusual feature for this class of vehicle, are optional. So is VDC, Nissan's stability control system, and it's offered on all V6 models. In NHTSA side-impact testing, the Xterra received four stars (out of a possible five) for front-occupant safety and five stars for the rear. Front-impact safety is rated at four stars. The IIHS rated the Xterra "Acceptable" (the second highest) after performing its frontal offset crash test.
Driving
The Xterra looks sort of cool and is a blast off-road. But the soft and sloppy suspension is certainly no joy on the pavement, allowing excessive body roll. The steering is also heavily boosted and gives little feedback to the driver. As you would expect, Xterras with the supercharged V6 offer the best acceleration. The supercharger whine sounds exhilarating, and there is plenty of thrust in first gear; although, much like the standard V6, the supercharged engine runs out of steam at freeway speeds.
Interior
Young, active folks won't have any trouble hopping up or down from the Xterra's high seats, nor will they object to the thin cushions they find there, but others will likely wish for cushier chairs and easier access. The dash is comprised of quality materials and the quasi-industrial look of the switchgear fits the vehicle-as-tool theme. Maximum capacity is 65.6 cubic feet, an average figure for a compact SUV.
2004 Nissan Xterra models
The Xterra is Nissan's compact SUV. There are four trim levels -- XE, XE-V6, SE-V6 and SE-Supercharged (S/C). Four-wheel drive is available with all of these, except the base XE. The base XE doesn't come with many standard features other than air conditioning and a CD player. The XE-V6 adds 16-inch alloy wheels, an extra pair of speakers (for a total of six) and a tilt steering wheel. Amenities like power windows and locks, remote keyless entry and cruise control are optional on both XE models. The SE and SE-S/C models add 17-inch wheels, tubular step bars and a 300-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system with an in-dash CD changer. Options on both SE models include leather upholstery and a flip-up sunroof.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2004 Nissan Xterra.
5 star(57%)
4 star(32%)
3 star(8%)
2 star(1%)
1 star(2%)
169 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
300,000 miles
xt200k, 06/23/2013
2004 Nissan Xterra SE S/C Rwd 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl S/C 4A)
routine maintenance
goes a long way
nothing major
brakes-rotors-belts-fluids
and lots of gas and tires
bought new 2003
4.13 out of 5 stars
great SUV for the money
shocker0513, 02/20/2011
2004 Nissan Xterra SE 4WD 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
i picked up my Xterra used in 2008 with 12k and now im up to 70k. i use full synthetic oil and so far maintenance has been super cheap. ive only done basic maintenance stuff with no repairs in 58k miles! the stock tires suck, but if you invest in a decent set of all terrains, this truck cant be beat for the price. acceleration is lacking, but you sacrifice giddy up for economy. ive … gotten up to 20mpg out of this SUV no problem. AC and heater work great. 4wd is great. creeks, mud, water up to the doors. pulls through it all (if you know how to drive off road properly).
4.25 out of 5 stars
Good SUV Startup vehicle
Hunter228, 05/29/2004
2004 Nissan Xterra XE I4 Rwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
I just got my X-Terra, I drove it to
the Grand Canyon. While it could only
do 60MPH going uphill, on the flat road
it handled very well, for a 4 cyl. It
was comfortable to ridee in it. Roomy
for all my gear, fuel consuption was
very good when speeds were kept to at
least 75MPH. Doing 80 - 90MPH and your
fuel consuption will still not be too
bad. While more power … would be great,
all and all the X-Terra (4cyl)is not a
bad investment for what you get.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Xterra has stood up to my bad habits, Great Truck
plmr747, 09/17/2013
2004 Nissan Xterra XE 4WD 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
This vehicle had been through the mill, I have put 250,000 miles on it and replaced the tires twice, changed the oil lots and now have to replace the rear shocks. Along with driving constantly in bad weather, I have towed very heavy equipment and up to 23' boats on a regular basis. I have the 3.3 in it which makes it a bit of a slug off the line, but the power is there when you need it. … (well geared) While not towing I get around 28 mpg and can go from Kingston On. to Boston Mass. on 1 tank of fuel.
2004 Xterra Highlights
XE
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $18,400 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 19 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $339/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 44.5 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalAcceptable
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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