Nissan doesn't want the Xterra wooing some of the pricier sport-utility's market. But quality is high nevertheless. There's nothing cheap-looking anywhere inside. The dashboard is straightforward and functional, the front bucket seats are among the best in this class, and fit and finish are first rate. As an example of the latter, the door closures of my test truck were wonderfully positive, accompanied by a sound that would not have been out of place coming from a Mercedes.
Design quirks Inevitably, there are peculiarities.
Topping this short list is the manual transmission's shift lever, which is one of the longest I've seen in a modern production vehicle. It would look just as much at home in a Czechoslovakian bus and could allow people in the back seat to participate in the driving. To be fair, though, its function is fine when you become accustomed to it. I also found myself scratching my head over the design of the basket that fits into the front of the good-looking aluminum roof rack. Unfortunately, the basket, designed for stowing stuff you don't care to bring inside, such as hostile crustaceans, interferes with the sunroof, while the step rails are basically useless and could even become a handicap in deep sand or mud.