2007 Nissan X-Terra S review from North America

The interior plastics show scratches easily.

The tire pressure sensors generate a false alarm if the temperature drops quickly.

This is a REAL truck based SUV that does exactly what it promises, and it does it well. I visited a friend last winter who has a cabin in the hills. The road to the cabin is unpaved and the grade varies from 5 to 10+%. At the time there was about 2 to 3 feet of snow on the road. I just threw some chains on, put it in 4WD LO and the Xterra sailed uphill without effort. I even caught up with a Jeep Wrangler that was also climbing the hill!

The powertrain is superb. The 4.0L V6 engine has plenty of power and torque to get you moving quicky. It goes uphill and passes other cars with ease. The 5sp auto transmission gets the job done smoothly and without quirks. The gas consumption isn't too bad. I am matching the official figures of 15/20 MPG.

On-road handling isn't a strong point. The body leans quite a bit in corners, and during high crosswinds, but that's due to the high ground clearance. The ride is firm - perhaps too firm if you're used to softer sprung cars. The steering is weighted heavily and it takes some getting used to. It is definitely not a sharp handling sports car or a cushy luxury car.

There are a lot of features that just shout out, "I'm a truck and I love to do dirty work!". The seat covers come off so you can throw them in the wash. Most of the interior is hard plastics - which are easy to clean, but a bit spartan looking. There is a locking storage area on the roof for stuff that gets wet or muddy, so it doesn't muck up the interior. There is even a first aid kit in the back.