Nissan Xterra wagon puts sport element back in sport-utility
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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CANEY CREEK, Ark. -- With a pair of mountain bikes locked on a rack in the cargo bay and a pair of bike riders strapped into the two front bucket seats, our sport-utility wagon grinds over an endless series of washboard ruts on dusty logging trails deep within rumpled creases of the Ouachita Mountains in western Arkansas.
No need to fret about all of that trail dust creeping into the lubricated sprockets of those multi-speed mountain bikes because they're riding securely in the wagon's weather-tight bay -- the way-cool way to transport pricy sporting goods.
No need to worry about all of those wrinkles in the trail either, or the slippery graveled surface, because our vehicle plows through the wilderness with sure-footed traction, thanks to a part-time four-wheel-drive system -- locked in this instance in the high range.
Fact is, we're self-contained and comfortable for a day-trip into the outback world, rolling along in Nissan's four-door Xterra compact sport-utility wagon, which applies a back-to-basics approach to off-road romps.
Constructed on a platform of Nissan's compact Frontier truck, the Xterra draws from either a four-cylinder or V6 engine off the Frontier and provides a rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive edition, both charted with rather reasonable price points.
Favorable figures in a range from $18,000 to $26,000 apply to Xterra because Nissan was able to evade the add-on cost of imports by constructing the wagon in the United States at a Tennessee assembly plant. To the point, all designs, engineering schemes and manufacturing for the Xterra occurred at Nissan facilities in North America.
Consider the Xterra sport-utility vehicle a rugged wagon capable of serious off-road play as well as an affordable pavement cruiser which provides seats for five in a wagon's boxy format but can also haul lifestyle sports paraphernalia -- such as those mountain bikes, or a load of camping gear, skis or kayaks strapped to a slick roof rack.
Sports equipment kits and mounts both inside and out for bikes and boats and skis show up on the list of optional equipment. The tubular aluminum roof rack has a removable mesh basket for cradling soft equipment like diving gear or soggy ski boots and suits.
Researchers at Nissan's California design studio in La Jolla studied the usage of sport-utility wagons and trucks before developing the Xterra and discovered through observations that younger users rigged their vehicles with an assortment of racks and storage compartments, and lots of bungee cords to attach all of the sports equipment they toted.
The resultant design of Xterra addresses that market by providing a variety of storage spaces so the vehicle becomes an accessory for an intended sport. In effect, the Xterra puts the emphasis in the sporty aspect of a sport-utility concept.
While it contains amenities for comfort in the cabin, Xterra has no pretense: It rides on the rugged chassis of a pickup and therefore brings a truck's strength and power, as well as its inherent hard ride quality. That becomes an asset in traversing irregular terrain off-road, of course, because the body-on-frame construction of a truck, when combined with the four-wheel-drive kit and an off-road suspension package, filters the bumpy ride while delivering sure-footed motion control for the driver.
The structure of Xterra starts with a strong ladder-type frame reinforced by cross bracing for additional torsional rigidity. To this platform suspension elements attach, with a double wishbone arrangement up front and a solid axle with leaf springs in the rear.
Steering, from a recirculating ball mechanism, puts power assistance to all editions.
Brakes, with front discs and rear drums, include a four-wheel anti-lock controller with smart computer capacity that can read road surfaces via special sensors and then modulate brake pressure during bumpy situations with loose traction caused by gravel, sand or road dirt.
Other safety elements include dual air bags, with a key-activated shut-off switch at the passenger's side for installation of a child's seat. The structure has a front crumple zone and protective steel beam in each side door.
The Xterra shows angular lines across the exterior form, which looks strong and tough, like it's ready for serious action.
A black bumper and grille define its face, with dual squared headlamp clusters and flanking flared fenders. The prow rakes rearward in aerodynamic fashion as lines flow over the stepped hood and up the windshield to a roof that rises behind the B pillars to add more headroom inside for the elevated position of rear seats.
Sides, sculpted tautly with shapely contours, stress strong horizontal lines which sweep back to an aggressive rear end with corner lamps and bold back bumper. The tailgate has a hinge on top so it swings up and out of the way overhead.
Optional step rails, in tubular design which matches the roof rack, were designed to form a visual eco-skeleton in geo-mechanical style.
In the cabin, front bucket seats stand in front of the three-person rear bench with seatback split in half and each side foldable. With the rear seat cushion removed, seatbacks drop forward to create a long and flat cargo floor.
The rear bay supports optional equipment for sports gear like dual interior bike racks, cargo nets plus hooks on the floor and clips on the ceiling to tie down loads.
Engines to power the Xterra range from the four-cylinder for a single rear-wheel-drive XE trim to the V6 for the SE two-wheel-drive model and four-wheel-drive editions of XE and SE. A five-speed manual shifter or optional four-speed automatic transmission work with both engines.
The twin-cam 2.4-liter four musters 143 hp.
The 3.3-liter V6 with a single cam and sequential multi-point electronic fuel injection delivers up to 170 hp at 4800 rpm. Its torque runs up to 200 lb-ft at 2800 rpm.
Editions rigged with the four-wheel-drive system employ a two-speed transfer case with high and low ranges for off-road trekking. Automatic locking front hubs enable the driver to shift from rear-drive to 4x4 traction while under way at speeds up to 50 mph, but you must stop before shifting from four-high to four-low, which is designed for conquering off-pavement obstacles at slower speeds.
A utility package installs power ports, the step rails and roof rack, a rear window wiper and tilt steering column. The sport pack brings alloy wheels, front foglamps and tow hooks plus a limited-slip differential, while the power package adds cruise control, power windows and door locks, remote keyless entry and a vehicle security system.
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| 2000 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
Compact sport-utility wagon
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| Model Options: |
Compact sport-utility wagon
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| Wheelbase: |
104.3 inches
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| Overall Length: |
178.0 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.4-L I4
SOHC 3.3-L V6
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| Transmission: |
Manual/5, Auto/4
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| Drive: |
Rear 4x2, part-time 4x4
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| Braking: |
Power disc/drum/ABS
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| Airbags: |
2 (front)
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| Gas Mileage: |
I4 4x2 M/5: 19/24 mpg
V6 4x4 M/5: 16/18 mpg
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| MSRP Price: |
$ 18,000 to $ 26,000 |
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