As the owner of a nice 2002 Xterra I'd be interested in a new version, maybe. Something true to the original on the new Frontier drivetrain that's not filled with electronic nanny crap, or at least a basic version that's actually available. We can RosieO about what happened to the Blazer (although the small Blazer wasn't exactly great) and others but the car companies make what will sell, not what a small percentage want. Jeep sells a ton of Wranglers but it's a perceived lifestyle thing and few of them ever get dirt on the tires, Xterra never had the following Wrangler does and think about the rep Nissan has here generally, mostly not favorable. It would be a risk for Nissan. My Xterra doesn't see much offroad now but it did. Our plan is to see how far this X will go before it starts to nickel and dime then look for the best 2015 we can find.
I casually know a guy who worked for Nissan in California for years and retired here. I don't know what he did but he's a car guy and bought a 2015 X just before he retired and really knows them. Next time I come across him at the trailhead I'll see if he knows anything about a new X.
And FWIW calling the 3.3 motor a dog is a terrible insult to the dog.
When you say “the rep Nissan has here”, do you mean in the USA, or on BITOG?
If you mean here on BITOG, I think you have to differentiate between the trucks and the cars. Nissan’s trucks, and higher-end cars, I think, have been pretty good.
I think a lot of the rep they have here on this forum is probably a result of some of their lower-end products, and, especially, issues that some have had with their CVTs.
The guys I’ve known who have had Titans have absolutely loved them and had no problems with them. And I think that’s been reflected here on BITOG, as well. One member who comes to mind is
@UncleDave. I’m sure you’ve read a lot of his posts about all the towing he’s done with his.
And, as much as the current-Gen Pathfinder being turned into a FWD CUV makes me want to hold my nose, my sister and BIL had a 2014 for 6 years and the powertrain was trouble-free. The only thing I can remember going wrong with that car in 6 years was the driver’s side door interior handle breaking.
Anyway, I think automakers have always had to build vehicles with fairly narrow appeal in order to generate attention. E.g. the new Z car and the new Supra.
And the FJ Cruiser.
And the new Bronco.
A new Xterra could be a legit alternative, not only, to the 4Runner and Jeep, but also to the new Bronco.
