Nissan Xterra Explained

Nissan Xterra
Manufacturer:Nissan
Aka:Nissan Paladin (China)
Nissan Roniz (Iran)
Dongfeng Oting (China)
Production:1999–2015
2003–2015 (China)
Class:Compact SUV
Body Style:5-door SUV
Layout:Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Front-engine, four-wheel-drive
Successor:Nissan Rogue
Nissan Murano
Nissan Terra (China)

The Nissan Xterra is a truck-based compact SUV manufactured and marketed by Nissan from 1999–2015 across two generations; the first (1999–2004) sharing a platform and many of its major exterior parts from the front doors forward with the Nissan (D22) Frontier pickup[1] – and the second (2005–2015) sharing the Nissan F-Alpha platform with the Frontier and Pathfinder.

Sporting a name licensed from the XTERRA off-road triathlon race series,[2] the vehicle was positioned by Nissan[3] as functional and reliable outdoor gear, epitomized by its marketing tagline “Everything You Need, Nothing You Don’t.” [4]

It was developed in La Jolla, California,[5] by Nissan Design International (NDI)'s (now Nissan Design America) then Director of Design Tom Semple,[6] and became the first Nissan vehicle completely conceived, developed and manufactured in the United States.[7] According to Jerry Hirshberg, president of Nissan Design International (NDI), "the impetus for Xterra designers was to create an affordable, rugged, quality piece of equipment".[1] He later described it as "a garage tool that says, 'treat me rough' – it's designed to look better dirty than clean."[8]

While the two Xterra generations differed significantly, both prioritized ruggedness, practicality, and affordability over luxury.[9] Traditional body-on-frame construction and underbody skid plates reflected both its truck heritage and off-road capability.[10] Throughout its lifetime the Xterra used a two-box design with a prominent two-tiered roof enabling second row stadium seating, C-pillar-mounted rear door handles, asymmetrical rear window, and a distinctive tailgate bump-out for an inside mounted first aid kit. For hauling exterior loads a roof rack with a removable forward gear basket was standard equipment.

Road & Track described the Xterra as "an honest SUV that doesn't try to be a luxury car alternative, nor tries to hide its truck underpinnings".[11] Jalopnik called it a "knockoff of the Land Rover Discovery".[12] The Washington Post described it as "rugged without bravado".[10]

First generation manufacture took place at Nissan's Decherd, Tennessee Plant (engines) and Smyrna Assembly plant (final assembly). Second generation Xterras were manufactured at the company's Canton, Mississippi plant (final assembly). Variants were also manufactured in Brazil and China.

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First generation (WD22; 1999)

First generation
Model Code:WD22
Aka:Nissan Paladin (China)
Nissan Roniz (Iran)
Production:April 19, 1999[13] – 2004 (United States)
1999–2009 (Iran)
2003–2007 (Brazil)
2003–2015 (China)
Designer:Tom Semple with Robert Bauer and Diane Allen[14]
Related:Nissan Frontier (D22)
Nissan Pathfinder (R50)
Engine:Gasoline


2.4 L KA24DE 143hp I4
3.3 L VG33E 170hp V6
3.3 L VG33E 180hp V6
3.3 L supercharged VG33ER 210hp V6
Diesel:
2.8 L TDI 4.07TCA 132hp I4
2.8 L TDI CRD 4.07TCE 140hp I4

Transmission:4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
Wheelbase:26501NaN1
Length:45221NaN1
Width:17881NaN1
Height:NaN1NaN1

The Xterra was developed in 1999 at (then) Nissan Design International in California.[5] Designed to be "about what people do with the vehicle, as much as what the vehicle can do,”[1] it was introduced in North America in the 2000 model year in two trim levels, XE and SE.

The base XE featured a 1430NaN0 KA24DE I4, rear-wheel 2WD, 5-speed manual transmission, and steel wheels, and a roof rack (rated for a load up to 125lbs). Options included a 170 horsepower 3.3 L VG33E SOHC V6 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, and part-time 4WD. The SE featured standard equipment that was optional on an XE, including 4WD, side step-rails, and moonroof. All models featured removable, tab-secured rear seat cushions to accommodate a fold-flat rear seat back. Canadian models from 1999 to 2004 were limited to the VG33E V6 engine with part-time 4WD.

2002 update

All updates for the 2002 Xterra were executed at the Nissan Technical Center-North America in Farmington Hills, Michigan.[5] It was again available both in rear-wheel 2WD and part-time 4WD models.

The facelifted model debuted at the 2001 Chicago Auto Show with an optional supercharged V6 engine option, revised front-end styling with rounded headlights and raised hood (48mm), revised instrument panel with three round gauges in grey trim (XE) or blue (SE), revised HVAC controls, console with side map pocket, 25 percent larger glove box, map lamp with integrated compass (SE), pull-out rear cup holders, four interior power points, revised new seat fabrics, standard variable intermittent front windshield wipers and rear wiper, optional 300-watt audio system, foot-operated pedal parking brake replacing the dash-mounted pull-and-twist parking brake — and an increase of 10 horsepower for the V6 engine.

The 3.3L VG33E V6 was upgraded to 1800NaN0 at 4,800 rpm and 202 lb⋅ft (274 N⋅m) at 2,800 rpm on the XE and SE models. A 2100NaN0 Eaton M62 supercharged VG33ER option (carried over from the 2001 Nissan Frontier) was made available only on the SE S/C version. It produced 2460NaN0 of torque for the automatic, and 2310NaN0 of torque with 5-speed manual.

For 2003 the front seats received additional adjustability with added lumbar support and in SE models the available 6-disc, 4-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system was replaced by a 6-speaker 300W Rockford Fosgate AM/FM/CD audio system with an 8-inch subwoofer that took up a small portion of the rear storage area. The last of the 2004 model year Xterras were manufactured in January 2005.

Second generation (N50; 2005)

Second generation
Model Code:N50
Production:January 2005 – 2015
Model Years:2005–2015
Platform:Nissan F-Alpha platform
Powerout:261hp
Transmission:5-speed automatic
6-speed manual
Wheelbase:27001NaN1
Length:45391NaN1
Width:18491NaN1
Height:19021NaN1
Weight:4,140–4,425 lb

The second generation Xterra[15] debuted at the New York International Auto Show in 2004 and entered showrooms in early 2005 for the 2005 model year. Sharing Nissan's F-Alpha platform with the Titan and Armada,[16] it was larger in all dimensions than its predecessor.[17] [18] The standard engine was upgraded to Nissan's 4.0 L VQ40DE variable valve timing DOHC V6, producing 261hp and 2810NaN0 of torque.[16]

Early US models include X, S, and PRO-4X, with a choice of 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmissions, a choice of part-time 4-wheel drive or 2-wheel drive.[16] [19] The M226 rear axle with a Dana 44 differential was standard on all manual transmission equipped models as well as all PRO-4X and off-road models. The PRO-4X and off-road also came standard with an electronic rear locking differential and either hill descent/start control or clutch interlock bypass switch on automatic and manual examples respectively.

2009 update

The Xterra received a facelift for 2009 (July 2008 production) with more options and colors, optional leather seats on SE models, new grille and front bumper, silver painted rear bumper and roof rack, and roof mounted lights on off-road models. The last year of the Nissan Xterra in Mexico was 2008. In 2012, production was moved from Smyrna, Tennessee, to Nissan's facility in Canton, Mississippi.

Other changes include:

Other updates

Discontinuation

The Xterra was discontinued in the U.S. after the 2015 model year. Poor fuel economy, declining sales, and mandated upgrades to safety and emissions were cited as reasons.[20] [21]

Awards and recognition

In 2001, the advertising firm of TBWA\Chiat\Day won the Grand Effie, a global marketing award,[3] for its introductory advertising campaign for the original Xterra - postitioning the Xterra as reliable and functional outdoor gear, captured in the marketing tagline “Everything You Need, Nothing You Don’t.” [4]

Production outside North America

All Nissan-produced Xterras manufactured outside the U.S. were built in São José dos Pinhais, Brazil until 2007. (Nissan ceased Brazilian production entirely in 2007.) It is built under license by Pars Khodro in Iran as the Nissan Roniz, and in China by Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile as the Nissan Paladin from 2003 to 2013. The Paladin uses the same chassis and running gear as the first generation Nissan Xterra, and the 2.4L KA24DE engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The front end is from the local Pickup. (The second generation Xterra model is only available in North America.) Other difference between the American Xterra and its Chinese counterparts is the parking brake actuator, a pedal with a pull-handle release in America, and a lever in China.

Dongfeng Oting

Dongfeng Motors produced a Chinese version of the first generation Xterra called the Oting from 2007 to 2015. It was available with the 2.4-liter 4G64 and 4G69 or a 2.5-liter turbo-diesel engine paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

In comparison to pricing, the Chinese market Nissan Paladin was priced at 159,800 to 244,800 RMB (25,264 to US$38,702) while the Oting was priced at 119,800 to 154,800 RMB (18,940 to US$24,473). Trim levels for the Paladin were called the 2WD S, 2WD C, 2WD L, 2WD E, 4WD S, 4WD C, 4WD L and 4WD E.[24] Trim levels for the Oting were called the China III MT L, China III MT E, China III AT L, China IV MT L, China IV MT E, Diesel 2WD and the Diesel 4WD.[25]

Successor

Following the Xterra's discontinuation from the U.S. market in 2015, Nissan began testing the D23 Navara-based SUV.[26] [27] The SUV, later named Terra, made its debut in Asia in March 2018, and the updated version was released in the Middle East in November 2020 under the X-Terra name.[28]

Sales

Calendar yearUnited StatesCanada
200279,779N/A
200367,799N/A
200466,6901,407
200572,4472,799
200662,3252,183
200751,3551,469
200833,579800
200916,455613
201020,5231,040
201118,2211,258
201218,679931
201317,7661,070
201416,505991
201510,6721,707
201638227
20171

(Source: US sales figures 2005-17 only; Canada 2012-2016 only.[29])

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nissan sport-ute designed for what people do with the vehicle . The Sacramento Bee . Mark . Glover . February 11, 2000 .
  2. Web site: Nissan names SUV after Maui triathlon. Zimmerman. Malia. November 15, 1998. Pacific Business News. April 4, 2013.
  3. Web site: 2001 Effie Awards . Effie.org . 2001 United States Automotive - Vehicles. Grand prize: Nissan Xterra Launch Campaign. Agency: TBWA\Chiat\Day .
  4. Web site: Nissan Xterra Case Study . Behance.net . Jason . Stinsmuehlen .
  5. Web site: 2002 Nissan Xterra Press Kit: Overview . Nissan-global.com . November 10, 2006 . 2001The Xterra was developed in 1999 at (then) Nissan Design International in California. . October 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181028033606/https://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/channels/us-united-states-nissan-models-xterra/releases/f0b351c1-eca5-4847-aabc-439067424399?page=3&query . dead .
  6. Web site: 2000 Nissan Xterra Press Kit: Overview . Nissannews.com . January 2000 . Xterra's body, styled by NDI Director of Design Tom Semple, emphasizes its tough, rugged, muscular look. The front view is anchored by a large, black-finished grille and bumper and rough, angular surface edges. The headlights, front bumper, hood, A-pillars and front doors are common to Frontier. .
  7. Web site: Nissan Xterra . The Detroit News . Paul . Lienert . May 5, 2000 . In fact, the Xterra is the first Nissan product totally conceived, developed and built in the United States, and its American heritage shows. .
  8. News: AUTOS ON FRIDAY: Design; A Last Chord From Nissan's Rocker-Designer-Spokesman . The New York Times . Phil . Patton . June 30, 2000 .
  9. Web site: Nissan Xterra Used SUV Buyer's Guide . Autobytel .
  10. News: Nissan Xterra . The Washington Post . Warren . Brown . May 9, 1999.
  11. Web site: Media Talk About Nissan Xterra, Named 2000 North American Truck of the Year . Nissan-global.com . January 12, 2000 .
  12. Web site: A Nissan Xterra Is The Most Underrated Cheap 4x4 Right Now . Jalopnik . Andrew P. . Collins . March 16, 2017 .
  13. Web site: Nissan Hopes New SUV, Redesigned Cars Give Sales a Lift . . April 20, 1999 .
  14. Web site: Women Designed SUVs . June 12, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140712182041/http://4wheeldrive.about.com/library/weekly/aa062101b.htm . July 12, 2014 .
  15. Web site: USATODAY.com – Pleasing persona outweighs 2005 Xterra's glitches . USA Today . January 13, 2005 . August 1, 2022.
  16. http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/channels/us-united-states-nissan-models-xterra/presskits/us-2014-nissan-xterra-press-kit 2014 Nissan Xterra Press Kit
  17. Web site: Intro to the 2005 Nissan Xterra - Specs and Features for the All-New Xterra about.com Trucks. June 3, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140607010038/http://trucks.about.com/cs/suvreviews/a/2005_xterra.htm . June 7, 2014 .
  18. Web site: Nissan Begins Production of 2005 Xterra . Rockcrawler.Com . January 7, 2005 . August 1, 2022.
  19. Web site: 2014 Nissan Frontier, Xterra Priced . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131206034650/http://blogs.automotive.com/2014-nissan-frontier-xterra-priced-156651.html . December 6, 2013 . December 3, 2013.
  20. Web site: Nissan Xterra Discontinued in U.S.. edmunds.com. February 23, 2015. July 18, 2016.
  21. Web site: Xtra! Xtra! Nissan Xterra Confirmed to Die After 2015 Model Year. caranddriver.com. August 18, 2015. July 18, 2016. February 27, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180227062147/https://blog.caranddriver.com/xtra-xtra-nissan-xterra-confirmed-to-die-after-2015-model-year/. dead.
  22. Web site: The Numbers Behind The Nissan Xterra's Demise . The Truth About Cars . Timothy . Cain . March 11, 2015.
  23. http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/10776/rock-hopper-suvs.html Rock-Hopper 2006 Competition
  24. Web site: China Auto Web.
  25. Web site: China Auto Web.
  26. Web site: Is This Proof the Nissan Xterra May be Back After All?. Gabe . Beita-Kiser . CarBuzz . September 14, 2016.
  27. Web site: Nissan is Prepping One of the Best SUVs the US Will Probably Never Get. May 25, 2016.
  28. Web site: Padeanu . Adrian . 2021 Nissan X-Terra Brings Back A Familiar Name For New-Ish 3-Row SUV . 2023-09-18 . Motor1.com . en.
  29. Web site: Nissan Xterra Sales Figures. Good Car Bad Car. September 19, 2023.