2009 Nissan XTerra

Most sport-utility vehicles are like apartment-dwelling Labrador retrievers: They’ve become soft—forgetting their original purpose in life was to work hard, get dirty and carry dead birds. Unlike most other SUVs, the 2009 Nissan Xterra feels as if it remembers its roots. Its floor and seats are inviting to muddy boots and wet raingear. Assertive fender bulges, prominent roof rack and black lower cladding stand out in the mall parking lot. Its stout ladder frame is based on that found in the Titan pickup. The XTerra’s cargo area can be had in hard plastic, and features 10 tie-down hooks. It has a tough-guy-loud exhaust and its ride is sometimes a bit harsh.

Adventure Ready

The XTerra is not a throwback. No vehicle with standards like a 261-horsepower engine, electronic stability control, power windows, door locks and mirrors, cruise control, remote keyless entry and four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes and options such as a 300-watt sound system and leather seats can be so accused. It’s just that the XTerra communicates that it’s ready to load up and head into the backcountry. And it doesn’t mind if a wet Lab rides along.


For 2009, the XTerra receives freshened front styling that includes a new grille and revised bumper cladding. Also new: All XTerra’s now come with side-curtain airbags, designed to protect both front and rear passengers. The Off-Road trim level now comes with roof-mounted driving lights. Inside, the 2009 XTerra gets a revised, easy-to-read instrument panel and new seat surfaces for every trim level.


The XTerra is powered by a 261-horsepower, 4.0-liter V6 engine that makes a peak of 281 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard and a five-speed automatic is available. Rear-wheel-drive is standard. Available is a traditional-style four-wheel-drive system that requires the driver to switch between two- and four-wheel drive. For serious off-roading, the driver can choose low-range four-wheel drive.

Outdoor Enthusiast

Since it lacks the computer-controlled, brake-based four-wheel drive systems found in technology-crazed SUVs, the XTerra may not be the most capable SUV for off-road driving. Getting stuck or continuing to move will be determined more by the driver’s skill and discretion and not by a difficult-to-explain, computer-based system. Old-school off-roaders like it that way: When everybody can reach that favorite campsite or trout stream, maybe it’s time to find new places to go. The Off-Road trim level has an electronically lockable rear differential, which will help an experienced off-roader move further up the trail. A concession to computerized driver aids is hill descent control, which will help anyone negotiate steep downgrades.


Even those who never dream of going further off-road than a gravel parking lot use their SUVs to carry things. A sudden stop or steep driveway can cause that stuff to fly around the vehicle. To help prevent that, the XTerra has 10 utility hooks in the cargo area, including four on the ceiling.