After a week and roughly 1,000 miles of coastal cruises, highway gridlock, and dusty off-road roughhousing, we can safely say that the 2005 Nissan Xterra is an improvement over its predecessor. The highway ride is acceptable, and off-roading is grin-inducing. What failed to make us smile was our overall fuel economy – we averaged a pathetic 14.8 mpg, though the overly optimistic EPA suggests that our tester should have returned 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway, with a combined rating of about 18 mpg.

With an extra 85 horsepower and 82 lb.-ft. of torque, we expected and received an Xterra with more off-the-line punch and highway passing power. However, this redesigned ute carries some added mass (the base S is about 300 lbs. heavier that last year’s base XE), which effectively limits the engine’s performance to sufficient rather than impressive. There’s plenty of go behind the gas pedal, but this utility box is not as lively as Nissan’s marketing types would lead you to believe. To get the most out of the Xterra, the driver has to reach for the high rpms, where power, and a thrashy engine tone, are found simultaneously. Our tester’s five-speed automatic transmission provided smooth shifts, but we did notice that lifting off the accelerator suddenly resulted in noticeable freewheeling (the engine gradually returns to idle instead of doing so immediately).

Driving the 2005 Nissan Xterra off road was a much more rewarding experience. All 282 lb.-ft. of torque helped us climb any hill we chose, almost always without needing to switch into the four-wheel-drive system’s low gear. The 106.3-inch wheelbase and our tester’s 9.1 inches of ground clearance allowed us to crest hilltops and navigate over small boulders without marring the skid plates. In fact, the only incident occurred when traversing a gulley at the bottom of a steep hill, after which our Xterra wore a few superficial scratches on the lower side of the front plastic bumper cover. The 37.6-foot turning circle made for easy turns on tight winding trails, and the decent 55 percent front, 45 percent rear weight distribution proved beneficial in one particular instance. Upon leveling off at the top of a hill, our driver realized that the right front wheel and rear wheels had traction, but that the front left tire and much of the engine’s weight were perilously teetering over a washed-out hillside – had the Xterra’s weight distribution been more front-biased, it could’ve turned into a very bad day.

Off-road prowess is great, but chances are most 2005 Nissan Xterra owners will be challenging their sport utility vehicles more often on the pavement. During routine and aggressive driving, the Xterra’s brakes performed well, with a progressive pedal feel and no noticeable fade. Handling is what you’d expect for a tall SUV, with lots of body roll in the corners, and a floaty feeling on the highway. The steering is slow, but on par with similar vehicles, and actually better than the previous Xterra. That relatively tight turning radius proves to be just as handy in the city as it is on the trails.

Whether on or off the street, the Xterra’s overall ride remains truck-like, but it’s not overly harsh – expect the Off-Road with its Bilstein shocks to be the possible exception. Bumps serve to upset the ride, though comfortable seats isolate the passengers from most disturbances. What does make it to the Xterra’s occupants is quite a bit of exhaust and engine noise, especially at full throttle; wind noise is minimal. Visibility is excellent, thanks to an expansive greenhouse, large rearview mirrors, and retractable rear headrests.