2005 Nissan Xterra S Test Drive
The Good
The Bad
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Tipsy FeelerAll new for 2005, the Nissan Xterra looks wider than the old Xterra and the design fits Nissan’s new design direction. It also has almost 100 more horsepower.
The exterior of the Xterra is boxier than its predecessor. I actually prefer the front clip on the older model – something about the round headlights just say cute to me. The new front end reminds me of the Nissan style on their trucks around 1992. The new model is wider and has huge square fender flares that accentuate the wider look.
I drove a very stripped down base model that didn’t even have mirrors on the back of the visors. It was a 6 speed manual, and paired with the new engine felt very quick. I never found myself thinking that it needed more power. The shifter itself could use some work, however. In first gear it has more side-to-side play than Chris’ Corvette’s Hurst shifter has in neutral. Other than the play, it was a very easy stick to use; I took to it like a child to a muddy puddle in their Sunday clothes. In the Corvette I find myself fighting with the shifter and having to think about what gear I’m in, but it was intuitive in the Xterra.
The ride was a bit rough, but nothing I found unreasonable. I’m not used to driving an SUV, however, and the first right turn felt like I was going to tip over on my side. I took the following turns at much slower speeds. The height also took some getting used to – it was interesting to look down on other vehicles instead of up at them.
The seats were comfortable, and the material felt nicer than it looked. It’s sort of spongy-looking and felt like it’d really soak up any drink you happened to dump on yourself.
We’re in the market for a family car to fill any future family needs we might have. I’ve never put a baby in a car seat in a car so I have to use my imagination when judging these things. The back seats were pretty high in the Xterra (for perspective, I’m 5’1”) and I think I’d have trouble getting a child into their car seat without climbing up into the back. The seats themselves were comfortable although I did have a little bit of trouble getting into them – but the grab handle is nicely placed for assistance.
The Xterra has quite a bit of storage in the rear, with a cheap-looking and flimsy retractable cover to hide your groceries from nosey neighbors. It also has a full sized spare, which I think all vehicles should have. My mom recently had a flat on her Astro and put the donut on but was scared to drive because a friend said it could only go 50 miles. Uh…? What happens at mile 51, an explosion? How silly. So carmakers should just include full size spares and people like my mom wouldn’t need to worry about every bizarre scenario their friends pass along. It’s come in handy on my Audi more than once. But I digress. The storage area floor has a nice feel, looks easy to clean, and lifts up to show even more storage space underneath. There’s also storage in the liftgate – there’s a space for a first aid kit, but the stripper I drove either didn’t come with one or someone swiped it.
Overall Impression
Sadly, the Xterra didn’t make much of an impression on me. Nothing really stood out as bad, but nothing stood out as good either. In fact, writing this a day later, I find I have trouble remembering a whole lot about it. If I were in the market for a $25,000 car I’d consider it, but it wouldn’t be at the top of the list. Driving it just didn’t excite me.