I purchased this SUV because I already owned a compact car, and I wanted something that would be more versatile and would fit my sporty lifestyle. A vehicle that would fit all my athletic car, art projects, and my dog and her things. Something I can take long road trips in and drive over rugged country. I like the sporty package of this SUV. I like that the seats fold down and the storage space increases. It's bigger than my other car yet somewhat compact for an SUV, so it fits easily in the garage. It has some nice features like the built-in stereo and cruise control, and this is nice. The tire package is also quite nice and has held up well. The maintenance costs for Nissans tend to be quite low compared to other models, and I like this. The gas mileage is so-so in the city, which is to be expected for an SUV. I got tired of the all-black interior, and I think the interior design could use some improvement. It's quite dull. It's not as punchy as my compact car and not as fun to drive as a sports car.

I bought the 2010 Nissan Xterra 4x4 to use in off road situations that my job takes me. I've taken the Xterra on 2 trips so far where I needed to go off road and it has handled both situations perfectly. The clearance is great (one of the highest available). The car is comfortable, the seats are comfortable and offer a lot of leg room and the cargo area is spacious. If you need more space, the back seats go down all the way and lay completely flat, giving you nearly enough space for a queen size blow up bed, which is great if you're interested in taking the Xterra on camping trips. It's also great for travelling with animals. My husband and I took the Xterra on an 800+ mile journey to visit the family and with the seats down, there was enough room for the cat, her litter box, her bed, our luggage, AND our 60lb dog and his large bed. Its amazing how spacious the vehicle is, yet its not large and awkward. Parallel parking is a breeze, especially with the back of the vehicle being flat. There's very little I dislike about the vehicle. The gas mileage could be better, but it's pretty on par with other 4x4 vehicles I have had. There are few amenities in this particular trim, but I believe Nissan has added plenty of optional amenities for the newer Xterras.