Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

After a 15 year model run, the Xterra has finally exited stage left.

Press Release of 2016 Nissan line-up

mmarshall

Not surprised...its popularity has been declining for several years. While it was a generally good competitor to off-road Trail-Rated Jeeps, it was uncomfortable, unrefined, and stiff-riding on regular pavement.....and many people simply don't do that kind of driving off-road, even with SUVs.

spwolf

And yet 4Runner has been selling like crazy . 8.3k last month and up 30% for the year. Must be the looks.

Toys4RJill

mmarshall is wrong. There is still a market for the XTerra type vehicle, the problem is that Nissan doesn't not have any more ways they can sell the Xterra with the different models. The 4Runner is part of the 150 series platform for Toyota which is used all over the world in various models, wheelbases, powertrains etc etc.

mmarshall

No, I am not wrong. I did not say that there was NO market for this type of vehicle. But the stats are that in the U.S., except for the Jeep Wrangler, not more than 4-5% of SUV owners spend a significant amout of time off-road with their vehicles. That is the main reason why most (not all) SUV makers have converted from truck-based, body-on-frame design to car-based unibody.

Yes, the 4Runner does sell well.......but not just because it is truck based, but for its enviable reliability record. It is not unusual to see them rack up 300K miles or more. Toyota dealerships sell them used with 175K or more miles on them.

jwong77

Good grief, that thing is hideous!

Toys4RJill

The non limited is not the greatest. Its better in person. But sales are up.

mmarshall

Couldn't agree more. The front end looks like an English Bulldog guarding the front door to his home. But, looks aside, it is a well-made, solid vehicle underneath.......can't fault it.

USB3IS

Concur on the latest Toyota designs such as the 4Runner... it's like what you get if you asked a 5 yr old to translate the Lexus designs lol

Aron9000

Good riddance to the Xterra. It always was a cheap, loud, junky, poorly made pile of crap IMO. Read all about how every single 2005 through 2010 will suffer catastrophic transmission and radiator failure JUST outside of warranty.

There is a class action lawsuit with Nissan over this, I forgot the exact terms but Nissan will pay for part of the repair if you are under 100,000 miles(its still a $2000 or $3000 deductible).

Over 100,000 miles? You're left holding the bill, which to get it done at a dealer is like $4-5k.

Toys4RJill

For city slickers like yourself, I can see why the XTerra would not work.

But for someone who would use an XTerra for what it was designed and for what it's worth, the XTerra is a good buy. To many people comment based on a daily driver viewpoint.

The off-road credentials are sound. More mechanical than electronic, the XTerra would go far, far, far farther than even a current MY Toyota Land Cruiser. The XTerra is cheap to maintain and the leaf springs at the rear and cheap to modify.

Any SUV that offers a locking differential in the rear gets a thumbs up IMO.

spwolf

probably the best way to point out how new Toyota styling strategy works for them

mmarshall

In the U.S., probably 95% of today's SUV owners (except maybe for the Jeep Wrangler), are so-called "City-Slickers" that don't do much, if any, actual off-roading.

97-SC300

iTrader: (17)

mmarshall, I agree with you.

I personally would love to get an older Land Cruiser, but deep inside I know, unless I move way up north, I have no real use for such a vehicle. It would almost be a waste to have one. Maybe as a toy or hobby. I'll just appreciate it from afar for the time being.

-J-P-L-

So Nissan goes from having 2 truck based mid-sized SUVs to none after converting the Pathfinder to a crossover. It was the right move to go crossover for the Pathfinder although in my opinion they didn't do a good job with it. I wish it was more in line with the Highlander's proportions. But they should've kept one body on frame mid-size SUV in the stable. The biggest automakers should.

The problem is that Nissan dragged the xTerra on way too long without a real redesign and naturally sales died. An all new model as good as a 4Runner would find plenty of sales. There is indeed room for truck based utes.