Nissan's five-door Xterra compact sport-utility wagon, constructed on a platform of Nissan's Frontier truck, applies a back-to-basics approach to off-road romps. It draws from either the four-cylinder or V6 engine out of Frontier -- including a supercharged V6 -- and provides rear 2WD or 4WD traction. There are seats for five passenger inside a structure designed to haul lifestyle sports paraphernalia like bikes, kayaks or camping gear. Base engine for Xterra -- a twin-cam 2.4-liter four-in-line -- reaches 143 hp and mates with manual or automatic shifters, while the optional 3.3-liter V6 goes further with a ten-point power boost for 2003 to achieve 180 hp. Then the supercharged variation on Xterra XE or SE surges to 210 hp. Xterra's 4WD mechanism has a two-speed transfer case with high and low ranges made for off-road trekking. Curtain-style side-impact air bags show up as a stand-alone option on 2003 models and two 12-volt power outlets appear in the engine compartment with a new heavy-duty alternator and optional tire pressure monitoring system. For the 4WD Xterra a new Dynamic Control Package adds the VDC system with traction controller and tire pressure monitor. Four unique new exterior colors are also available in Canteen, Granite, Atomic Orange and Camouflage.
