All-new Xterra is a catalyst for adventure.

Introduction

It looks almost the same, but the 2005 Nissan Xterra is all new. And it's better, on paved roads and off. It's safer, more powerful, more sophisticated, and more capable. 

First introduced in 2001, the Xterra was simple, functional and largely unrefined. The original Xterra was really just a pickup truck chassis with a utility body, accessorized with racks, bins and cargo hold-fast items. It was truly useful, but it rode and handled like a pickup truck, and it was flawed by conflicts between the base platform and the accessories that were tacked on. Still, it was unique. It was a great adventure vehicle. And it was Cool. 

Taking full advantage of the opportunity to re-design the Xterra for 2005, Nissan has made the new Xterra more modern, but still rugged and functional. Features and options are better integrated into the package. Conceived as a multi-function SUV, Xterra eschews luxury do-dads, but can be configured for varying combinations of utility and convenience. With the 2005 Xterra, Nissan has resolved the equipment conflicts, and properly integrated the features packages. 

They did all that, and somehow kept The Cool. 

Lineup

The 2005 Nissan Xterra is available in 2WD or 4x4 configurations, in S, SE or Off-Road trim levels. Each comes standard with the 4.0-liter V6 and a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. 

Safety equipment includes an advanced air bag system, which consists of dual-stage front supplemental air bags with seat belt sensors and a front occupant classification sensor. Also standard are three-point seat belts for all rear seat occupants (including the center rear position) and a child seat anchor system. The Side/Curtain Air Bag Package includes side-impact air bags, with rollover sensor, and side curtain air bags. 

Options include the Power Package (standard on SE and Off-Road grades), which includes power door locks, mirrors and windows, remote keyless entry, cruise control and a vehicle security system with an immobilizer. 

The Utility Package (standard on SE and Off-Road) includes sturdy step rails, electronic Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) (automatic transmission only), a cargo net, flat-folding passenger seat for carrying long cargo, and the signature first-aid kit. 

The Rockford Fosgate Audio (standard on SE) package has a six-disc in-dash changer, eight speakers with subwoofer, steering wheel controls and MP3 CD capability. The system is satellite-ready, and has speed-sensitive volume. 

The Off-Road Grade (standard on Off-Road) combines an electronic locking rear differential with Bilstein shocks, skid plates, fog lamps, 16-inch alloy off-road wheels and larger 265/75R16 BFG Rugged Trail all terrain tires. The package comes with distinctive black body side molding, unique blue seat fabric, cargo net, and everything in the Power Package. The Off-Road Grade also includes electronic handling systems such as Nissan's VDC, Hill Descent Control (HDC) and Hill Start Assist systems that avoid skidding and wheel spin through computerized application of the anti-lock braking system. 

Walkaround

The new Xterra looks a lot like the old Xterra, but tougher and more powerful, ready for outdoor activity. Wheel wells have been accentuated with squared-off lines, adding muscular shoulders to the Xterra's stance. 

The effect is especially pronounced from the front, where the massive front bumper and heavy grille combine with a conspicuous front skid plate, adding bulk and mass to the approaching Xterra. The roofline kicks upward to increase second-row headroom. Side mirrors are large and rectangular. The bodywork is intended to suggest an aggressive posture, and performance in the off-road sense. 

The Xterra also projects a high-utility image. A roof rack made with wide beams adds size and a sense of utility. Side steps create easy access to the roof rack, a functional addition underscoring the utility of the roof rack and its cargo box. The angled C-pillar carries Nissan signature high-mounted rear door handles, a unique design trait that visually links the new Xterra with the original. 

Overall, it's as if the original Xterra spent the past four years at the gym: same guy, but with more muscle. 

Interior

Inside, the new Xterra has become more organized, and significantly roomier. It has about an inch more front legroom, and over an inch more front headroom. Second-row legroom, headroom and shoulder room have all increased. 

Cargo capability has remained a priority. The rear seat folds down when needed, and the front passenger seat also folds down, meaning that lengthy recreational gear or lumber can be more easily accommodated. 

Second-row seating is stadium-style, meaning that the rear passengers can see over the front-seat occupants. 

Storage compartments have been enlarged (both center console and glove compartment), and there is also additional instrument panel storage. The cargo area has easily cleaned flooring and a total of 10 cargo utility hooks. The rear is set up to handle anything the roof rack can't, such as a dirty dog or muddy soccer cleats. There is an adjustable channel system on the cargo floor making it easier to secure bike racks. The built-in first-aid kit is included with the Off-Road and SE grades. 

Driving Impression

Testing an adventure vehicle demands something more than just putting around town, especially when you have a 4x4. Rising to the occasion, we ended up on a weekend adventure trip, driving to the Grand Canyon for a little river rafting, stopping in Sedona and Williams, Arizona, along the way. 

Much of the route took us across lonely interstate highways, where we noticed the new Xterra cruises far more easily, and more quietly, than the previous generation. The automatic transmission, a five-speed overdrive, wins points around town. For commuting or driving in traffic, we would prefer it. 

But on the open road, the six-speed manual is a sweet gearbox, with an overdrive gear so tall the engine barely murmurs at cruising speeds on the sweeping, largely unpatrolled highways leading to Williams, the gateway to the Grand Canyon. In addition, the six-speed's first four ratios are lower than the automatic, so we could really feel all the torque when we shifted for ourselves. 

The 4.0-liter V6 has very good, if not outstanding, response to throttle. High-speed passing with the automatic transmission does create some noise and vibration as the engine revs toward redline, but only at speeds well above the normal cruising levels. No such issues with the manual, which is strikingly refined, yet sporty. We're told the six-speed is a version of the same transmission used on the Nissan 350 Z, and we would recommend it for those who like to drive. 

Regardless of the power train, the Xterra is easy to keep in lane on the highway, probably due to the combination of rack-and-pinion steering and a speed-sensitive steering ratio. At one point, we drove five hours without stopping, a positive indication when it comes to seat comfort and overall driving effort. 

To check the audio system, we jammed a CD into the Rockford Fosgate. We're not audiophiles, but we like our music. We can testify that the 300-watt system is quite a bit bigger, cleaner, and more accurate than what we normally listen to. Getting good sound in an SUV interior can be difficult, since there are many hard surfaces combined with soft shapes to reflect and muffle sound. In this case, 8 speakers with subwoofer carry the day. 

Even though the Xterra's utility quotient is the main design priority, effort has been made to reduce wind noise, and the results are tangible. Large mirrors, angled grilles, big roof racks, open side steps-these are features that invariably create wind noise, and at speeds over 75 mph, noise does begin to become a factor. Yet below those speeds, the Xterra remains nicely calm and quiet. The roof rack, a prime source of wind whistle, has been redesigned with oval beams, which slice through the air more cleanly than round or square tubing. Engine noise, likewise, is kept to a minimum through techniques such as a silent timing chain, microfinished surfaces and Teflon-coated pistons. 

On smaller roads, the Xterra retains a handy feeling, driving with the ease of a large family sedan. If you push it, the long-travel chassis will show some roll from side to side, and the tires will complain, but in ordinary driving, the Xterra feels consistently composed and, for a truck, highly refined. The 4-liter engine has some guts in the midrange, and we noticed that acceleration coming out of a corner is a strong point. 

A memorable stretch came when as we approached the launch point for our raft trip. Leaving the highway for a graded dirt road, we continued downward for miles. It had rained in the desert the night before, and as we approached the river, water trickled across the road, accumulating in the middle and flowing down the path. Eventually the trickle became a torrent, then a series of streams, and we found ourselves driving down a canyon path of loose gravel with rivulets of water running around us on all sides. The crunch of gravel gave way to the sound of water and rock in the wheelwells. We were forced to move carefully from sid. 

Summary

There is nothing exactly like the Xterra on the market. True to the theme of the original Nissan Xterra, the all-new 2005 Nissan Xterra is considerably improved, and there is a lot to like. There is more power, more room, plus more carefully thought-out utility features. It is more refined in every way, making it a much more practical everyday vehicle. And when used as a truck, a dirt road prowler, or an adventure vehicle, the Xterra can offer authentic 4x4 capabilities, handle wet or dirty cargo, and clean up like a champ. 

New Car Test Drive correspondent John Stewart is based in Southern California. 

Model Lineup

Nissan Xterra 4x2, 4x4; S, Off-Road, SE. 

Assembled In

Smyrna, Tennessee. 

Options As Tested

side curtain air bags with rollover sensor, side-impact air bags; Rockford Fosgate Audio System w 6CD in-dash changer, 8 high performance speakers with subwoofer, steering wheel audio controls, satellite radio ready, MP3 CD capability, speed-sensitive volume.