Road Tests: Long-Term Test

As much as they bring the blooms of May, April rains also mean you'll be spending a lot more time inside than outside. This is especially true in Toronto, where Senior Road Test Editor Neil Dunlop has been driving our long-term Nissan Xterra test vehicle since February. It rains a lot there in spring, he reports, so it's given him a new perspective on the Xterra.

He recalls a particularly cold sweat-inducing moment on a freeway near his home. He was traveling at about 70 mph when a freak spring storm suddenly lashed the road with a deluge of Biblical proportions. "Other cars were pulled to the side of the road to wait out the worst of it," Neil wrote in the Xterra's log book. "But I never felt the need. I simply slowed down to 25 mph, shifted into four-wheel-drive high and continued on my merry way." In similar situations in other vehicles, Neil admits he's been compelled by fear and caution to wait out the weather. But the Xterra's aplomb in the rain was so inspiring, he pressed on quite confidently.

During our time in the Nissan, we've been continually impressed with its road presence. First, our Detroit editor, John Clor, praised the red four-wheeler because his sons never missed a hockey game during the long Michigan winter. Neil likewise found the Xterra unbothered by snow drifts and winter conditions (a little skittishness on slippery roads was blamed on the lack of real all-weather tires). Now that spring is here, we're experiencing a whole new slew of weather conditions.

The spring showers have also provided Neil with the opportunity to examine the Xterra's interior more closely. On one occasion, while he waited out the worst of a downpour in a mall parking lot, Neil wistfully examined the sunroof, wondering what it would be like to use it if it were ever sunny again. He concluded that it's a terrible design. First, the sunshade, which covers the glass, does not slide out of the way, but must be removed by unscrewing its attachments. Then it must be stowed somewhere where it won't bother your passengers or inadvertently get damaged. Neil thought the best place was his basement, until a rare hour of sun fried him in the driver seat like an ant under a kid's magnifying glass.

Also, if you want to use the sunroof for venting, you're out of luck -- it's blocked by the large rooftop cargo basket. You have to remove the four bolts holding that and then store the basket before the sunroof is actually functional. And if you'd like to drive with the sunroof completely open, forget it -- it doesn't come off. "Now, I understand the Xterra is meant to be a utilitarian spartan sport-ute," says Neil, "but this sunroof design is bogus."

Neil has a similar issue with the Xterra's front seats. He says the chair backs are OK, offering fair support and comfort for the entire back and a functional head restraint. He doesn't like the seat cushions, however. "There's barely enough padding to qualify them as seats -- they are about a half inch of padding better than a church pew," Neil says. "There are lots of cars and mini-SUVs that cost less than or the same as the Xterra (the Ford Escape, for example) that have more comfortable seats. Can't Nissan cater to rugged, active, go-anywhere, do-anything types and still include decent cushioning in the package?"

Though spring has proved useful for this update, Neil has had enough of inclement weather. He's ready to see how a kayak fits on the Xterra's roof.

Current Odometer: 30,364
Best Fuel Economy: 16.2 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 13.8 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 15.8 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None