Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
15 City / 20 HWY
Horsepower
261
Seats
5
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Linda H
If you have difficulty getting in and out of vehicles, this is a great car to have.
The car is just the right height to make it easy to get in and out of. It is a good size for comfortable riding. It is full size but still easy to park.
accountCircle Julia P
Nissan Xterra: One of the best SUVs around
My Nissan Xterra is reliable and fun to drive. It rarely needs work, and I can usually perform any maintenance myself. These cars are cheap to work on, and drive like a dream
accountCircle Allison H
The back seat lets down in two different part so you can haul things that are tall without it turning over.
I love my xterra because it is my favorite color. My xterra has space to haul somethings inside. I have not complaints about my car.
accountCircle Jordan I
Best SUV! Comfortable and very reliable!
My Nissan has been extremely reliable and I have enjoyed driving it. It is just the perfect size and it is very comfortable ride. Would highly recommend to friends and family.
accountCircle Sharon S
Xterra rock and roll and are a good vehicle.
This is the second one I have purchased. I love that it is dependable and save but I hate that it is a bad guzzling machine. I love sitting higher than I do in a car. I love that it is a tank. I hate that this is the base model because my other was nicer. These go more miles than other American made cars, and the feeling of safety is much better than in plastic cars.
accountCircle Vicki K
Very reliable and perfect for hauling or for a family.
Perfect size - not too small or too large.. Comfortable and roomy.. Good gas mileage for an SUV.. Sporty and trendy looking.. Very usable - has plenty of cargo space.
accountCircle Allison L
It drives well. My car has a lot of space to carry things in.
I love my car because it is my favorite color. My car has seat in the back that let down in two different way to carry stuff. My complaint would be that my car lights do not turn on and off by themselves.
accountCircle Valerie G
Xterra, we wouldn't be here without you!
The only issues we've encountered are those of wear and tear to the vehicle. Example: there was a small oil leak around the engine due to gaskets being worn down, but it was caught with our preventive maintenance. Our xterra has well over 125,000 miles and has proven to be a safe and reliable vehicle since day 1 and we hope to continue to use it for many more years. The height is perfect even when we have local small flooding, we do not worry like other people in shorter SUVs.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Rita C
My vehicle is junk and would not buy another
The vehicle breaks down all the time and it's always major expensive repairs. I am hoping to get rid of it and buy something more reliable to drive. It drives smooth and the ride is comfortable they are just not well made vehicles in my opinion. It has a nice rack on top and has some room for hauling things but hate the vehicle
accountCircle Leah B
Good car for someone who likes utility vehicles and have hard winters!
It's a great car for winter because it has 4 wheel drive. It's not particularly good for children or people who have a hard time getting up into the car because its higher off the ground. We haven't had any major problems considering its an older car. All in all it is a reliable vehicle.
accountCircle Bee L
It handles well off road and in the mountains. I don't even need to turn on 4wd unless it gets really rough.
I like the way it looks and how it handles off road. My complains are how easily it scratches and several cheap plastic pieces were used, also would have been nice to have A/C vents for the back seats.
accountCircle MIchelle S
Xterra Does well off roading
The gas mileage could be better but it does pretty well off roading. When it snows you'll need snow tires because the 4 wheel drive can't always be depended on.
accountCircle Heather F
Suv, with an amazing radio but no air conditioning in the back
I love how big it is but it doesn't have air conditioning in the back.it's a very nice car. The radio is amazing

Nissan Xterra Models

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

car
X
261 HP 17 MPG 5 Seats
car
S
261 HP 17 MPG 5 Seats
car
SE
261 HP 17 MPG 5 Seats
car
Off Road
261 HP 17 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2009 Nissan Xterra Owner Reviews

4.33
27 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 59%
4 stars 22%
3 stars 15%
2 stars 0%
1 star 4%
accountCircle Rita C on September 21, 2020
My vehicle is junk and would not buy another
The vehicle breaks down all the time and it's always major expensive repairs. I am hoping to get rid of it and buy something more reliable to drive. It drives smooth and the ride is comfortable they are just not well made vehicles in my opinion. It has a nice rack on top and has some room for hauling things but hate the vehicle
accountCircle Allison H on June 9, 2020
Great vehicle for a family. It is great to carry things.
I love my vehicle. There are a few things that I would change. I would change the lights to automatic. I would like to know how many miles to empty. I like how the back folds down into two stages. I like the space and size of the vehicle. Overall it is a great SUV.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Andrea M.

The pros are it is an easy change over to 4 wheel drive and it handles well. It is not a rough ride and it tends to be easy to maintain. It does not go through oil and it is comfortable to drive and ride in.

likeFilled Brit B.

It is spacious for passengers. The back is large making it convenient for moving or transporting large or bulky items. Overall, the vehicle has a medium size feel in that it fits in standard parking spaces.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Andrea M.

The vehicle tends to go through more gas than I would like. It is difficult to get into the back area and it would be great it if had a better system to lock and unlock the vehicle. It sadly is a pretty basic car and you have no ability to connect your phone to the stereo via Bluetooth.

dislikeFilled Brit B.

So far there has not been any cons of the vehicle. I purchased the vehicle brand new in 2009 and have been fortunate enough to not encounter any issues. Perhaps the only con is that this model was discontinued.

Ranks #12 Midsize SUV by Owners

The 2009 Nissan Xterra has an average owner rating of 4.37 out of 5 which ranks it #12 of 25 other Midsize SUVs.

1
car
5
2
car
4.69
12
car
4.33

Ranks #7 Midsize SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2009 Nissan Xterra has a combined MPG of 23 which ranks it #7 of 25 other Midsize SUVs.

1
Tie
car
26 MPG
1
Tie
car
26 MPG
7
Tie
car
20 MPG

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety