2001 Nissan Xterra Review
2001 Nissan Xterra Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Rugged looks and capability to match, excellent brakes, lots of room inside, standard ABS, first-aid kit.
Cons
- Uncomfortable front seats, cheap interior plastics and fabrics, useless sunroof on SE models, weak V6.
What’s new
SE models come with titanium interior accents as well as a premium audio system boasting 100 watts of peak power and a six-disc in-dash CD changer. New steering wheel-mounted audio controls can be used to operate this system. The rumored 3.3-liter supercharged V6 is, at this point, MIA, but console yourself with a new color called Gold Rush and restyled 16-inch alloy wheels.
Edmunds says
A truck-based compact ute for those who actually plan to use it like it's featured in Nissan's TV commercials.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2001 Nissan Xterra XE 2WD 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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$227/mo for Xterra XE
Xterra XE
vs
$201/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
Vehicle overview
A so-called mini-SUV doesn't have to be a hybrid compromise, and for proof, look no further than the 2001 Xterra (terra for the land it crosses and X for the generation it intends to target). Although it sits squarely on the large side of the mini-SUV scale, don't be alarmed by the truck's physical size; the price is tiny by comparison. It competes in a hotly contested market, against the likes of the newly introduced Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute twins, along with the already established mini-ute crowd (Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, Toyota RAV4, Jeep Cherokee and Suzuki Grand Vitara). In this increasingly crowded segment, the Xterra must rely less upon its unique niche appeal and more on its value and rugged good looks.
Designed at Nissan Design International (NDI), the Xterra's styling is what sells it. It looks tough, muscular and modern. Taillights form modular, geometric shapes, much like the bulging wheelwells and tailgate first-aid kit storage panel. The cool powdercoated tubular roof rack comes with adjustable rails for carrying cargo of all shapes and sizes. For smaller items, there's even a plastic cargo tray up front that will hold 30 pounds of odds and ends, but on SE models it blocks the standard glass pop-up sunroof. We only wish stylists would lose the featureless front end for something a little less, uh, featureless.
Unlike many of its small SUV competitors, the Xterra is based on a real truck: Nissan's Frontier compact pickup. Despite its relatively sophisticated double-wishbone front suspension, Xterra makes do with dual leaf-spring rear underpinnings, front disc/rear drum brakes, and slow, numb recirculating-ball steering.
The result is a truck that actually drives like a truck -- a rarity in this class and something consumers might not like after the novelty has worn off (it'll take about 500 miles, we'd guess). Big, knobby tires are great for off-roading, but if you spend most of your time on pavement, you'll notice that they grip poorly and squeal plenty.
Offered in two trim levels, the Xterra can be purchased as a base XE or sporty SE model with two- or four-wheel drive, a four-cylinder or V6 engine, and a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system is engaged using a floor-mounted lever.
The Xterra's standard motivation comes from a 2.4-liter inline four that makes 143 horsepower and 154 foot-pounds of torque. An optional 170-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 generates 200 accessible foot-pounds of torque and moves the Xterra from 0 to 60 in 10.8 seconds. Outdoor enthusiasts can tow up to 5,000 pounds with the V6 and an automatic transmission, and antilock brakes are standard on all models.
The Xterra is being marketed as a bare-bones mini-SUV to avoid treading on the toes of its bigger and more upscale brother, the Pathfinder, but how well it does that is questionable. The Xterra is nearly as long as the Pathfinder and offers an inch more legroom for rear passengers. But the well-equipped 250-horsepower Pathfinder, marketed to a wealthier clientele that wants prodigious power and luxury amenities, serves to make the Xterra the better bargain for those looking for basic transportation. We deem their mission to be a success, even if the definition of a "mini-SUV" gets murkier all the time.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2001 Nissan Xterra.
5 star(47%)
4 star(41%)
3 star(9%)
2 star(3%)
1 star(0%)
80 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Great Vehicle
John R., 06/05/2016
2001 Nissan Xterra XE-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 5M)
Bought it with 28000 miles in 2003....385k today! It’s been a great vehicle and still has a great interior ( I added leather seats) and paint is ok, but fading. Not a speck of rust and the bottom looks like new! ( Florida Car). Sadly she’s probably on her last legs, my rebuilt transmission( replaced at 225k) is slipping and suspension parts are failing! Engine still runs great, but leaks … oil and it’s probably time to move on! Update:Doing some detail work. Added a few miles since the last update. I don’t drive as much as I used to and I have a Mustang convertible as my primary driver. I continue to keep her as I guess she has no trade-in value😂 and because I can’t bring myself to give her away and she still does everything I need! Great in the rain, hauling landscaping supplies etc.
4.63 out of 5 stars
A Note on Safety
Jamie, 05/25/2009
2001 Nissan Xterra SE 2WD 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 5M)
Best vehicle my wife and I ever bought. Extremely versatile for trips, vacations, camping, light towing but still practical enough for everyday use. I even hauled lumber on the roof- rack with no probelms. UNFORTUNATELY my wife was rear-ended in our last week! She left the highway sideways, went airborne and flipped three times...completely crushing the front and rear, but the seating … areas both front and back were not harmed and she walked away without...well, one tiny scuff on her leg from the steering wheel. It kept her safe and we are now looking for a replacement. We love the X-terra
4.63 out of 5 stars
Love this car!
jmedavis, 09/02/2011
2001 Nissan Xterra SE 4WD 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
I have a 2001 SE 4x4.
Bought it in 2005 with 64,000 miles.
5 years later and now over 175,000 miles on it, we've had no engine or transmission issues with it.
I did have to replace an electrical component in the a/c this summer for about $250 but otherwise it's just been routine maintenance.
It's a fun truck to drive and very reliable.
Not the best backseat for carseats but it is … manageable.
We're in the process of selling it only because our 3rd child is on the way and we can't fit the family in this car anymore.
But that is the only reason we're selling!
It's been a great car.
4.88 out of 5 stars
Great truck but not without reliability glitches
anthonymaw, 10/14/2012
2001 Nissan Xterra XE 4WD 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
I bought it used on a private sale from craigslist replacing my 1985 Toyota 4runner that I ran up 550,000km (340,000miles to you guys south of the 49th).
However last year (2011) the in-tank electric turbine fuel pump unexpectedly quit (at 220,000km odometer reading) leaving me stranded on the side of highway. It wound up costing me well over $1000 in towing charges, parts and labor plus … an overnight motel stay and a one day travel delay.
Now that I know how to replace it I carry a spare fuel pump and screwdriver along with the spare tire....
2001 Xterra Highlights
XE
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $17,999 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 19 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $227/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
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
- RolloverRollover2 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
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