Road Tests: Long-Term Test

As always for our long-term test program, we attempt to acquire the most significant new vehicles, while maintaining an equitable mix of vehicle types and brands. The Nissan Xterra is without a doubt one of the hottest SUVs to hit the streets. Deriving its name from X for the generation it targets, and terra for the wild, off-road hills and ravines traversed by its drivers (actually, they'll be driving to work and cool restaurants), this newest Nissan sport-ute is certainly hip, especially with those tres chic TV ads incorporating the funky sounds of Lenny Kravitz.

The downside to all this hype is that demand currently far exceeds supply, and that means very slim discounts and even dealer addendums depending on the region. It also means they're gonna be tough to find regardless of what you're willing to shell out. Look for a detailed report on our buying experience to be published shortly.

At any rate, we selected an Xterra SE 4x4 as our model of choice. Almost all is standard here, but we optioned ours with an automatic tranny, a tow hitch, floor mats, and a set of dealer-installed splash guards. We found one that met our specs in Aztec Red at Fremont Nissan just outside of San Jose, Calif. Our vehicle carried an MSRP of $26,647. We snagged ours for $500 less than MSRP, which is a pretty good price given current market conditions.

Our Xterra began its life with a trek from San Jose to Denver. Turning the ignition key resulted in the sound of a slightly stubborn starter - no biggie. Driving on twisty Northern California highways, the Xterra proved to be pleasant to drive, with a tight ride, good steering response, and great brake feel. However, going uphill at cruising speeds, the Xterra's 170-horsepower six got a bit wheezy. In fact, throughout the highway drive, the engine felt underpowered in general.

There's really not a lot to dislike about the truck. It's got a decent ride, good ergonomics, and feels as though it's built extremely well. In addition, we got to sample some of its off-roading prowess in the desert of Nevada, the salt flats of Utah, and the wilderness of Wyoming. We pulled off the side of the road in Utah, and began driving on what appeared to be a solid piece of earth covered with a layer of salt sediment. We found out quick that what we had really begun traversing was some pretty thick mud underneath the dry mirage of salt. We eased the transfer case into 4-Lo and began plowing through the mud. The Xterra did so without complaint, its big knobby tires spewing mud everywhere. Grins surfaced, we played a bit more, and then headed back to the highway.

Arriving in Denver, we dropped the Xterra off with our editor-in-chief, Chris Wardlaw. Wardlaw initially didn't care much for the truck's styling, but it eventually grew on him, although he still can't come to terms with that plasticky front end. He did note that it's a tough vehicle to clean up, "After running through a car wash, the wet bin on the roof traps water, releasing it for quite some time after you've driven off, leaving runs of dirty or soapy water all over."

Wardlaw couldn't find a comfortable driving position, citing a seat with no height adjuster and a lack of fore-aft travel along the track. We at Edmunds.com feel strongly that every vehicle should come with a seat-height adjuster, so listen up Nissan and you other culprits.

Another gripe was registered with the sunroof, if you even want to call it that. Wardlaw observed: "...the Xterra is advertised as 'everything you need, and nothing you don't.' Guess what? I don't need the useless sunroof on the SE model." When the wet bin is installed on the roof, the sunroof cannot be utilized at all. You first have to remove the wet bin, store it, remove the sunroof shade, store it, and then finally you can vent your sunroof. And even with the wet bin off, the windblocker on the roof blocks not only the wind, but half the sunroof as well. We're not impressed.

Minor gripes were directed at the poor placement of the cruise-control activation button, which is on the left side of the dash, far away from the other cruise buttons, which are on right side of the wheel. There's plenty of room on the left side of the wheel to house a simple on/off button, so why not put it there? We also don't like the thirsty nature of the 3.3-liter six. On one fill up we returned barely over 12 mpg!

Before the Xterra was taken from Wardlaw's clutches to travel to the Windy City of Chicago, our editor-in-chief summed it up well. "Interior ergonomics are well-done, with clear and concise instrumentation and controls. The truck rides tightly, feeling solid and well constructed, a rarity in this size and price class. The back seat handles two adults comfortably, and children easily. At $25,000 fully equipped, it's no wonder this thing is such a hot seller. It's roomy enough for a small family, rugged enough to handle whatever most people will throw at it, powerful enough to accelerate out of its own way, and reliable enough (based on Nissan's history) to save the owners big bucks down the road."

Total Odometer Reading: 3,210
Best Fuel Economy: 20.0 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 12.3 mpg
Running Average Over Life of Vehicle: 16.2 mpg
Body Damage Repair: $0
Maintenance Costs: $0
Problems: None