2001 Nissan Xterra Review: Road Test

The front suspension is double wishbone; the rear is leaf springs with a solid axle. Power steering is by recirculating ball. The Xterra is nimble at slower speeds, feeling lighter than its 4130 pounds, and it actually steers more easily than the 2001 Frontierpickup, which comes with lower profile tires. At higher speeds there is a slight lag in the steering from the on-center position, but the straight-line ride is very nice. The chassis rides on the backs of 10 individually tuned dual-rate rubber chassis mounts, so there's no harshness there at all. At the same time, the Frontier's ladder chassis is certainly strong. The suspension takes bumps well; it sometimes has a bit more trouble with dips, which can be felt in the pit of your stomach similar to the feeling from a fast-stopping elevator. The suspension does a great job on washboard gravel roads. In corners, there's less sway than you might expect given the high center of gravity, but the head toss is significant over rutted and potholed dirt roads. Our test vehicle was a 4WD XE, so it came with 15-inch wheels. Get the optional limited-slip rear differential if you drive off road for the increased traction it provides.