A quick sit in the back made it easy to appreciate how rear seat riders will notice the "biggest" changes with regards to head, shoulder and legroom. The seats are still stacked slightly higher than those in front, stadium-like, especially ideal for smaller
 |
| The interior of the new Xterra is of course larger, but also laid out better overall, with higher quality materials and a more modern design. (Photo: Nissan Canada) |
Nissan states the 2005 Xterra will deliver greater off-road capability than the outgoing model. That's impressive, as the current compact SUV is quite handy at gobbling up people and cargo while escorting them from civilization to the wild unknown in relative comfort. Without doubt the new SUV's fully-boxed all-steel frame plays an important role by serving up a much stiffer structure overall, resulting in better on- and off-pavement handling and more manageable maneuverability, plus higher crash tolerances.
 |
| All the elements that made the outgoing Xterra so great have found their way into the new model, albeit updated and refined. (Photo: Nissan Canada) |
What about power? The upgraded model gets a 250+ horsepower 4.0-liter V6 said to be capable of putting out more than 270 lb-ft of torque. Transmission choices will include a 6-speed manual or 5-speed electronically controlled automatic. Only BMW and Porsche offer 6-speed manuals in their SUVs, so Nissan is in very lofty company indeed.
"We expect the new Xterra to offer best-in-class horsepower and torque, with exceptional acceleration and driveability, such as acceleration coming out of a corner," commented McNabb. "We've given it the hardware to get the job done, on highways and any paths that lead to adventure."
With adventure in mind, the Xterra's part-time four-wheel drive system continues forward, which is a good thing as the compact SUV is one of the last true 4x4s around. The system includes 2WD mode for fuel economy savings, plus 4H (high) and 4LO (low) for extreme adventure.