Not quite the perfect SUV, but pretty close |
| 2005 Nissan Xterra Off Road (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123) |
As time goes by, it seems that there are more and more sport-utility vehicles on the market. This trend is still going strong and, this despite the increase in the price of gasoline. While jumbo SUVs may start losing sales, smaller ones are still pretty popular.
Yet, is there really enough market share for each and every one? Manufacturers that don't have any SUVs in their arsenal can be counted on one hand. Meanwhile, all hell has broken loose within the Japanese brands; Toyota/Lexus now has eight, Honda/Acura has four and Nissan/Infiniti has seven! X-Trail, Xterra, Murano, Pathfinder, Armada, FX, QX... does Nissan need to have so many? Do they all serve their own purpose?
One that is clearly worth keeping, though, is the Xterra. I wouldn't have said this about last year's model, but the redesigned 2005 version can just about do it all.
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| 2005 Nissan Xterra Off Road (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123) |
Even for car freaks like me that can see the difference between old and new models with their eyes closed, you have to pay close attention to spot a new Xterra from and old one. They look so much alike, especially from the rear. The taillights, the lumpy roofline with roof rack, the bump on the liftgate and the black bumpers all lead to instant confusion. rugged hiking boot styling.
Once you step on the gas, though, the Grand Canyon separates old and new Xterras. While the previous model was available with wheezing 180- and 210-horsepower 3.3L engines, this new X gets a shot of steroids with a new DOHC 24-valve, 4.0L V6. 265 horses and 284 pound-feet of torque blast the SUV to 100 km/h in about 8 seconds with the automatic transmission. That's 85 horsepower and 82 pound-feet more than the last Xterra!
It might be a hot rod in a straight line, but let's not forget that it's a sport-utility with a high center of gravity. I must admit that I was expecting a rough ride with the pimply off-road tires on this model that's appropriately named Off Road. Not so. Its cushy ride was a nice surprise, as was the tight steering and suspension.
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| 2005 Nissan Xterra Off Road (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123) |
All Xterras come equipped with a 2-speed transfer case. You can choose from rear-wheel drive to four-wheel drive, hi or low, at the flick of a switch. The Off Road trim level also includes Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and limited-slip differentials, and automatic-equipped models feature Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist. All these electronic gizmos help you make the most out of crawling around in the wilderness, and even off-road newbies like me can take advantage of all these features and have as much fun as the rock-climbing experts. While probably not as hardcore or capable as, say, a TJ Rubicon I recently drove off the asphalt, the compromise of a better ride and on-road handling is worth it.
