A new Nissan Xterra will soon enter the fray on a body-on-frame truck chassis. This is good news for the off-road enthusiasts; the arrival of the redesigned 2014 Nissan Xterra SUV is long overdue. The current model was revamped in 2009.
There was a time when body-on-body SUVs were the king of American roads, every major automaker wanted a bite of the cherry and they all offered different versions of off roaders. Nissan did too, and the eminently capable Xterra peaked in 2000 when 88,000 units were sold and it was rightly crowned “the Sport Utility Vehicle” that Year by experts at the Motor Development.
2014 Nissan Xterra Changes
True SUVs are becoming extinct; in order to get better mpg, carmakers started diverting their resources into the production of lighter vehicles. Luxurious crossovers overtook the SUVs and took over the auto world, but the rugged SUVs have not allowed themselves to be totally pushed out of the picture. The times may be changing, but the Xterra is not ready to change now! According to some engineers who took part in the development of the 2014 Xterra, the vehicle and the Nissan Frontier will have the same DNA.
The Nissan Xterra 2014 will not be as luxurious as the new CUVs but the basic interior design will be something to be proud off. The roof will be extended so as to create more room and extra storage. 2014 Xterra will not just be ideal for off-road shuttle; it will also be perfect as a daily ride.
Some new modern features are expected to be offered by the vehicle. Regardless of the not-so-gentle nature of the Xterra 2014 model, Nissan has successfully squeezed in some niceties into the vehicle. The Xterra Pro-4X, which is the top-of-the-line trim, will get a redundant steering wheel with audio controls, Bluetooth, an auxiliary input and an iPod interface. It will also feature upholstered leather seats and leather wrapped steering which offers a touch of sophistication. The Nissan Xterra 2014 will also come with a primary-aid kit attached to its rear lift-gate.
The new generation Nissan products focus on three primary areas: reducing curb weight, improving aerodynamics and reducing friction in the engine so as to improve engine performance and transmission. The effects of these three priorities have started showing up on some of Nissan’s new models. Rather than inventing new engines, Nissan is now more focused on improving the existing powertrains. The push for better fuel economy will influence the choice of engine under the hood of the 2014 Nissan Xterra. Nissan may decide to use tricks like direct-injection and turbocharging (used on the current Nissan Juke) on the Xterra in order to solve its fuel-economy issues. With the new collaboration between Nissan and Mercedes, the possibility of a diesel engine option cannot also be totally ruled out now.
The probable cons of 2014 Xterra would be as follows-
The interior looks cheap; dashboard supplies are of plastic varieties.
The vehicles EPA figures will not be among the industry’s best.
However, some feature may impress its owner like Off road ability and truckish charm,roomy interior and large cargo.
The Xterra 2014 features some impressive niceties such as hill descent control and electronic locking center differential.
1 comment
Ryan
January 11, 2013 at 8:28 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Off the Road enthusiasts could be excited with the fact that Xterra will have a body on frame truck chassis.
Continuing Xterra on the Nisan Frontier chassis won’t be expensive but the issue could be with its fuel economy. These kind of SUVs suffer in their sales because of the trade off made in the weight of the car for a better mpg.
The Frontier and other truck based SUVs from Nissan are fuel efficient so it could be a challenge to boost the sales of Xterra. You might expect the diesel version of these trucks come out soon as we hear Nissan working closely with Mercedez Benz.