Used 2012 Nissan Xterra Consumer Reviews
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Pro 4 Awesomness
I bought my 2012 Pro 4 X brand new from the dealership, I love it, best Vehicle I've ever owned. I just rolled up on 90,000 miles and the only mechanical issues I've had so far were two broken leaf springs. I cant complain about the maintenance cost because there have been almost None. If you Live in Maine you will understand we have a yearly safety inspection and the dealership always does mine and always passes with no issues. Tires, two new leaf springs and oil changes have been my only cost in the 90,000 miles. Quite a few of those miles have been off road. Its an awesome vehicle, to bad they don't import them in to the US any more.
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.
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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.
Decent bang for your buck
Very dependable mechanically and holds it's resale value well.
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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.
I am very pleased with the Xterra so far.
I have only had my Pro 4X Xterra for a few days but so far so good. I bought it for $5300 off list over Labor Day at Bommarito Nissan in Hazelwood, MO. Nissan had some great incentives then. The Xterra drives great, smooth on the highway and solid when I go off road. Fit and finish seem to be good. I like the leather seats. The upgraded sound system is wonderful, much better than the one found on the S and X models. Too early to tell about gas mileage. It will probably be comparable to my 98 GMC Jimmy at around 18 overall. I considered going to a car based CUV for better mileage but none of those seemed to be up to the capabilities of the Xterra. I will write updates regularly.
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.
In love
I have had my xterra for about 2 weeks (1000 miles now) and so far it has been a great vehicle. I sold my 2012 camaro because I wanted something simple and less extravagant. Plus, the camaro was giving me a headache of problems and I wanted to make the switch back to import. The gas mileage of the xterra is just ok, being able to take it on recreational trips will make up for this in the long run. Also, it feels solid and very secure to the road which I like, while being able to sit up high and in a comfortable position. I love how it rides like a truck, but does not knock you around too much.
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.
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.
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!!
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.
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.
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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.
Two years and 50K miles later, still satisfied
Jack of all trades, master of none; but better than a master of one. Such is the Xterra. Bought it two years ago with 68K miles and put it through a lot, and I still only need to change the oil and rotate the tires at 110K. It looks absolutely awesome, I get compliments all the time. Gas mileage is decent for what it is, I pull down right around 20mpg overall at about 70% highway/30% city. Power is awesome, this thing really has guts. It’s responsive without being overpowering, really manages the weight of the truck with ease. Sounds great, love to crank the engine and listen to it run. I really would’ve liked more features; I don’t even have an aux input in my S model, so I have to wear headphones to listen to music from my phone, but I can live with that. Ride comfort is average, but it’s not a Cadillac. I’m 6’3” 235 lbs and I fit fine, plenty of headroom and legroom. Overall could be better, but I’m still happy with my purchase.
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.
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A Great Car For Anyone
I bought a 2012 xterra pro-4x with about 9k miles on it about 4 months ago. So far the car is extremely reliable, fun to drive and looks good. The only thing I do not like about the car is the cheap interior but even then it is made up for with comfortable leather seats and a great stereo. I also take it off roading and it is extremely good. Other jeeps can barely keep up with it. If you don't have fun in this car then you haven't been off-roading in it.
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????
92k and going strong
Purchased new 08/12. 6 Speed manual. Fun to drive , great off road , lots of room in the back when seats are folded down, great truck for fishing ( love the roof cargo box) ,lots of power and great in the snow . The things I don’t like ..... very bumpy ride , poor gas Mileage (even with a stick, 15 city 17 highway ), interior is plain and starting to rattle , seats are cloth and are starting to wear , seats aren’t the best for long rides , not the best in the rain and it’s got rust spots in the rear bumper and roof . Overall it’s been a great truck for me . I haul a lot of stuff daily and it’s got the room and power. I’ve changed oil every 5k with Mobil 1. 3 rd set of tires, spark plugs , brakes rotors rear hatch shocks brake pedal and clutch pedal rubber shoes, 3 rd battery , new headlight bulbs , transfer case oil , rear bearings and cabin/motor air filters . For the money great truck !!!!
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One Of The Best
This vehicle is designed around the outdoor sportsman. Rugged, stylish, well designed to accomodate off roading. If you are wanting a get around town SUV there are many others suited to that preference. I rate the vehicle outstanding in overall performance. Maintenance has consisted of oil changes, five years into ownership. Dependability is outstanding, it handles typical off road terrain without a problem. Another outstanding feature is the resale value. It has consistently held high resale value thus far. Cons: This is a 2012 so it was too early to get mandatory back-up navigation. Another is gas mileage. Perhaps the largest downside as it gets 16mpg in town and not much more on the highway. She's thirsty all the time. Lastly is highway performance. Freeway access speed could be improved, rapid passing is a bit challenging and requires good anticipation skills on two lane highways. None of the downsides, however, actually detract from an otherwise excellent vehicle. Rain/snow traction is smooth and easy in the Pro 4X, shifting to 4 wheel drive requires about two seconds and the flip of a switch. Thus far this has been one of the best vehicles I've owned from just about every angle.
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Love/Hate
If I had the need I would buy this truck again and have two of them. That means I like the truck and I am happy I can get a tuck with all its functional capability in this particular size. I feel like I can go anywhere in any condition living in MN. All the professional reviews seem accurate so use those but what they don't say that I don't like is: I think the breaks are touchy and lacking feel. I also think the accelerator is jumpy meaning when you step on the gas get ready to jump and go go go! I find this annoying when trying to get out of a parallel parking spot gracefully without hitting the car in from of me. Especially downtown Seattle on a hill. Yikes!
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.
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So nice, I bought this model twice
Great rugged SUV. Very reliable, excellent powertrain, roomy, and tough.
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Great 2nd Xterra
Our 1st Xterra was a 2002 SE. We drove it 209000 miles with only a few repairs. I loved the tight turning radius, durable paint, and feel of riding high compared to other SUV's. The 2012 is more comfortable, bigger engine, and more interior room.
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Great truck-like SUV that is very reliable
The last of body on frame SUV (except Jeep Wrangler). Competent old school platform with new world reliability. I have owned this SUV for 3 years, ... and it runs the same as the day I bought it
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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).
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Beware
Have a 2012 Xterra with only 47k miles and is now in shop having transmission rebuilt. No warning before breakage
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Throw away the radio
Bad stereo, bad sound , No auxiliary jack, bad reception, disappointing.
Does it all for me
I've had alot of vehicles in my driving life. Mustang GT, Maxima, alot of Nissan trucks, and this is my second Xterra. One vehicle can't do everything, but this does everything I need right now. I need 4WD for winter commutes, getting to the back of the woods, and job sites. The back cargo area is for the dog, the rear seats for gear or occasional passengers. The 6-speed manual and 260hp is for me. I have the PRO 4X and and Bilstein shocks make a BIG difference in handling and ride. Love 'em. With my 07 auto Xterra I never could get better than 19 mpg, and it was rare. With the manual I'm getting 20.5 mpg.
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.
Old-school real SUV at a great value
My review says it all. I had a 2019 4Runner and 19 GX460 in the stable for the past few years and loved them both. Lets just be honest... they are the kings of quality and resale value. Now back to business. I realized I could get a 70k low mileage Xterra model S for half, if not 1/3 of the Toyota similar model. The truth though is the Xterra just is a lot funner to drive. It's slightly smaller, but feels much more nimble. It's still solid and well built, so a long highway trip at 80 mph is no issue. I have the S model and it could easily go beyond the GX and keep up with the 4Runner TRD. This was a great year for the Xterra and you can easily get 250k miles out of this engine and even transmission. The earlier models 2010 and below had serious automatic transmission problems. They also had timing chain related issues from poor quality parts on earlier ones. But 2012 worked all the issues out of it and was at it's best this year. The storage compartments are much better. But the interior is very basic, easy to clean, and decent comfort. The 4Runner and obviously GX are a lot nicer interiors but the Xterra interior is also built to last.
Great SUV, good value, poor stereo
Good, strong SUV. Engine has great performance. Mileage within expected range. Was able to get it for about $5000 under sticker. Stereo is low quality. Sound is horrible--which explains the lack of an Aux input even in the S"S model.
i should of kept my edge
i wanted a four wheel drive to get around iowa's back roads during the winter with all the room of an suv could offer more then my 08 edge. i like my exterra except the fact that when im on the roads on windy days i seem to blow as much as semis do cause of the height of the truck. i was thought i could get over not being able to get powered seats, navigation in the dash, or tvs in the head rests but i cant. for the final price of all the options i could get added i wish they would of allowed or gave the choice of those three other options. im suprised nissan wouldnt give you that unless you want a murano, just really bummed over limited options