The 2011 Nissan Xterra is a five passenger crossover SUV

The 2011 Nissan Xterra is a five passenger crossover SUV that offers both suburban comfort as well as capable off-road handling. With its sturdy body-on-frame construction, the vehicle has a tough guy appearance with tall ground clearance and available four-wheel drive that can easily handle those road conditions where the concrete and asphalt end.

The Nissan Xterra is available in three trim levels: the X, S and Pro-V, which is only available with four-wheel drive. Standard features on the X include four-wheel anti-lock brakes, cruise control, 16-inch steel wheels, remote keyless entry, tubular roof rack with air dam, power windows, door locks and mirrors air-conditioning privacy glass, tilt steering wheel, six standard air bags and an audio system with six speakers and a CD player.

The S version of the Nissan Xterra adds 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels with off-road tires, a cargo organization system, driver’s seat that can be manually adjusted eight ways with lumbar control and a first aid kit. The four-wheel drive model adds a roof rack with rail crossbars and a gear basket, a front tow hook and splash guards.

The Pro-4X model of the Nissan Xterra adds 16-inch machined-finished aluminum alloy wheels with upgraded off-road tires, hill start assist and hill descent control, electronic locking rear differential, skid plates, cloth upholstery, a passenger seat that folds flat, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, an audio system with nine speakers, satellite radio and six-disc CD changer, white-face gauges, Bluetooth connectivity and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with a built-in compass. There is an additional package for the Pro-4V that gas leather upholstery and a passenger seat back pocket but removes the ability for the passenger seat to fold flat.

Specs:

The Nissan Xterra has a 4.0 liter dual overhead cam 24-valve V6 engine that can produce 261 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. All models except the Pro-4X come standard with rear-wheel drive and a five-speed automatic transmission but there is a choice between the automatic transmission and a six-speed manual transmission on the four-wheel drive S and Pro-4X. The four-wheel drive system on the Pro-4X features low-range gearing.

Fuel economy for the Nissan Xterra is based on transmission and type of drive. The rear-wheel drive version with an automatic transmission is rated at 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. The four-wheel drive version with an automatic transmission is rated at 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. Four-wheel drive vehicles with a manual transmission are rated at 16 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.

The interior of the Nissan Xterra is somewhat dull in design due to the predominance of hard plastics found in many other of-road SUVs of the same nature. Cargo space is 35 cubic feet with the rear seats up and expands to 66 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The cargo area has some innovative features such as a system built into the floor for securing bikes and gear, space for a one-gallon water jug and sturdy utility hooks mounted on the sides of the floor and ceiling.

The 2011 Nissan Xterra not only offers impressive off-road capabilities but handles well on the road with precise steering and minimal body roll. The powerful V6 engine provides performance that is sure to satisfy many drivers.