Flash back to 1999, the Nissan Xterra hits the marketplace and instantly starts turning heads. An integrated first-aid kit - are you serious? During that time, the Xterra stood out from some of the competition with its rugged truck-like frame, adventure styling, and a no-nonsense attitude for "go anywhere" fun. Jump ahead and visit with the new Xterra for '05-'06 built on Nissan's F-Alpha platform that was originally created for the Nissan Titan and Nissan Armada vehicles, and for the utilization of Nissan's 4.0L VQ-series V-6 engines. These two updates alone would have made the new X stand out from its predecessor, but there is much more to this new rig.
Let's start with the exterior of our new project vehicle. The new X features larger flared front fenders, a new, more versatile roof rack that comes equipped with a storage compartment with latch, and a new rear bumper with side steps to make loading your roof rack easier. Both the front and rear bumpers have been designed with the off-road world in mind, leaving great approach and departure angles. On top of the new bumper, the front end features include a hood that has also been redesigned to offer a much more powerful "here I come" look as well as brighter headlamp design and Nissan's uniquely styled grille.
If you haven't spent any time inside the new Xterras, you really should. The interior seats have been much improved, and we found them to be some of the most comfortable recliners around. Front legroom has been increased by nearly 1 inch, and headroom has also been increased by almost 1/2 inch.
The cargo area floor material is extremely easy to clean and comes with the floor mountain rail system as seen in the bed of the Nissan Titan. Besides convenient cargo hooks in the floor, you will also find side hooks and four ceiling hooks that can be used to secure your mountain bike, camping gear, tailgating equipment, or whatever else you might have. The floor hooks can secure up to 110 pounds. There is also a DC plug-in outlet just inside the rear door, and we don't have to mention how handy those come in outdoors.