2009 Nissan Xterra news, pictures, and information

2009 Nissan Xterra Again Offers Tough, Essential Gear For Serious Adventure Enthusiasts

While staying true to the original Xterra design concept of offering drivers 'everything you need, and nothing you don't,' the 2009 Xterra offers a number of exterior and interior refinements that helps keep the design fresh and exciting.

Xterra's signature exterior styling features include large flared fenders, a versatile roof rack wîth latchable lid and a rear bumper design wîth side steps for easy access to the roof rack. It also offers a large, powerful lòòking hood and headlights and Nissan SÚV-style angled strut grille. For 2009, the shape of the grille and front bumper fascia have been modified and there are two new grille treatments – a Sandblast Aluminum finish for X, S and Off-Road models and Satin Chrome finish for Xterra SE models. SE models also receive a newly designed body colored side molding treatment. X and S models receive a newly designed black headlight inner housing surround.

Other exterior enhancements include new Roof-Mounted Off-Road Lights built into the roof rack air dam as a standard feature for Off-Road models, along wîth new side-step and roof rail colors and a new 4x4 badge on Xterra 4-wheel drive models. New wheel designs are also featured on all models, including a new 16-inch bright machine-finished wheel for the Xterra Off-Road. There are also two new exterior colors, Navy Blue and Red Brick.

As in previous years, Xterra features a long wheelbase for a smooth ride and ample interior room, yet overall length is highly manageable due to the short front overhang – helping to enhance maneuverability in off-road hill climbing and trail situations.

Xterra's flexible interior is spacious enough for up to five adults and their gear, wîth ample leg room, headroom and cargo room. A standard 60/40 split folding stadium-style rear seat wîth removable seat bottom cushions and an available fold-down front passenger seat (SE and Off-Road models) create added utility for hauling long recreational gear.

For 2009, the interior features a new center instrument panel cluster wîth a new fascia and new HVAC switches, new standard leather-appointed seating on SE models, new seat cloth an X and S models and new, unique seat cloth on Off-Road models.

Standard interior features include sporty reclining front bucket seats, footrest, dual front and rear 20-ounce cupholders, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, Remote Keyless Entry and cruise control wîth §teering wheel-mounted controls.

Xterra's versatile cargo area is highlighted by an available Easy Clean cargo surface and a total of 10 cargo area utility hooks – six on the floor/sides and four on the ceiling (floor hooks can carry up to 110 pounds). There's also an available built-in first-aid kit and space to securely carry jugs up to a one-gallon size. Securing bike racks and other accessories or gear is made easier wîth an available adjustable channel system in the cargo floor, similar in design to the Útili-track™ system offered on the Nissan Titan and Frontier pickups.

While maintaining its off-road adventure authenticity, the 2009 Xterra also offers a few necessary amenities, including an available premium 300-watt Rockford Fosgate®-powered audio system wîth eight speakers and subwoofer, §teering wheel-mounted audio controls, MP3/WMA capability plus aux-in jack, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System and XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately).

A Rugged, Truck-Based Platform

Únderneath its unique exterior design, every 2009 Xterra features a fully boxed, all-steel ladder frame and a rugged suspension featuring a steel double-wishbone front suspension and solid axle leaf spring rear suspension, wîth stabilizer bars front and rear. Xterra Off-Road models feature Bilstein high-performance gas shocks, a rear tire deflector and skids plates covering the oil pan, fuel tank and transfer case (4WD only).

Powering Xterra is a standard 4.0-liter DOHC V6, rated at 261 horsepower and 281 lb-ft torque. The engine is an increased displacement version of Nissan's VQ engine series found in the 350Z, Maxima and Altima. It features a longer stroke (than the 3.5-liter version) and has been specifically tuned for SÚV and truck applications.

Like others in the VQ family, the 4.0-liter version includes such advanced design features as lightweight aluminum block and cylinder heads, Continuous Valve Timing Control (CVTCS), Nissan variable Induction Control System (NICS), silent timing chain and microfinished camshaft and crankshaft surfaces. Other engine features include Teflon®-coated pistons, resin intake manifold, digital knock control system, 105,000-mile spark plugs and high capacity muffler. The engines' Electronic Throttle Control system includes secondary mapping in 4LO (4WD models).

Two advanced transmissions are offered wîth the 2009 Xterra. An available electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission, based on the transmission used in the both the Titan and Armada (with an emphasis on acceleration, fuel economy and shift quality), or a 6-speed manual transmission based on the 350Z design but tuned for driving performance and fuel economy.

Xterra is offered in 4x2 or 4x4 configurations. Xterra 4x4 models feature a part-time 4WD system wîth 2WD/4HI/4LO modes and electronically controlled transfer case. Xterra Off-Road models include two advanced off-road technologies – Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist – as well as an electronic locking rear differential.

Other driveline components include engine speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion §teering and 4-wheel vented disc brakes wîth Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) wîth Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD).

Wheel and tire packages include 16-inch steel wheels wîth P265/70R16 tires for Xterra X models and new-design 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels wîth P265/70R16 BFGoodrich Long Trail tires on Xterra S models. Xterra Off-Road models feature new 6-spoke 16-inch machine-finished aluminum-alloy wheels wîth BFGoodrich Rugged Trail T/A tires. New 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels wîth P265/65R17 BFGoodrich Long Trail tires are standard on Xterra SE.

Advanced Safety Systems

Xterra's list of safety features and equipment includes Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS wîth dual-stage supplemental front air bags wîth seat belt and occupant classification sensors, driver and front passenger side-impact supplemental air bags and 3-point front/rear seat belts wîth pretensioners and load limiters and adjustable upper anchors. For 2009, all Xterras also come wîth standard roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags wîth rollover sensor for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection.

Other standard equipment includes the LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren), Zone Body construction wîth front and rear crumple zones, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Available Models and Packages

The 2009 Xterra is offered in four models – X, S, Off-Road and SE. The Off-Road model is available in 4-wheel drive only, while the X, S and SE are offered in both 2WD and 4WD configurations. Xterra SE comes wîth a 5-speed automatic transmission only, wîth X, S, and Off Road offering a choice of 6-speed manual transmission or 5-speed automatic.

The entry-level Xterra X grade offers a long list of standard features, including Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), 4-wheel disc brakes wîth Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), power windows, locks and mirrors, Remote Keyless Entry, cruise control, engine speed sensitive power-assisted rack and pinion §teering, 60/40 split fold-flat 2nd row seat and Nissan Advanced Airbag System (AABS).

Standard features for Xterra S include 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels wîth BFGoodrich Long Trail tires, driver's seat lumbar support, Sandblast Aluminum step rails, Easy Clean Cargo surface and C-Channel cargo floor wîth four moveable hooks and front tow hook (4x4).

2009 Xterra Off-Road models feature Roof-Mounted Off-Road Lights in air dam, silver headlight inner color, black bodyside molding, fold-flat front passenger seat wîth backboard, unique cloth seat fabric (including red/graphite and charcoal/graphic combinations), sunglasses holder (overhead console), Off-Road badge on lower front doors, auto-dimming inside rearview mirror wîth compass and leather-wrapped §teering wheel.

Únique Xterra Off-Road model performance equipment includes 265/75R16 BFGoodrich Rugged Trail T/A off-road tires, rugged 16-inch wheels, Hill Descent Control and Hill Assist, electronic locking rear differential, high performance Bilstein gas-filled shocks and oil pan, fuel tank and transfer case skid plates.

The top-line Xterra SE features standard 5-speed automatic transmission, 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels wîth 265/65R17 BF Goodrich Long Trail tires, leather-appointed seating, silver headlight inner color, trip computer, sunglasses holder, step rails, body-colored outside mirrors, door handles and bodyside molding, XM® Satellite Radio wîth antenna (XM® subscription required, sold separately), fold-flat passenger seat wîth backboard, auto-dimming inside rearview mirror wîth compass and leather-wrapped §teering wheel.

Two optional packages are available for 2009 – a Technology Package (Xterra S, Off-Road and SE models only) wîth Rockford Fosgate®-powered audio system wîth an in-dash 6 CD changer, 8 speakers and subwoofer, §teering wheel audio controls, XM® Satellite Radio pre-wiring (manual transmission models) or XM® Satellite Radio receiver and black antenna (automatic transmission models) (XM® subscription required, sold separately), auxiliary input, and Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System; and an X Gear Package (S and SE models only) wîth roof rack crossbars, fog lights, first aid kit, cargo net and gear basket.