If you’re planning on venturing into the off-road SUV world, the choices can quickly become daunting. Whether you’re buying new or used, the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota 4Runner have long dominated the segment, with new entrants like the Bronco and upscale Defender shaking things up. While these are all great options, their reputations command a premium, some simply can’t or don’t want to pay, leaving enthusiasts wanting to break into the market with a conundrum.
Fortunately, there is one used option that will cost less than its competitors and deliver the old-school off-road style many are craving without giving up reliability. Discontinued in 2015, the Nissan Xterra has slowly gained a faithful cult following that appreciates the rugged SUV’s capability, charm, and affordability. The second generation of the SUV is where the formula really came together, and looking at the used market, many clean examples can be found for less than $10,000. From the base X trim to the capable Pro-4X, it’s a great option for anyone wanting to break into the off-road segment without breaking the bank.
Built To Get Dirty: The Nissan Xterra
When Nissan debuted the Xterra in 1999, the company needed a miracle – not unlike the current pickle it finds itself in. Mismanagement for well over a decade, not to mention the strain of continued recession plaguing the Japanese economy, saw the company teetering on the edge of bankruptcy that was only avoided thanks to investment from Renault that eventually spawned the Renault-Mitsubishi-Nissan Alliance. The company couldn’t afford many more failures, even with the new investment, so designers and engineers felt the pressure.
Created out of necessity, the Xterra debuted as the answer to the ever-increasing number of SUVs overstuffed with technology and luxury. The company envisioned an SUV like the ones you remembered, with all the capability you wanted, and none of the frills you didn’t, a sentiment emphasized by the straightforward marketing tagline “Everything You Need, Nothing You Don’t”. The Xterra, named after the famed XTERRA triathlons and designed in California, was immediately a hit, with the company selling nearly 80,000 in the US in its first year on sale.
While the first generation was a great starting point, the second generation that debuted in 2005 was where the model hit its stride. It moved to the F-Alpha platform, shared by the Titan and Armada at the time, which saw it grow in length, width, and height, and meant better interior room, better on-road manners, and greater off-road performance than before. With the addition of a new 4.0-liter V6 engine and enhancements to the technology and features across the range, sales immediately skyrocketed once again, topping out at 72,000 sold.
The design was bolder than before, but Nissan made sure not to mess with the quirky attributes that customers loved, like the roof rails, roof-mounted storage box, interior bike rack, and first aid kit. It came in three trims when it first debuted – S, Off-Road, and SE – with the X trim added a year later and the Off-Road trim later renamed the Pro-4X in 2011. Every trim offered impressive capability right out of the box, but for those looking for more, the Off-Road/Pro-4X trim was the model to turn to.
Off-Road And Pro-4X Trims Made The Xterra An Off-Road Contender
While the standard Xterra was already capable, the Off-Road and Pro-4X trims elevated its off-road abilities significantly, and these are the trims you want to find if you’re seeking to get the most off-road performance out of the X-terra as possible. While the trims gained capability over the years, in 2005 it started with the same engine and transmission options as the other trims with the part-time 4WD system standard. From there, varying other bits were added to ensure it could get you up and down some pretty mean obstacles:
- Upgraded Bilstein Shocks
- Electronic Locking Rear Differential
- 265/75R15 BFGoodrich Off-Road Tires
- Three Heavy-Duty Skid Plates
- Hill Descent Control And Hill Start Assist
- Clutch-Interlock-Override (Manual Transmission)
- Distinctive Styling
Overall, it was a nice bit of kit that complimented that SUV’s already rugged, truck-like design, offering a solid-rear axle/leaf springs and all-steel ladder frame. The rest of the package gave the vehicle an edgier off-road look, with fog lights, badging, and a unique interior to let you know you’re dealing with a model that can handle more than the average. Did we mention it was rather cheap, too? In 2005, the Off-Road model started at just $23,780, and ten years later, the Pro-4X had only risen to $30,590. Adjusted for inflation, that only comes out to about $40,000 today, and used examples continue to be a solid deal.
The Hidden Gem of Used Off-Road SUVs
As prices for used Toyota 4Runners and Jeep Wranglers continue to climb, the Nissan Xterra remains one of the most underrated and affordable options on the used market. While it was on sale, it was almost like the model was ignored, and this is reflected in the poor sales it had from 2009 onward. Over time, the tune has changed, thanks in part to customers realizing paying nearly $20,000 for a used 4Runner with almost 200,000 miles is just a bit too much to stomach, but overall, used, higher-trim, models can be had for thousands less than their counterparts.
Source: Nissan, Motortrend, Car and Driver
