2008 Nissan Xterra Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

Crash Test Rating

Source NHTSA

MPG (up to)

14 City / 20 HWY

Source FuelEconomy.gov

Horsepower

261

Seats

Positive Owner Reviews

Jennifer Z

It is the perfect size and height for the road.

My vehicle is over 10 years old and I have not endured significant or costly issues. Other than preventative maintenance regarding any vehicle in oil changes, filter changes, light replacements, brakes changed, etc, my vehicle is great. I have endured two accidents which required repair, however as mentioned before I love my vehicle and would purchase a brand new model if I could afford it.

Elaine M

It is a sport utility vehicle and affordable. Also has lots of storage.

I love the way it handles. It is the perfect height. It is sporty enough for the everyday driving.

Lauren M

Solid and ready work, but sassy and fun Xterra.

I have had this thing since 2009 or 2010 and I love it. The back hatch does not stay up by itself and I have gone through numerous sets of tires but I am still very pleased with it. I have put lots of miles on it. One thing I like is that I can feel sporty and rugged but nothing too masculine (I am a gal).

Elizabeth F

Equinox is a sturdy car that runs well.

I like everything about my vehicle. It has comfortable back seating for my child. The back seat can fold to the ground for carrying large items inside. I also like that it has the top carrying rail for additional cargo.

Andrew D

I like that it has a lot of storage space both inside the car as well as on top.

I love this vehicle. Not only is it spacious, it makes me feel safe to drive it! The gas mileage is not great. Does well off-road!

Alberta n

It's been very reliable and has never let me down.

Love my car. It is a mountain goat. Gas mileage is bad, though.

jolene c

My car is reliable and safe.

My car is big enough to carry my dogs with me. It gets good gas mileage. I love the color.

Wyatt T

That It's been paid for over the last 8 years and I'm closing in on 200,000 mile.

It's been super-reliable, It's an actual SUV and not a generic crossover. Only complaint is the tire pressure system is always lighting up although there is no issue.

Negative Owner Reviews

Hana R

The car gets really bad gas mileage.

The car squeaks, and gets terrible gas mileage though it is great for hauling stuff or in bad road conditions, nice to drive as well with being far off the ground.

Jennifer K

That I take care of it and that my kids are first priority & safety of vehicle.

Big for the kids but not big enough and recently started decreasing drastically on gas mileage for no reason.

Ruby L

Good, bad and ugly of my car over the years

Had many issues with the maintenance of this vehicle over the years. When it works it's great due to the size and interior durability.

Andrew T

My Xterra crust. It is nice but ready for a new.

Lots of problems with the air conditioning unit and lots of problems of needing a lot of things replaced after it hit certain mileage. Seems to get worse on gas mileage every year and always seems to be overheating. Also the sound system in the car is so bad.

Ann M

Liked it at first, fun to drive and nice to see over other cars. But now regretting the size, especially with parking spaces getting smaller and smaller in the lots.

It doesn't have a sleek look but it's very reliable and dependable.

Nissan Xterra Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

261 HP 17-17 MPG 5 Seats

Off Road

261 HP 17-17 MPG 5 Seats

Photos may not match model

2008 Nissan Xterra Owner Reviews

4.57

56 Reviews

Write Review

5 stars

68%

4 stars

23%

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Andrew D on April 3, 2021

I like that it has a lot of storage space both inside the car as well as on top.

I love this vehicle. Not only is it spacious, it makes me feel safe to drive it! The gas mileage is not great. Does well off-road!

Heather P on March 22, 2021

The Nissan xterra is a yes!

I have had this vehicle since 2009 and it is still going strong! I absolutely love my car!! I was sad to find out its been discontinued. It does not have the greatest gas mileage, but for an SUV it's not bad. It does great on dirt roads with all wheels on. I have only upgraded the tires and battery 1 time since purchasing. Definitely 1 of my favorites.

View All Reviews (56)

Pros from Owners

Theresa B.

The pros for my vehicle are the cargo space, the 4 wheel drive and the overall comfort it provides me. I have a great stereo system and it drives the same as when I bought it new. I have used it for around the town and on long road trips. It is my baby.

Alyssa O.

I love that it is good in the snow and it is easy to drive. It is also very easy to see and very limited blind spots. I wish they made more of these models and makes. It also can be driven on the beach and can hold a lot.

Cons from Owners

Theresa B.

The cons of my vehicle, is the gas mileage, the fact that it has issues with the piston in the hatch, the slippage sensor acting up and being unable to turn off. I have had to replace the windshield sprayers because they cracked and sprayed forward.

Alyssa O.

Some cons is basically just the fact that they are not made anymore which stinks. I wish they made that exact model but just upgraded it. You do not need a bed of a trunk necessarily. Other than that I do not have many more complaints.

Ranks #3 Midsize SUV by Owners

The 2008 Nissan Xterra has an average owner rating of 4.57 out of 5 which ranks it #3 of 20 other Midsize SUVs.

2008 Toyota 4Runner

4.64

2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser

4.61

Tie

2008 Nissan Xterra

4.57

Ranks #6 Midsize SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2008 Nissan Xterra has a combined MPG of 22 which ranks it #6 of 22 other Midsize SUVs.

2008 Subaru Outback

26 MPG

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe

24 MPG

Tie

2008 Nissan Xterra

20 MPG

Is The 2008 Nissan Xterra A Good Car?

Yes. I love it. I had an 04 xterra before this one that I got over 300,000 miles out of and it was still running good when I sold it.

Mike L.

Yes, the Nissan xterra is a great vehicle. It runs great, air works, tires are good, radio is awesome.

Jamie G.

Yes, I love my Xterra. It’s safe, good on gas and comfortable to drive. Searcy family of 5 very nicely. We have loved our car from the day we purchased it. It’s great for family road trips.

Jodi S.

How Reliable Is The 2008 Nissan Xterra?

The only complaint I have with it is that even for a six cylinder it only gets about 17 mpg. It had a design flaw with running the transmission coolant through the radiator instead of a separate... Read More

Mike L.

It’s a very reliable car. No problems that come to mind. We have lived this car very much. We've driven it across the country and it has never failed us.

Karen B.

Is The 2008 Nissan Xterra A Good Value?

Purchased it used with just over 100,000 miles on it but even when new it was a reasonable priced midsize SUV.

Mike L.

We spent about $10,000 on our Nissan Xterra s few years back. It was a very good deal. We shopped around for weeks looking for the perfect car. We chose the Xterra

Jennifer B.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2008 Nissan Xterra thermostat location?

Answer: The 2008 Nissan Xterra thermostat is in the thermostat housing on the lower coolant line. The thermostat is what measures the temperature of the coolant running through the line, and from there it can determine...

How do i perform the 2008 Nissan Xterra security system reset?

Answer: To reset the security system in the 2008 Nissan Xterra, You can first attempt to remove the negative battery terminal for 15 minutes or more. This will clear some, but not all, of the security system faults --...

What's the 2008 nissan xterra speaker size?

Answer: The 2008 Nissan Xterra speaker size is 2 ohM6x9" front door. You will come into issues with the sound. The source could be from the stereo's speakers or a phone that is connected to the vehicle. Whatever the...

What's the 2008 nissan xterra oil type?

Answer: The 2008 Nissan Xterra uses SAE 5w-30 viscosity, fully synthetic motor oil in its engine. The vehicle has an oil capacity of 5.39 US quarts. You can find these oils at any maSSRetail location. You can also find...

See all Frequently Asked Questions

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety