2005 Nissan Xterra Interior, Engine, Horsepower & Steering Rev

Ever date a cute girl with a lot of sisters? Naturally, one of them is a bit too big, another a bit too dressed up, and the rest are just too loud. In the family of Nissan pickups and SUVs, the newly evolved Xterra, the smallest of the six vehicles sharing a version of the Titan's F-Alpha platform, is looking like it might be the pick of the litter.

The 2005 Xterra stays true to the more industrial, squared-off lines of the previous generation. There's also two more inches to its width and wheelbase. The result is a sturdier, muscular appearance, helped in part by the wider fender bulges. The wide-tube roof rack, an Xterra trademark, now includes a roof-mounted closable cargo basket, an SUV first.

The rear storage area is efficient; you can practically hose it out for cleaning, while the channel system in the flooring allows for tie-downs, straps, or cargo netting. A wipe-out-clean interior is a nifty idea, but the slick surface requires a strap or lock-down device for cargo. Without it, suitcases and grocery bags will bounce off the walls every time you make a turn. That said, the new Xterra does offer 10 separate strap holds, a fold-flat second row, and a flip-and-fold-flat front passenger seat.

The only engine offered in the Xterra (the four-cylinder option has been deleted) will be the 4.0-liter V-6 from the Frontier and Pathfinder, which amounts to a stroked 350Z V-6. Although the new Xterra has put on a few pounds, the revvy VQ40 sends 265 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque to either a six-speed manual or sturdy five-speed automatic, the latter a version of the Titan/Armada transmission.

The stiffer, boxed frame permitted chassis engineers to create a more precise on-road feel (i.e., less shudder) with better springs and shock tuning, allowing the Xterra to compete with more car-based SUV platforms (RAV4, Santa Fe, CR-V, Escape). Our only gripe popped up on a longer (higher-speed) section of highway, where the speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering goes numb on center, requiring ongoing fine adjustments to the wheel.