Nissan Evolution: The Nissan Xterra
The Nissan Xterra is one of the newest additions to the Nissan family and is rapidly becoming a popular choice among American car owners. Built in Smyrna, Tennessee and São José dos Pinhais, Brazil, the Xterra is also known as the Roniz in Iran and the Paladin in China. The Xterra was named after the XTERRA off road races — a series for which Nissan was the primary sponsor until 2006.
Unlike many Nissan cars, the Xterra is not offered in Japan or Europe — in those markets, the X-Trail and the new Qashqai are Nissan’s versions of the compact sport utility vehicle. Here in the United States, the Xterra was the only entry level SUV by Nissan until the 2008 arrival of the Nissan Rogue. While the Xterra is smaller than the rogue, it’s priced between the Rogue and the Pathfinder because of the additional features.
Originally introduced in the American market in 2000, the Xterra was branded as a simple sport utility vehicle with the tagline “Everything you need, nothing you don’t”. The vehicle was essentially the same for the first four years of its existence, and most of the changes throughout that time were cosmetic or gave additional options.
While the Xterra was popular among many demographics, Nissan targeted their marketing initiatives primarily to the young, outdoorsy set. Xterra commercials often featured young and rugged drivers with a roof rack full of mountain bikes or surf boards, and it was known as an SUV that was affordable but still powerful enough to meet the needs of off-roaders and city drivers alike.
In 2005, the Xterra entered its second generation and the new models were much larger than their predecessors. The new Nissan Xterras share a platform with the Nissan Titan and the Nissan Frontier, and the new version gives 265 horse power.
When you’re ready to meet your new Nissan car, stop by Classic Nissan for a test drive or visit the website for information.
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