While the 2005 Nissan Xterra may be known best for its rugged styling and off-road capability, it also offers relatively comfortable, five-passenger accommodations.

Each front passenger is treated to a large, well-padded, minimally-bolstered bucket seat, though the centers of the backrests are a bit too soft. The driver can remedy this situation with a manual lumbar adjustment that adds the perfect amount of lower back support, but the passenger is out of luck. Front seats also feature a manual height adjustment, and with a standard tilt steering wheel, the driver can find a suitable position. Padded armrests are on the doors and there’s also one between the seats, but it’s placed too far back to be appreciated by shorter drivers.

Rear seat passengers will find themselves on a supportive 60/40 split folding bench seat with a natural recline position. Seat bottoms are a little short, and excessive front seat padding may rub against the knees of long-legged rear seat riders. Padded door armrests are large and well-placed, and headroom and footroom are generous. However, if you’re looking at a trip in the rear seat of a 2005 Xterra, make sure you don’t get stuck in the center of the bench – though that spot has a three-point seatbelt like the outboard positions, it lacks a headrest and the seatback is quite stiff. Claim car sickness, barter using your MP3 player, promise to pay for gas, whatever it takes to avoid long distances with your butt in the middle.

Of course, this is all dependent on actually getting into the Xterra, which may prove to be a challenge for some people. To alleviate the elevation problem, our SE tester’s standard running boards (optional on the other models) helped us get a leg up, and the A-pillar grab handle provided a good hoisting point. We’re not talking monster truck heights here, but four-wheel-drive Xterras sit high enough to make one appreciate these vehicular shoe horns. Front and rear doors open nice and wide, but even so, rear seat passengers will surely get touchy feely with the wheel well, which takes a big bite out of the rear door frame.