December 5. 2007
Page B6
®
e v ie w News and reviews on new motor vehicles
R
P o rtla n d O b se rv e r A u to
2008 Nissan Xterra 0R-V6 4X4
Prove Nothing. Accomplish Everything.
BY
K M i n
u s
C arr
Nissan's truck-based Xterra is
geared toward the young and/or
active buyer — or those who want
to appear that way. The midsize
Nissan Xterra is a lough guy SUV,
with a rugged design and solid off
road abilities. Il leaves the more
comfortable car-based SUVs for
"softies." The game plan for the
Xterra never has been to make it
softer to grab more buyers. It's no
car-based SUV or crossover ve
hicle. but a genuine truck for rough
use and rugged off-road driving.
The Xterra has a decent amount
of standard equipment, despite its
go-any where nature. Even the base
trim level has airconditioning, atilt
wheel, an AM/FM/CD player, a rear
wiper and a full-size spare tire.
There's also anti-lock brakes and
an anti-skid system.
The Xterra OR included such
items as: a leather-wrapped steer
ing wheel with audio controls, an
upscale audio system and tubular
side steps. Additional options also
included side-curtain airbags, sat
ellite radio andatow kit. Forget frills
such as leather upholstery or a
sunroof because Nissan feels that
such items would be out of place for
the Xterra.
Nissan's 4.0-liter V-6 develops
261 horsepower and 281 pounds-
feet of torque. The engine teams
with either a crisp-shifting live-
speed automatic transmission or a
six-speed manual. Available part-
time four-wheel drive includes; Au
tomatic, 4-High and 4-Low modes.
The Xterra has a double-wishbone
front suspension and a rigid axle in
back.
But there’s no stinting on perfor
mance: The Xterra has a sophisti
cated engine with plenty of torque.
The engine sounds gruff during
hard acceleration but propels the
Xterra to 60m ph in 7.3 seconds and
allows quick merging, safe high
way passing and easy high-speed
cruising.
The quick steering is rather
heavy, and a wide turning circle
doesn't help close-quarters maneu
verability. Handling is good if the
Xterra isn't driven too hard, and the
brakes provide short stops. Al
though improved, the ride is pre
dictably truck-like despite the
longer wheelbase and gets choppy
over some roads.
Standard all-disc antilock brakes
have electronic brake-force distri
bution and brake assist. Seat-
mounted side-impact airbags and
side curtain airbags are optional.
An electronic stability system is
also optional.
The Xterra hasn't been crash-
tested by our preferred source but
has earned four out of five stars in
the government's frontal crash test.
It carries a three-star rollover rat
ing, which is as poor as you'll find
among SUVs.
But there's good room for four
tall adults in the utility-oriented
interior. Gauges can be quickly
read, and controls are easy to reach
and use. The rear seats elevated to Specifications: 4.0-Liter 261-hp @ 281 Ib-ft. torque V6 Engine: 5-Speed Automatic Transmission:
give rear occupants a better view of 14-City 20-Highway MPG; $30,590. MSRP
surroundings.
Nissan knows all about the im in N issa n 's lin e u p . R unning sort of a sports locker on wheels, cessories or gear.
with such items as cubbies, nets
Straight out of the box, the Nissan
p a c t o f d a rin g sty lin g . T he boards are optional.
All 4W D models have mud and a roof-mounted storage com X terra w ill be the W eekend
X terra's styling is an evolution of
the original’s, introduced in 2000, guards. and the highest, SE, trim partment for wet, dirty clothes. Rear Athlete’s best bud.
The X terra is an honest ve
and is defined by its standard level adds bodyside moldings. side bumper steps allow easier ac
tubular roof rack and stepped Wheel sizes are limited to 16 or 17 cess to that compartment. There hicle because it doesn't pretend
roofline. The roof rack features a inches in diameter. New paint col also are such outdoor-oriented fea to be som ething it's not. That's
latchable box for gear. Between ors for 2(X)8 include Red Alert and tures as 10 cargo area utility hooks com forting when its driver con
and an adjustable channel system fronts challenging conditions;
the large hood and the integrated Sandstone.
Extreme active lifestyle people in the cargo floor that makes it easier while dem anding more to meet an
front bumper is agrilie with angled
bars that's sim ilar to other SUVs single out the Xterra because it's to secure bike racks and other ac active lifestyle.
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