2009 Nissan Xterra Off Road Rossville GA

November 18, 2009   By Jon Alain Guzik, DriverSide Editor-in-Chief



2009 Nissan Xterra
DriverSide Overview
There are plenty of vehicles out there that talk the talk of being a seriously tough four-wheel drive bruiser, but how many of them have the mechanicals to back it up? Take most of the high-riding people haulers sitting in your local mall parking lot and stick them on slick mountain trail with more obstacles than street lights and you might be surprised at the results. So which vehicles have the backbone you want and the ability to haul five of your best friends along for the ride? In the trial-by-fire world of serious off-roading, few vehicles have the bone-stock capabilities of Nissan’s Xterra , especially when equipped with the optional Off Road Package. Thanks to a bevy of parts both inside and out designed to take whatever you can throw at them, the Xterra Off Road stands up to serious trail abuse without being a pain to live with on a daily basis.
 







What's to Like
This truck has its limitations, but the average person looking to have some trail fun on the weekends probably won’t find them. That’s thanks to the vehicle’s 9.5 inches of ground clearance and impressive angles of approach and departure. The 2009 Xterra has some seriously purposeful looks outside. With slab-sided fender flares and an ultra-wide stance, the truck has the presence to back up its off-road capabilities.
 
What's Not to Like
The Xterra has grown in recent years in almost every direction. A larger vehicle makes tight spaces on the trail a nail-biting experience, and the stiff Bilstein shock absorbers make daily commuting a little rough. Being a larger vehicle, gas mileage on this Nissan leaves something to be desired, too.
 
The Drive
DriverSide Driving Impressions:
Visibility is great inside the Xterra thanks to an elevated stance, and the 4.0-liter V6 engine puts out plenty of oomph. On trail, the extra ponies and lots of low-end torque are fantastic, as is the truck’s electronic locking rear differential and super-grippy BFGoodrich tires. The whole package makes for a truck that’s difficult to get stuck in any situation. But that’s off road. Take this bruiser on the paved streets around your house, and this vehicle isn’t exactly a pleasure on every level. Those grippy tires make more than their fair share of noise, and the V-6 drinks like a fish. Still, those are sacrifices we’d have to make for any true off-roader.
 
Engine and Drivetrain
A potent 4.0-liter V-6 engine that produces 261 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque powers the Nissan Xterra Off Road. You can opt for a 6-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed automatic. While a two-wheel drive version is available, if we were going to suffer through the rugged ride, we would want the go-anywhere four-wheel drive system. The Xterra Off Road comes with a near-unbreakable Dana 44...

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