Good writers go to heaven, but TTAC writers go everywhere. Justin Berkowitz went to Car & Driver, where he found out some news that will no doubt be welcomed by xtreme outdoor athletes everywhere.
The new Pathfinder may have become a unibody vehicle (in fairness, for the second time in just four generations) but the Xterra will, apparently, continue to be a body-on-frame “traditional” SUV. Nissan has the luxury of owning two relatively well-regarded nameplates in this segment, so splitting them (back) up makes perfect sense. The Xterra will continue to be the choice of people who either do outdoorsy stuff or believe they one day will get around to doing such stuff.
As for the Pathfinder? Will it succeed? Readers with long memories and/or a taste for Special Advertising Sections may recall that after Ford made a similar decision to base it on a unibody platform, the American Monthly Journal Of Free Cadillacs panned the redesigned Explorer using the strongest language we’ve seen from them in quite some time. The market responded by literally storming Ford dealers and burning Explorers to the ground. Oops. That’s not quite true. Although the market did storm Ford dealers, it was mostly to buy Explorers, resulting in year-over-year sales numbers that increased by as much as 138%. Senior Token European Angus MacKenzie was reportedly so upset he temporarily abandoned the posh accent he uses to talk to Americans and reverted to sounding exactly like “Groundskeeper Willie” for the afternoon. Don’t bet on Xterra sales exceeding those of the new Pathy, mmmmmkay?
This is an intelligent strategy. Similar to Toyota offering a Highlander and a 4Runner. Everyone goes home happy.
Considering the Xterra is developing a reputation like the Jeep Wrangler and (real) Land Rovers, Nissan would be insane to mess with what they’ve got. Real off-road SUV/CUV/thingies are starting to get rarer.
You mention Justin Berkowitz at C/D but not Jonny Lieberman? Did Justin link you on this tidbit?
yeah i knew Farago became a paranoid gun nut, and lieberman sold out to the buff book, but berkowitz? say it ain’t so. what are the other TTAC alums doing? Making babies? Not that I care enough to google stalk them or anything.
Berkowitz went to C/D a while ago, but recently went to Jalopnik for a day or two, leveraging that to jump back to C/D for a promotion, which caused quite a scandal over there.
Leaverman’s review of the Explorer seems spot on, although the other guy is quite a douchebag for calling it “intellectually dishonest” over its interior room.
A free CTS-V for a year puts an asterisk after Jonny’s GM reviews, but I doubt even that is enough of a bribe to buy Ford bashing, as opposed to GM pumping.
Especially when Jonny might need to count on Ford for a ride after GM takes back the Caddy.
This makes sense. As long as they can continue building ‘Terras economically in U.S., why not. This depends on parts sharing with Frontier though (I know that the platform is officially “common” with Titan and NV, but please). If Frontier dies like Ford Ranger, Xterra gets into a precarious position immediately.
BTW, Xterra suffers from the featurebloat: if you want the rear locker, please buy the top-of-the-line edition. Toyota FJ is like that too: “Convenience” package is mandatory to get a capable truck.
Yup bring back the “Special Editions” that are striped models that only offer options that enhance performance, not coddle me.
All of which reminds me:
Is Toyota ever going to update the FJ; and
will they ever import the way cool Hilux you see in all the adventure documentaries?
Forget the FJ…Give me a REAL Land Cruiser…Not the luxury lined Ginormous 200 series. Perhaps if they sold something along those lines I’d be buying it instead of swapping in a new motor in my 80 series. Or import the 70 series.
The Hilux would be cool, but Id settle for a spartan Tacoma (Diesel and solid axle please.
Yeah, I’m a big a fan of the Land Cruiser 70 series and have more experience with them than the average bear. But an LC70 in the NA? Get real. They’re slow, handle like shit, have the turning radius of a freight train and wouldn’t be able to get past modern safety regs.
Jack,
Angus MacKenzie is actually from “down under,” not “across the pond.”
I always wondered what kind of enthusiast following the XTERRA had. i very rarely see one with any sort of modification or actual dirt on it. they start out much cheaper than the new 4runner, but if you top one out at 32k, there’s still a bit missing that you can get on the 4Runner trail for like 37k. it did always seem like the XTERRA was fighting the Jeep and the 4runner and ending up in 3rd place. but i guess you get a Dana axle with the manual trans versions? neat. the 4runner hasn’t offered a manual trans in a long time.
the explorer really never seemed to have much off-road following either. they seemed to haul children and the occasional jetski. something the new one can do just as well, although I seriously cringe at the idea of towing with a unibody vehicle.
dear Toyota: this please http://www.toyota.com.au/landcruiser-200/specifications/gx-turbo-diesel?WT.ac=VH_LC200_RangeSpecs_GX_Specs
The LC200 has long ago become a fat pig, adding a snorkel won’t remedy the independent front suspension. The Aussie Cruiser you want is the LC70 http://www.toyota.com.au/landcruiser-70-series/range?WT.ac=VHLC70TopNavRangeSpecs preferably in the most useful “wagon” configuration. It has front and rear live axles and 3 locking diffs.
As for the Xterrible, it’s a chick car. A reasonable alternative for a Jeep Wrangler, if you don’t want your college age daughter riding around topless. The few I’ve seen modified were shredding their Mickey Thompsons on the highway at 85 mph, faster than daddy can buy new ones.
oh yes, you’re totally right. I think that’s what I was actually looking for. I just don’t get why we can’t have good diesel trucks in this country that aren’t giant American pickups. and unibody german car-trucks don’t count.
I like the Xtera except for one thing – that damn plastic. As a part-time detailer, doing these and Chevy’s Alvalanche is an exercise in frustration. The ONLY thing you can do is die the plastic back to the original color. (Check out ValueGuard products)
There is no trim “dressing” water based, silicon based or whatever that will hold up over a couple months. So, either do the maintenance regularly or look like crap.
Hey Nissan/Chevy? would it be too much to ask for some decent painted fiberglass IF you HAVE to tack sh!t on?!