This is the ultimate example of an everything you need, nothing you don't vehicle. It's something of a dinosaur as a body-on-frame SUV, but the ride and handling are not too truck-like to be uncomfortable for daily driving/commuting. My girlfriend, a very slight woman who is used to driving a Fiat 500 convertible, can drive it easily. Some of the technology is outdated, but that is more than compensated for in terms of the solid yet responsive feel you get when driving it, the simplicity of the design, and reliability. It doesn't have a lot of spit and polish, but you won't feel bad about running it hard. It's served me well for 120,000 miles, including numerous trips up and down the eastern seaboard. It's just a cool-looking vehicle, probably the most functional-looking SUV on the road without being cartoonish. I've had very few problems with it mechanically, and perhaps more importantly, I've never felt like it was an unapproachable car that I couldn't at least make an effort at fixing myself. I really wish they were continuing this model line, as I would definitely buy another one.

I've had my 2007 Nissan Xterra for 11 years now, and even though it's only at 100,000 miles, it has never failed to get the job done. I haven't treated it particularly nicely (a few gaps of time between oil changes and new brake fluid), and it has still always performed like a champ. Even though it's a larger car, it is surprisingly maneuverable and has some pretty good pickup. What stands out most is its reliability. Mine has been in three separate accidents and withstood weather (hurricanes and blizzards among other events) that would have taken a toll on a less rugged and resistant vehicle. It does have it's downfalls. It's not fuel efficient by any standard, especially compared to the fuel economy of most cars today, so be prepared to drop a bit more than you'd want to at the pump. It's also a bit more bulky than mid-sized cars are being designed today, so you may occasionally have trouble squeezing into that awkward parking spot or small curb-side street spot. All in all I could not be happier with the 11+ years that my Nissan Xterra has given me and would gladly recommend it to anyone that is in the market for a new mid-sized truck and isn't overly concerned with fuel economy.