Second Generation Nissan Xterra Forums banner

Nissan Xterra To Meet Its Demise?

79K views 382 replies 138 participants last post by  tomrejzek  
#1 ·
The rugged Nissan Xterra will not live long enough to see its next generation according to the latest reports from Ward’s Auto. One of the few remaining SUVs that has stayed true to its body-on-frame design, the Xterra faces slumping sales and a substantial threat from looming federal fuel economy regulations. Recent sales of the [...]

More...
 
#3 ·
I sure hope they are wrong. I went into my local Nissan dealer yesterday, and this subject came up. He told me: "What! I have not heard that at all. The Xterra is my favorite model and I try to keep up with its latest news, and I have not heard that." He also said his boss just got back from some corporate meeting, and he would have shared that bit of bad news if it was true, but he had'nt said anything about it.

He did tell me however that they will quit making the 2wd model in 2012. Therefore, they built a ton of 2011 2wd models and not as many 4wd to give 2wd guys a last chance. Butt 2012 will showcase all 4wd. He told me that the Xterra is this stores best seller. I believe that cuz it took him two weeks to find an S within 400miles of here for me last year.
 
#4 ·
I had to comment on that article. Here is what I said, in case the moderators don't approve it.

I think it would be a mistake for Nissan to eliminate the XTerra. Right now the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is seeing strong sales thanks to good aftermarket support and a strong advertising campaign. The Jeep Wrangler is arguably the only vehicle from Chrysler outside of the truck line that is moving or making money.

There is a place for the XTerra in the market, but Nissan has prevented the X from doing well by not including aftermarket manufacturers in the design process, leaving them struggling to prototype products after the vehicle launches. Also, there is little to no advertising for the XTerra while Chrysler has flooded the airwaves with striking images of the Jeep.

The current incarnation of the XTerra just had a minor facelift, but the chassis is getting long in the tooth, having been introduced in 2005. If the XTerra is to live on, as I believe it should, Nissan needs to invest in a redesigned chassis and body that is true to the original idea of the XTerra. The current suspension needs to be reworked, especially the soft rear end that tends to bottom out and a new engine should be introduced to raise the fuel economy, possibly offering a turbo diesel option.

Instead of backing away from the XTerra, Nissan should go big. Make the XTerra more aggressive, more capable, more in-your-face. Right now it is being overshadowed by a sea of crossovers with faux-butch styling. The average person has no idea of the XTerra’s capabilities and simply assume it is a baby Pathfinder mall-crawler. If Nissan fixes this perception of the XTerra as a soft-road CUV, they will find it in much higher demand.
Am I totally off base on this?
 
#208 ·
I had to comment on that article. Here is what I said, in case the moderators don't approve it.



Am I totally off base on this?
No I think your comments are spot on.

The Xterra could benifit from a more fuel efficient engine without a doubt but Nissan has gone high horse and torque with the VQ.

The federal government could also use a reboot and have a look at that there 10th Amemendment which says unless it's written in English (in black and white) in the Constitution of the United States of America that they are completely prohibitted from writing laws concerning that area and instead the people or the several states have the authority. Looking over my copy I see nothing about regulating the gas milage of autos ... like it or not, those are the facts.

Our federal government is out of bounds.
 
#7 ·
Don't panic just yet. The future of the Xterra is in doubt because of the upcoming redesign of the full sized Titan and the demise of the current F Alpha architecture that underpins it.

In North America, the F Alpha platform is the basis for the Titan, Armada, Xterra, Pathfinder, Frontier, Infinity QX56 and the Suzuki Equator. It also underpins several variants of these vehicles in other markets.

Originally, Nissan was under agreement to have Chrysler build the replacement for the Titan. It was thought that this would be a largely badge engineered Chrysler product spelling the end of the F Alpha platform by 2012. However, the agreement fell through forcing Nissan to take the Titan replacement back in house while delaying it at least a year. So now we are expecting a replacement for the Titan in the 2013-2014 time frame. This means the continued use of the F Alpha platform until that time, negating the need to discontinue the Xterra.

So expect the Xterra to remain in production for a couple more years with only slight redesigns.

However, with the replacement of the F Alpha platform, a next generation Xterra will need a new architecture. The thought is that the mid sized SUV's like the Pathfinder will get a unique (and potentially car based) unibody architecture to meet more stringent fuel economy requirements.

The Frontier will likely continue past 2013 but the Xterra may not. The Xterra is the slowest selling truck/SUV this month, but runs neck and neck with the Pathfinder and Armada for YTD sales. Only the GTR, 370Z and Cube sell in smaller numbers. But they still sell twice as many Xterras as 370Z's in the US. So the jury is still out. My guess is that if they can find an economical way to leverage the new truck platform, they'll have a next gen Xterra.

-Old Army
 
#11 ·
All good points and one that sticks out is there is fi more aftermarket products out there than over before. Still need have better on the shelf inventories and get those , so call off road shops to stock Jap Trks Parts/ Jee[ Parts are almost a dime a doz.
Make the Off Road pck more practicle with actual X End users.Such as Hi front bumpers and even a rear spare tire feature. Alittle repacking does wonders! But what do I know we are just the customers!
 
#12 ·
It doesn't surprise me the with increase in gas prices (believe me it will get worse) and the flourishing cross over market the Xterra is looking more like a dinosaur as the months pass.

Those factors coupled with what can only be described as a 1986 plastic interior (after a year of owning it still amazes me how crap it is) has got to be a major put off for 98% of the general public.

Don't get me wrong. I love my Xterra... I kayak, Mt bike and Snowboard and the Xterra is the perfect vehicle for me. I suspect the guys that off road would say the same.

However if i wasn't into outdoor sports as much I’d sell my Xterra tomorrow there are much more attractive sedans and crossovers out there.

Markets evolve as well as technology and design. I dont think the Xterra will be able to keep up for long.
 
#13 ·
I still says that as long as the sale of Jeeps is strong there will be room for competition. If Nissan would invest in advertising then they would see stronger sales.
 
#16 ·
What the public wants is the next big thing at a good price. I don't see why people complain about the plastic interior. I'm looking at the road when I drive not staring at my dashboard. I need to sit at the right angle and height have the controls where I need them and listen to some tunes on a long trek. I don't get the "luxury" thing.

Here is the next big thing. Gas-electric hybrids are the worst of both worlds, but diesel-electrics (what powers locomotives at insanely low cost) are coming. If Nissan offered this in an Xterra, they'd get immediate attention:

http://www.dailytech.com/VW+Prepares+69+MPG+Dieselelectric+Hybrid+Golf/article10808.htm

Cheers!
 
#17 ·
Blind _Io

I agree with your comments but it'll come down to $ and vision. This site and all the others really don't even come close tot he numbers attained by Jeep. But if Nissan follow Yota's lead a la' 4Runner but with a bit more splash and a even more edge and capabilities the might score another life cycle with the DX product line. A bit of a gamble but then Jeep looks to also score with the new Grand so there are some coat tails to ride - though I wouldn't want to see the X become even more mall crawler like the Grand.

Here's to hoping Nissan looks at forums like this one and tweaks the brand accordingly. I think with the success of vehicles like the Raptor there remains a market for edgy capable vehicles, the X albeit more of a medium duty rig out of the box could be made better from the factory.
 
#18 · (Edited)
Dito to the above. But I was thinking when the fuel comsuption issue is always brought front and center. Al thought I like the zom effect of my X but, there is also the pain at the pump. Nissan has been playing with a turbo diesel (Renalt Motor) for at least a couple of years ,according to the rumor mill.

There is programing that Nissan could bring to the market and turn thier very good basic motorto somthing more effiecent, if they disire too. Not to mention the sameTechnolgy could be applied to our older models.
Ford does a very good job in repackage thier motors and recently even GM. GM even has brought from the grave(Patent Office) a very nice motor that is not only reliable, but has very impressive Mil. Ratings.(GM Plant Tondawanda NY)

The basic concept of Xterra excites potential new owners as well as us war horses. Even the Nissan Briefs do not talk of new motor concepts other than E-Power Motors.

Nissan better get off thier corp A--- or they will find these after market Ford and GM Motors in thier Trucks.

Food for thought!
 
#19 ·
Dito to the above. But I was thinking when the fuel comsuption issue is always brought front and center. Al thought I like the zom effect of my X but, there is also the pain at the pump. Nissan has been playing with a turbo diesel (Renalt Motor) for at least a couple of years ,according to the rumor mill.
Nissan already has a great 3 liter v-6 diesel with a 7 speed transmission in the European Navara and Pathfinder. I wish they could make it work over here.
 
#22 ·
Vehicles like the X are not generally well received by the mass market.

For example, a loaded X costs roughly the same amount as a loaded Tucson/Sportage, or a well equipped Sorento. Both of those vehicle will return significantly higher fuel economy, and offer much more in the way of creature comforts. Part of the reason is the fundamental difference in the vehicles, they are car based crossovers with a unibody construction, and the Xterra is a truck with a true body on frame construction. Thus the X is a bit heavier, and not really superbly aerodynamic.

Now personally, what draws me to the X is the body on frame construction. IMO it makes for a tougher vehicle that is more capable in every way.

IMO, what they really need to do is build an Infiniti version of the Pathfinder. Lexus now has the nicer version of the 4Runner in the GX460, if Infiniti were to come out with something smaller than the new (ugly) QX56, but still tougher and more practical than the FX, they'd have a winner. A lot of people will pay for a nicely appointed, rugged SUV they can take to their ski lodge and not need worry about the snow. Not everyone wants the giant QX (especially since its so ugly now), but many people still want a rugged and reliable vehicle.
 
#24 ·
I don't own an X, so take this with a grain of salt.

I'm currently looking around the web, at many different forums, trying to decide what vehicle to buy next year. I go to forums like this, to find out the common gripes and praises related to a vehicle. Everything this site has shown me so far, has put me 90 percent ready to get an X. BUT, I'm also looking at fullsized pickups. I know they aren't the same type of vehicle. But for the same price, I can get a chevy with a 5.3 in it, with the same gas mileage on paper. I've grown up in a Chevy family, so it's trying to drag me away. This kinda makes it a hard sell to me, because for use as a DD and hunting truck, I feel I would get a better deal than the X.

Like I said, I don't own one. But it seems most companies are abandoning they're midsized offroad SUVs. Hell, jeep got rid of the Cherokee.
 
#25 ·
Be careful with the new chevys. You will have more electric problems then you know what to do with. This is coming from a old die hard chevy fan. GM has gone to sh**. I used to do car stereos/remote starts for a living. I saw more f**ked up brand new GM's then any other vehicle on the road.

As you can see I bought a 09 Xterra and will never look back!


Coming from a fullsize truck owner. Fullsize trucks cant be compared to an Xterra. Fullsize trucks are made for towing and hauling "oversize" loads not trail riding. The opposite goes for Xterra. I would never consider taking my truck out on the trail. I would never take my xterra to home depot to get 30 slabs of drywall either.
 
#27 ·
The US regulations is what I understand the problem to be. The new CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) will apply to SUV's, but in the past trucks have been givin some slack as folks need the trucks for work (construction, farm, ect...). To get the mpg numbers a vehicle needs to be low to the ground to cut down on the air under the vehicle. Jeep has started some on this with lower vehicles that have an increased ride hieght for off road. And the lighter the vehicle the easier it is to get the mpg numbers required. I am looking to buy an Xterra this summer and hope they continue it another year so I can get one. But Nissan just like everyone else in the US will have to meet CAFE standards.
 
#29 ·
^^

I think if i went from my X to a jeep, I would jump into oncoming traffic at the top of the first mountain pass I came to.

For me, the X is the perfect blend of road and trail capabilities. I logged 9000 miles in my X in 8 weeks. If I tried that in a jeep, again with the jump.

I am staying in my X until Toy launches the Taco Diesel. I guess I am in it for another 90K at least.

J
 
#30 ·
I can't see myself returning to Toyota's bloated mall-crawlers any time soon. Toyota seems to have either overblown luxury interiors or a hodgepodge of mismatched plastics. Their quality is questionable and their internal politics are nearly criminal.

I'm still hoping for a North American SUV based on Ford Australia's Ranger.