Nissan Xterra Won't Go Soft (-Road)

Jack Baruth
by Jack Baruth

Good writers go to heaven, but TTAC writers go everywhere. Justin Berkowitz went to Car & Driver, where he found out some news that will no doubt be welcomed by xtreme outdoor athletes everywhere.

The new Pathfinder may have become a unibody vehicle (in fairness, for the second time in just four generations) but the Xterra will, apparently, continue to be a body-on-frame “traditional” SUV. Nissan has the luxury of owning two relatively well-regarded nameplates in this segment, so splitting them (back) up makes perfect sense. The Xterra will continue to be the choice of people who either do outdoorsy stuff or believe they one day will get around to doing such stuff.

As for the Pathfinder? Will it succeed? Readers with long memories and/or a taste for Special Advertising Sections may recall that after Ford made a similar decision to base it on a unibody platform, the American Monthly Journal Of Free Cadillacs panned the redesigned Explorer using the strongest language we’ve seen from them in quite some time. The market responded by literally storming Ford dealers and burning Explorers to the ground. Oops. That’s not quite true. Although the market did storm Ford dealers, it was mostly to buy Explorers, resulting in year-over-year sales numbers that increased by as much as 138%. Senior Token European Angus MacKenzie was reportedly so upset he temporarily abandoned the posh accent he uses to talk to Americans and reverted to sounding exactly like “Groundskeeper Willie” for the afternoon. Don’t bet on Xterra sales exceeding those of the new Pathy, mmmmmkay?

Jack Baruth
Jack Baruth

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  • Akitadog Akitadog on Jan 14, 2012

    Jack, Angus MacKenzie is actually from "down under," not "across the pond."

  • Jco Jco on Jan 14, 2012

    I always wondered what kind of enthusiast following the XTERRA had. i very rarely see one with any sort of modification or actual dirt on it. they start out much cheaper than the new 4runner, but if you top one out at 32k, there's still a bit missing that you can get on the 4Runner trail for like 37k. it did always seem like the XTERRA was fighting the Jeep and the 4runner and ending up in 3rd place. but i guess you get a Dana axle with the manual trans versions? neat. the 4runner hasn't offered a manual trans in a long time. the explorer really never seemed to have much off-road following either. they seemed to haul children and the occasional jetski. something the new one can do just as well, although I seriously cringe at the idea of towing with a unibody vehicle. dear Toyota: this please http://www.toyota.com.au/landcruiser-200/specifications/gx-turbo-diesel?WT.ac=VH_LC200_RangeSpecs_GX_Specs

  • FJ60LandCruiser FJ60LandCruiser on Jan 14, 2012

    The LC200 has long ago become a fat pig, adding a snorkel won't remedy the independent front suspension. The Aussie Cruiser you want is the LC70 http://www.toyota.com.au/landcruiser-70-series/range?WT.ac=VHLC70TopNavRangeSpecs preferably in the most useful "wagon" configuration. It has front and rear live axles and 3 locking diffs. As for the Xterrible, it's a chick car. A reasonable alternative for a Jeep Wrangler, if you don't want your college age daughter riding around topless. The few I've seen modified were shredding their Mickey Thompsons on the highway at 85 mph, faster than daddy can buy new ones.

    • Jco Jco on Jan 14, 2012

      oh yes, you're totally right. I think that's what I was actually looking for. I just don't get why we can't have good diesel trucks in this country that aren't giant American pickups. and unibody german car-trucks don't count.

  • Junebug Junebug on Jan 16, 2012

    I like the Xtera except for one thing - that damn plastic. As a part-time detailer, doing these and Chevy's Alvalanche is an exercise in frustration. The ONLY thing you can do is die the plastic back to the original color. (Check out ValueGuard products) There is no trim "dressing" water based, silicon based or whatever that will hold up over a couple months. So, either do the maintenance regularly or look like crap. Hey Nissan/Chevy? would it be too much to ask for some decent painted fiberglass IF you HAVE to tack sh!t on?!

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