Used 2011 Nissan Xterra Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Great SUV
I've had a number of different SUV brands over the years, this by far is the best. It is a "true" SUV not a crossover, lots of space & just generally a great fun car to drive. Very reliable, have driven back & forth down South a few times w/o any problems whatsoever. It was a year old, certified new when purchased. UPDATE: Have now owned this car 7 years & its still runs as if brand new. Only regular maintenance performed, oil changes, tires, etc. Otherwise car runs great, no problems. Would definitely purchase another, unfortunately cars are changing each year and can't say the newest ones are made as well. UPDATE 10/21: Car still running great! Took it from FL to UT, changed out tires, did some recommended maintenance but car doing great! Will definitely consider another Nissan when looking to buy. UPDATE: 4/22/22 Car still going strong! I keep up on routine maintenance, take it up the hills of UT, gets me thru snow, best car ever! UPDATE: 10/2023 Car going strong! I've even had offers from others to purchase it but it runs great, I keep up with maintenance and its doing great. Even the mechanics comment on how welll this SUV runs.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Solid Versatile Truck for a Good Price
Owned for over 4 years and 52000 miles before trading in last year. Rock solid performance and reliability... I wish I had kept it. I'd say it provides more capability and livability for the price than just about any other 4x4 SUV. I paid $23,800 after rebates and I think the only area of the Xterra that reflects the bargain price is some of the interior parts (seat material, hard plastics, cargo area plastic not as tough as I'd like). We made many family trips and commutes with this SUV in all conditions and the only thing I would have done differently is go for the nicer PRO4X model.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Good Buy
I purchased the Xterra because I wanted the, up-high road view, safety and comfort of an SUV, but didn't want to spend over $30K. Also, the style of the X has always turned my head; I got the gun metal gray - great looking vehicle. So, I got exactly what I wanted. Nothing fancy about the X, but I have what I need, but no toys. Toys are nice. I miss them, but don't need them. I commute 104 miles per day and find the X to be a comfortable ride - not rough as so many have said. I'm getting 21 MPG on a stop-and-go highway ride - much better than I expected. With gas prices on the rise, I will most likely go back to a small, gas efficient vehicle next purchase, but I am enjoying the X.
Solid SUV...worth a look
The Xterra is a true off-road capable SUV. We have about 6k miles on ours and it's been great so far. We bought the Xterra because we wanted a true 4wd that could eventually take the place of my aging Toyota Tacoma. We drove a lot of vehicles before deciding on the Xterra. No regrets. Pros- It's fun to drive and well appointed. The V6 is very powerful. Good size, not too big or too small. Cons- It's not fuel efficient. My guess is that 20 mpg is the best you can expect on the hwy, 15 in the city. Interior plastics scratch easily which is a little annoying.
PRO-4X is awesome
I picked the PRO-4X model and it's awesome. It's rugged and capable without sacrificing practibility. The V6 is very strong and the ride is very smooth. It has lots of little cubby holes and nets for storage. I like the fabric of the interior as well as the material in the rear cargo area. It should be very easy to clean. The top rack is very nice and it's also got a little storage area up there as well. The mileage isn't great and the back seats could be easier to get in and out of but it's an off-road SUV and I really didn't expect it to be any different. I picked this vehicle over the FJ because it was more practical for my needs. Take a look and I promise you will like it.
Very Happy with My Xterra
Wanted an SUV that's powerful, sturdy with reasonable off road capacities. Picked X due to its fair pricing, powerful engine(VQ), solid BoF construction, great outward visibility & the cute look. Have put 5K miles on it so far, incl. a 2500 mile trip in 1 week. Really impressed with the acceleration. Great handling. Tight turn radius. Perfect size for a single guy. I prefer firm seats and find X's very comfortable. Like the high seating position, feel confident. High ground clearance, no need for ramps when changing oil. I felt far less tired driving the X for a full day, than diving a civic (my previous car). Manual is not clear about gas octane, so I use #89 since the engine is VQ.
Great driving SUV
Replaced a 97 4Runner with a 2010 Xterra. Had my doubts initially, but after 3 months I am sold! I'm 6'5" and fit comfortably. Lots of cargo room. Great visibility, and really responsive steering. More fun to drive than the 4Runner was. At 178" it is easy to park and maneuver in tight surroundings. Smooth transmission, smooth ride, and quieter than I was expecting. Love the fact that the rear seats fold flat. No regrets.
Traditional Midsize SUV
If you like the traditional SUV then you will love the 2011 Pro-4X. 4.0 liter V6 is high output engine is more than enough power. Great ride with they Bilstein performance shocks. Good looking tires (had the car a month - do not know how the tires will wear yet). Traditional SUV exterior styling. Leather seats are super comfortable. Rockford Fosgate head unit sounds great. The auxillary interface is nice. The IPOD interface is also a major plus. Nice big side back windows. Looked at a new FJ and used H3 but decided agains because the size and or lack of windows.
One of the last traditional midsized SUVs
The Xterra PRO-4X is large enough for a family of four (although not long-legged teenagers in the back seats), but small enough to maneuver around town and offroad. It is powerful enough to easily tow my 2,000 lb boat at 75mph or climb Colorado mountain passes while fully loaded. I bought it because I wanted a midsized SUV with genuine offroad capability and decent performance on paved roads. My last two vehicles were overloaded with technology and too fragile for my tastes. Like the ads used to say, it has everything you need and nothing you don't.
Great SUV with crappy tires
Love everything about the Xterra except the tires. First time 4 wheeling lost a tire. Can't understand why they put jelly bean tires on an otherwise rugged SUV. Soft tires also contribute to poor gas mileage. If you can afford it, switch the tires out ASAP.
It's not your soccer mom's SUV.
Got the Pro-4X with leather package. Has Sirius/XM, Fosgate stereo with iPod and AUX and the Utilitrack in the cargo area for tying stuff down to keep it from sliding. I didn't want a SUV look-alike that seemed tough on pavement but caved under the pressure of an off-road situation. The first weekend I had my X, we took it off-roading in Big South Fork and at one point got it almost completely on it's side.. but after flipping a few switches, she pulled out like a champ and was none the worse for wear. Not sure why people are knocking the tires. The BFG Rugged Trails have worked fine for me. Just put on my second set at 53k miles. Add a Weathertech cargo mat and it's great for dogs!
my wife and I love it
I'm 60 years old and have owned lots of other vehicles this is the best/ It can "Do It All". Great in the mountains / rides and handles great /tows our boat no problem/ lots of room/fun to drive /we go everywhere in it. Only regret is I did not buy one years ago. we have 2011 xterra S 2wd and it goes every where we want to go /I can only imagine what a 4x4 is like.
Great Value on and Off Road
I went from a Frontier to upgrading to the Xterra Off Road and WOW. This vehicle is an incredible performer on and off road. It's filled with everything you need like hill-descent assist, locking diffs, 4X4, lots of space and cargo hold, and nothing you don't. The seats fold completely flat, the roof rack has plenty of room for the kayaks, and the awesome 4.0 V6 has more than enough power to tow my 26 ft sailboat. I can't say enough about how smooth this truck rides and how well it conquers terrain off road. Surprisingly, I have been averaging 20mpg. I thought I would have done much worse, but it just makes this rig that much sweeter. Nissan's 4.0L is indestructible. Highly recommend!
This is my 2nd Xterra
I traded in my 2001 Xterra XE with 108k miles for 2011 Xterra SE about 1 month ago. This is a solid, safe SUV. The 2011 is very comfy, but there are some things I wish it had for the cost: a temperature gauge, a decent stereo, carpeted cargo area (otherwise EVERYTHING slides around), power seats, multi-CD changer, Sirius radio, and - better/different interior upholstery and plastic. Even a drop water stains these seats. It didn't on the 2001, but it does on the 2011. And the plastic console collects every piece of dust because it has a softer material. It really is annoying how much it collects and retains dust, hair, etc. Drive-wise, it's solid, fairly quiet, and does well in the mountains.
Great Off-Road truck
Since I started driving AWD and 4x4 I can't really go back to 2WD cars anymore. Living in Canada having AWD or 4x4 is almost a must. Compare to my previous SUV this is my favorite thus far, however the Xterra does have it draw back which is the horrible gas mileage. This truck is not an ideal vehicle to use for daily commuter, because the best I've got is 15MPG. On a full tank (from full until the light goes on) I only get 242 miles city driving. On highway though, it is smooth, powerful, and comfortable for the long haul. I'm averaging 21MPG on highway. The capability for off roading is great, it can make any condition (almost), but in deep mud I got stuck but then again any stock would.
Love it
I bought this vehicle wanting to have a multipurpose vehicle that could also pull a boat. I looked at the CRV, ford escape, Rav4, 4runner. The first 3 really couldn't do the job of pulling a boat and are really more of a car dressed as an SUV. The 4 runner is nice, but too big to also have in the city and also expensive. So far the Xterra has been perfect. I have taken it on and off road many times and it handles great. Definitely more of a truck ride, but on any half decent road it feels just like any other modern vehicle.
2010 xterra
I really dont know what everyone is talking about. This truck does not have a rough ride quality. Trans shifts smoothly and overall first impressions are great
Well worth the money
Review This is my first Xterra and love it. This is a solid, safe SUV. The 2011 is very comfy, but there is something I wish it had, carpeted cargo area (otherwise EVERYTHING slides around) I bought it with power seats, multi-CD changer, Sirius radio, and leather, the Rockford Fosgate stereo is great, and I added a ipod plug to complete it. The plastic console collects every piece of dust because it has a softer material. I my X to the mountains and give it a serious workout and it performs great. I have locking differentals, roof rack, and heavy duty bumpers and they all work great. I've towed my 4K toyhauler around, but wouldn't recommend doing this in the mountains. The mileage is 10 to 14 in town and 15 to 17 on the hwy, not bad for 4 wheel drive. These are real numbers by dividing gallons into mileage. The few things I've done to my truck is add, HD bumper front and rear, air bags in rear, Ipod plug, led light bar on bumper and winch. I have used everything quite a bit too. If you want a SUV that does it all this is the one.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Love it!
the 2011 Nissan Xterra S is our first Nissan. As far as brand we will never buy outside Nissan. The Xterra is a true SUV. Handles great off road and on long road trips. We love the outside design as well as the interior. For the price it is a great buy!!
Love My Xterra
I had my eye on the Xterra after buying an Altima for my wife last year. This year I traded in my old Explorer and after considering the smaller Escape, I drove over to the Nissan dealership and am glad I did. I love this vehicle. The performance from the 4.0L 6cyl engine is superb. The ride is smooth thanks to the 17" wheels and tires, comfortable beyond belief. I wish fuel economy was better, but I am getting 20 MPGs. As the Edmund's model review notes, the brakes take a little getting use to as they are a bit mushy. I love the Rockford/Fosgate audio system with XM, 6CD disk, 9 speakers and blue tooth. This is a very well built vehicle, no rattles or squeaks, and a pure joy to drive.
Solid Truck, lacks features, it is what it is though.
I bought the 2011 Xterra about 6 months ago. Its a very solid truck, tons of power, great torque, havent had the time to get down in the snow but it seems to carry itself well through all other weather situations. It definitely lacks some features for a 2011 model, suck as an AV input or a USB input. The stereo system isnt as bad as people say, just change the head unit and it sounds fine. Interior could use some better materials, but its a Utility / Off Road built truck, its good for what its built for. Get a Pathfinder if you want luxury.
X gon' give it to yuh
My wife and I were looking for a 5 seater 4x4 truck with good reliability for a great price. The xterra is easily the best value in that sector. After 2010 the SMOD issue and timing chain issue was fixed and the xterras are very reliable as a result. We love the unique styling, utilitarian interior (it's nothing fancy at all) and decent power. The 280ft-lb of torque are available within the first 1/4" of gas pedal movement making this thing feel very peppy. I wish the interior was a little nicer and I hope the car can hold up to the salt roads here in Mass but for the price it can't be beat. We're getting 19MPG consistently which is good enough for me.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
I was wrong
I wrote a poor review on my new off road X back in December. I had a couple of rattles but Nissan fixed them. The rattles in the dash are only when it was cold and the dealer came through. The more I drive my X the more I love it. The power of the v6 is great and you really get use to the stiff ride. It actually handles great for a truck and very sporty. Overall a great vehicle. I have to admit me first impressions were way off. I really enjoy my x and it was good choice.
Great Vehicle
This vehicle is amazing. Since I purchased the Off Road version, I figured I was going to compromise ride quality and overall comfort. Nothing could be further from the truth. The ride quality is surprisingly comfortable, the seats sit well, and the Rockford Fosgate system kicks. The utility features of the vehicle are some of the best in the market. I've even done a little of my own testing off road. This thing is amazing in the dirt and rocks. The 4LO and locking rear differential are easy to use and get you out of just about anything. Engine performance is impressive for an SUV. The V6 is plenty powerful, quiet and buttery smooth. I can't say enough good things about this vehicle.
2010 Xterra X 5A with 122K miles
So far so good. Hasn't left me stranded on the road yet. Did the radiator bypass when I bought the car in 2015 with about 53K miles just in case. Had to replace the cam and crankshaft sensors at around 95K miles. Others than that just regular maintenance - fluids, filters, tires and brake pads change. Average around 19.3 mpg. Hope to keep this car til 250K miles.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great SUV
Great SUV!!! I have the 2011 Xterra S Black. I put a NISMO cold air intake on it and it sounds fantastic! It feels safe with all the features and how high you sit up. The only complaint is that it gets 19mpg at best and there is no AUX port????
Paved or not, this beats them all!
We love our new Xterra. We have a Ford Escape and were going to get another one but after one drive in the Xterra we couldn't go back. I still grin when I have to load cargo into the massive trunk or crawl over rocks effortlessly. The huge windows all around offer a wonderful view and safer lane-changing. I spend the week commuting and this bulky SUV is surprisingly comfortable. On the weekends, it dominates off-road and I've never doubted if it could take me where I want to go. This is a great all-around vehicle for me and my growing family.
Most fun vehicle I ever purchased
While I have only had this vehicle 1 wk. It by far is most fun to own out of the dzns of cars/truck I have had. We just had a big snowstorm come thru town and this rig drove thru it like nothing! Plenty of power & lots of style. My only disappointment is the cheap sound system that I will have to upgrade! Other than that the best way to sum it up is great fun!
'06 Wrangler Rubicon Replacement
After Telluride last year and Moab this year I decided it was either Big $$ to upgrade the Rubicon or stop and go in another direction. Here in Northern NM mountains, the Xterra has very capable attributes. I've had it on one of the roughest off-roads in the area with no problemes at all. The ground clearance is better than a stock '06 Rubicon and the stock tires are taller. The extra wheel base gives the Xterra an edge over the Rubicon for comfort. Cargo space is a huge winner and the power sealed the deal. The AT takes some getting use to in 4WD as I now drive with the brake rather than the gas/clutch. I'm 6'4" and the fit is perfect. Family's 9th Nissan w/wife's current '09 Pathfinder
Great SUV for the money!!
This is my first new Nissan and my first SUV. I mainly brought this Xterra because it fit my active lifestyle. I do a lot of mountain biking and camping and the Xterra has a lot of factory installed equipment that helps me move my gear along without any problems. The Xterra is a guy SUV it is clean and simple and has the right amount of options inside and out. If you are looking for great SUV with great reliability and safety features check out the Xterra.
My bad a** xterra
Loving my xterra out here in the Arizona desert. It is the SUV you want. Nice clearance and great power to get you through any terrain.
2011 Nissan Xterra Pro-4x review
I bought my Xterra strictly for it's offroad capabilities and here is my opinion after 36k miles: I bought a manual tranny model cause I was unsure if Nissan fixed the automatic tranny problem. First gear on the 6 speed is pretty good ratio wise for crawling around technical rocky terrain, I live in NV where that is most of the terrain. The stock tires were terrible offroad and should not be used in hard wheeling conditions. My Xterra would climb like a billy goat, but performed terribly in snow and mud as it wouldn't allow wheel spin to get through such. I blew up the front axle when I pulled the fuse to allow me to actually get the front wheels spinning in snow. Towing is sketchy!!! The rest of the vehicle's functions performed above average I would say. The Rockford Fosgate sound system was excellent for a stock radio from a manufacturer. My fuel economy never saw above 17 mpg and that includes cruising down the highway 400 miles at a time in 6th gear. The paint was good on this vehicle, much better than my current Toyota, as I drove through bushes that would scrape the Xterra but buff right out come detail time. Overall I liked my Xterra, not perfect, pretty good offroad, enough room for camping stuff and awkward items since seats folded down.
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Bouncing Beatty
Gas mileage is greedy but the power makes up for it. Beatty can climb a pretty steep hill and not get hung up like Toyota’s. Highway she is smooth and quite. She turns on a dime and brakes hard when needed.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Best Ride Yet From Nissan
This is my second Nissan Xterra. I went in to the dealership for my regular maintenance and decided to trade up. Leather, GPS, xm radio, 4.0 v6 17" wheels with rims. Man this is a fantastic upgrade. I loved my 2007 Xterra, but they bought it for more than I owed and got me in a new one for a better payment. I'll never drive anything else. I love everything about it. You'd be crazy to pass one up. I never had 1 issue with my 2007 and this one outshines the 2007 by far. I look forward to driving this for a long time to come!!
A Four-Wheeled Swiss Army Knife
This is a great old-school SUV blending a sophisticated and smooth engine and transmission with an overbuilt frame (based on the frame used on the mammoth Nissan Titan pickup)and strong and straightforward suspension. Last week, my area was struck with a blizzard that left over 12" of snow on the ground, and the Xterra was virtually unstoppable. The ride is pretty firm, so drive before you buy, but if you want a solid, truly versatile all-weather vehicle large enough to handle 4 passengers and cargo, yet small enough to maneuver and park in an urban environment, look no further.
From Old to New
Upgraded from my 2002 Xterra 4x2 to the 4x4 Off Road package. I actually use this vehicle for the road trips, on and off road. Sometimes, I would venture onto a path or pseudo-road that turned off road and regret that I only had a 4x2 so this new addition of the total off road capability is very nice. Now I wont be worried about getting stuck or stopping our adventure short due to the vehicle's off road capability. I love the sparse easy to clean interior and the tough chunky looks. I have the 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty and that is a great piece of mind to know that Nissan will back up the reliability of the vehicles they make.
Very satisfied so far
Had my SE for about a month now. My likes definitely outweigh my dislikes. Very powerful engine, getting good fuel economy 18 - 20 overall, but driving it easy in the break in period. Seats seem very comfortable, good support, wish they were heated. RF Sound system is awesome for stock. Surprisingly quiet even on rough pavement, but it does have a firm, choppy ride. It's not a car though, so I can live with that. Great no-nonsense SUV that will handle my towing chores, and get 5 skiers or backpackers where they need to go with all their stuff. Got one drive in the snow, and had no trouble blasting through a foot and a half of light powder.
Xterra that I owned
I purchased it 15 months ago and it’s been a really good vehicle. It wasn’t what I wanted at the time but it performed perfectly and drove well! Didn’t have to do much to it to keep it running perfectly. If you buy one watch the value on them it drops quite quickly and the dealerships know this and try to low ball you
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Love My Nissan Xterra
I bought this car second hand. A little skeptical at first, as I have never had much success when purchasing a second hand vehicle. I have had this Xterra for a little over a year now, closer to two years. I keep the oil changed and maintained. This has turned out to be one of the best vehicles I have ever owned. Still runs like new and I get pretty good gas mileage as well. No regrets on this purchase.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Nice simple truck
We have had the Xterra for 6 months now, and it has been great. It has great power for an SUV, and is pretty roomy inside for my family of 4. I get around 16 mpg in town, and around 20 on the freeway. I am 6'3" and have plenty of leg room. While it is plenty quiet on the pavement, when you get on a dirt or gravel road, the it resonates and is quite loud. I have the tow package, and have towed a small trailer once, it did great.
My Xterra
I was looking around for a new truck. I was waiting on the new F-150, but Ford make them so big now, it wouldn't fit in the garage. So, I went the SUV route. The Xterra is one of the few built on a fully boxed truck frame for better strength. Sure it may use a little more gas than the others but it's a rock and it will run when you need it. I only have 800 miles on it and so far very impressed. I just hope it will get better when it's broken in. I tossed in a K&N panel filter and I am getting 19 in town. For those who don't know, Nissan rates it @ 15 in town.
So nice, I bought this model twice
Great rugged SUV. Very reliable, excellent powertrain, roomy, and tough.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Back to the X
I had a 2003 xterra and after 2 years I trade for a Pathfinder, The X was underpowered. Now I'm back to the X, its an improvement to the older model and rides just as good the Pathfinder. For the money is a great SUV, LOADED which is nice. I went for an off road but the SE is what I found. I'm keeping it till it dies!
A nice truck based SUV
I did a lot of research before buying the Xterra, I looked a the FJ , the Wrangler, as well as some trucks. The X has the perfect blend of creature comforts and ruggedness. I traded an Audi for the X, and I do miss some of the luxury, but the X makes up for it in other ways. The gas mileage is OK, I get 13-15 in town, and 19-20 on the freeway. The seats are leather in the SE, but they are low grade leather and not heated. The stereo sound good, better than the Bose unit in my old Audi. Its very easy to see out of, and my kids think its great to sit up high. Im glad I bought the X, The Portable GPS is great, better than built in units.
Love to drive it!
I replaced my 2000 x-terra (213,000 miles) with a 2010 x-terra off road. Loved my old buddy very much. I went from Manual to Automatic, which was good in some instances; tho I miss shifting. I travel in snow (sometimes up to the grill-with good tires) and travel off-road all year long and could not ask for a better SUV. "Sam" was a great truck, and now "SamSon" (yes I name my cars) will hopefully be with me 10 - 12 years. I highly recommend the X-Terra line.
2nd Xterra
This is my second, Xterra. The first was an 09. I got this car new and have gotten the oil change between 3k-4k miles, tires rotated approx. every 5k miles. In all honesty, the 09 seemed to perform better engine wise. Interior is all hard plastic and the sound system is fairly lacking. Living in, Utah and working in cold climates the environmental systems were not the greatest. Took a LONG time to heat up and the defrost vents could have been better placed. All this being said. Despite this vehicle being VERY heavy for it's size (a V8 option would be perfect for highways) and the gas millage is horrible (I do travel fast and accelerate quickly), visibility could be better (multiple blind spots), no seat pockets which, I just can not understand (the double glove box SORT of compensates for this) and with the 2011 model the transmission is loud and there can be a lag before it shifts gears but the, Xterra has spoiled me. Two things that stand out with this vehicle. One it is an off-road beast. I work at mines and pipelining and getting to and from a job site is never an issue. Off-road or in DEEP snow (several feet), you just pop her into 4low and she will crawl over anything. You have to have a gentle foot as she has a lot of torque and the vehicle design could be better (considering how well it goes off road). Second is, acceleration. For such a heavy vehicle and a V6, she can move. While, performance wise, I do not have a lot to complain about with the Xterras, considering how hard, Nissan is to work with and the fact that they have nothing that comes close to the performance of the Xterra, I will not be getting another vehicle from them. I am deciding if, I want the Chevy Blazer, Lincoln MKX or wait till the Bronco is released. Unfortunately trying to find a small-midsize SUV (or an aggressive CUV) is impossible now. If any car manufacturer is looking at this, a compact -small SUV with an actual engine would be nice. 4cyl do not last as long and while they give better millage, I would like to have some power under the hood and the option to be able to at least use it for getting to jobsites or driving in winter conditions (Doesn't need to be a trail ripper or a towing beast).
- Safety
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
Throw away the radio
Bad stereo, bad sound , No auxiliary jack, bad reception, disappointing.
2011 Xterra S, you won't be disappointed
I've never written a review before but have read others and found them helpful. Because of other positive reviews I purchased my 2011 S model and what a GREAT vehicle. The Xterra rides great, its very quiet,the performance of the 4.0 engine and trans is impressive. I drive approx. 100 miles per day and I'm getting almost 20 mpg on the button. The brake pedal is a little spongy but not a big deal. Even the base radio isn't disappointing to listen to. I do wish they made the upgraded radio an option with the 6 disc changer for the S model. I also drive a new 2010 loaded F-150 Platinum as my tow vehicle. I've owned BMW, Porsche, Acura, Corvette's, Shelby's etc. and the Xterra will be a keeper.
Great durability - light on design
I have been buying Nissans since 1981 mostly for their engines. Generally they tend to be superior on durability but light on comfort and convenience. My Xterra is the first SUV I have owned. I bought the X model because I wanted a manual transmission but did not want to buy the more expensive off road. As usual the engine and transmission are excellent but poor design on comfort and convenience. I could not believe there is no side mirror control and no map light. No mirror or light in the visor. The storage compartments are poorly designed. These little things are not expensive but are very much appreciated by consumers. Nissan designers - get a clue!
Love My Little Beast!
I have always been a truck/lrg.SUV person and planned on buying another GMC, but they seem to make all these new Make/Models so ridiculously bulky that I debated for 2 years. I looked at every truck and SUV, it was like Goldilocks and The 3 Bears. This one is to small, this one is to big, this one is too sissy, this one is too boring, then finally Ah this one feels just right. I went shopping with my son who bought an Xterra. Within a week I loved it so much I bought one, and within a week after that my brother-in-law loved ours so much he bought one. Now we are planning some kewl family Off-roading trips. The SE is fun and sporty, yet classy enough for a night out on the town. I Love it!