Nissan · 1999–2028

Nissan Xterra

The Nissan Xterra is a truck-based compact SUV that was first manufactured and marketed by Nissan from 1999 to 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 – and the second (2005–2015) sharing the Nissan F-Alpha platform with the Frontier and Pathfinder. It is planned to be reintroduced in 2028. Sporting a name licensed from the XTERRA off-road triathlon race series, the vehicle was positioned by Nissan as functional and reliable outdoor gear, epitomized by its marketing tagline “Everything You Need, Nothing You Don’t.” It was developed in La Jolla, California, by Nissan Design International (NDI)'s (now Nissan Design America) then Director of Design Tom Semple, and became the first Nissan vehicle completely conceived, developed and manufactured in the United States. 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". He later described it as "a garage tool that says, 'treat me rough' – it's designed to look better dirty than clean." While the two Xterra generations differed significantly, both prioritized ruggedness, practicality, and affordability over luxury. Traditional body-on-frame construction and underbody skid plates reflected both its truck heritage and off-road capability. 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". Jalopnik called it a "knockoff of the Land Rover Discovery". The Washington Post described it as "rugged without bravado". 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.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Nissan Pathfinder · Successor: Nissan Terra|Nissan Rogue

All Nissan Xterra data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years → + Compare

First generation (WD22; 1999)

The Xterra was developed in 1999 at (then) Nissan Design International in California. Designed to be "about what people do with the vehicle, as much as what the vehicle can do,” it was introduced in North America in the 2000 model year in two trim levels, XE and SE. The base XE featured a 143 hp (107 kW) 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. 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, 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 180 hp (1

Second generation (N50; 2005)

The second generation Xterra 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, it was larger in all dimensions than its predecessor. The standard engine was upgraded to Nissan's 4.0 L VQ40DE variable valve timing DOHC V6, producing 261 hp (195 kW) and 281 lb⋅ft (381 N⋅m) of torque. Early US models include X, S, SE, and Off Road, with a choice of 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmissions, a choice of part-time 4-wheel drive or 2-wheel drive. The M226 rear axle with a Dana 44 differential was standard on all manual transmission equipped models as well as all Off-Road models. The 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: New HVAC controls and standard audio system. Available Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, steering wheel audio controls and sunglass holder (overhead console) on all grade levels, except X model. Removed plastic engine cover. Other updates. Changed name of off-road model to PRO-4X. (2011) Discontinued SE trim (2011) Offered optional updated NissanConnect with 4.3 or 5.8 inch screen and smartphone integration for iPhone and Android, allowing the use

Awards and recognition

2000 Motor Trend's Sport Utility of the Year 2000 North American Truck of the Year 2000 New England Motor Press Association's Winter Vehicle Award of New England for Best in Class – Mini Sport Utility 2001 Named Top Car by AAA New Car and Truck Buying Guide 2005 Named on the Automobile Magazine's 50 Great New Cars list 2006 Nominated as North American Truck of the Year 2006 Motor Trend's Sport Utility of the Year 2006 Motor Trend's Truck Trend's Best Little-Guy SUV Award 2006 Car and Driver Rock-Hopper SUV Winner. 2006 4×4 of the Year award from Petersen's 4-Wheel and Off-Road magazine. 2006 Edmunds.com Editor's Most Wanted Vehicle 2009 4Wheeler Magazine's SUV of the Year 2010 U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's highest Side-impact Safety Rating (five stars) In 2001, the advertising firm of TBWA\Chiat\Day won the Grand Effie, a global marketing award, 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.”

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. 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.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Nissan Xterra

Manufacturer

Nissan

aka

Nissan Paladin (China), Nissan Roniz (Iran), Dongfeng Oting (China)

Production

April 19, 1999– August 18, 2015, 2028 (to commence)

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)

Model years

2000–2015, 2029

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

US EPA fuel-economy records

US EPA test figures (US MPG, US test cycle).

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1809938CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_XterraCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1371951216 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nissan_Xterra_(N50)_Washington_DC_Metro_Area,_USA_(1).jpgCC BY 4.0 · Photo: OWS Photography · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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