Used 2012 Nissan Xterra for sale 

The 2012 Nissan Xterra comes in three trim lines at varying price points and is equipped with the same4.0 L V6 engine. The base-level X trim starts at $25,480 and comes with basic features while the S trim starts at $27,470 and the top-end Pro-4X trim is priced at $30,640. The X trim comes in 2WD and 4WD iterations, both with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The S trim further comes with an option to equip a 5-speed manual transmission with the 4WD variant. The Pro-4X trim is 4WD exclusive and also comes with two transmission options.

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The Nissan Xterra S would be a great option to choose as it comes with added features over the base model, including air conditioning with in-cabin microfilter, front map lights, sun visor extenders, and visor vanity mirrors, 4 ceiling hooks and 2 side hooks, 8-way manual adjustable driver’s seat, adjustable lumbar support, and an easy-clean cargo area.

The Nissan Xterra starts at $25,480 and comes with a 4.0 L V6 mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission churning out 261 hp of maximum power and 281 lb-ft of maximum torque. The Nissan Xterra takes 6.6 seconds to reach a speed of 60mph and 14.9 seconds to cross the quarter-mile mark.

The Nissan Xterra is limited to a top speed of 146 mph. The performance of Nissan's huge engine is great and it delivers impressive acceleration figures.

The Xterra is the most powerful of the lot outputting 261 hp and 281 lb-ft, followed by the Sportage that outputs 260 hp and torque of 269 lb-ft, whereas the Mazda produces 244 hp and 258 lb-ft of power and torque, respectively. The Kia Sportage is the fastest to reach 60mph in 6.1 seconds, followed by the Mazda and Nissan in 6.2 and 6.6 seconds respectively. The Nissan has the highest top speed of 146 mph, followed by the Mazda and Kia, which are limited at 144 and 139 mph, respectively.

The Nissan Xterra is a comparatively less fuel-efficient car delivering the least fuel efficiency among the competition. The huge V6 is definitely a gas guzzler. It delivers fuel efficiency of 15 mpg in the city, 20 on the highway, and a combined efficiency of 17 mpg. The Nissan Xterra has a fuel capacity of 21.1 gallons, outputting a range of 317 miles in the city, 422 on the highway, and a combined range of 358 miles.

In comparison, both Kia and Mazda offer better-combined efficiency than what Nissan manages to offer with its Xterra. The Nissan has the largest fuel capacity of 21.1 gallons, followed by the Mazda and Kia with fuel capacities of 18.2 and 15.3 gallons. The Nissan delivers the best-combined range of 358 miles, followed by the Mazda CX-7 and Sportage delivering 345 and 336 miles, respectively.

The 2012 Nissan Xterra has a spacious cabin with enough space in the front row seats, which are comfortable and supportive. The materials and elements in the interior are of good quality but definitely not the best or luxurious. The interior elements primarily consist of many plastic and low-quality trims.

The buttons and dials are all easy to use and placed nicely. There is a lower amount of space in the second row compared to rivals. Nissan offers a cargo area measuring 36.3 cu-ft which is on the higher side of the segment.

The Nissan has the most legroom in the front row, whereas the Kia Sportage has more legroom in the second row. The Nissan has the lowest amount of space in the second row. When it comes to cargo capacity, the Kia falls short of its rivals offering 26.1 cu-ft, while the Mazda offers 29.9 cu-ft and the Nissan offers significantly better cargo space, measuring 36.3 cu-ft. Few key features include-

• Air conditioning with in-cabin microfilter
• 8-way manual adjustable driver’s seat
• Adjustable lumbar support
• Cruise control
• Tilt steering column
• loth seat trim
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
• 60/40 Split fold-flat rear seats and removable rear seat cushions

How intuitive is the 2012 Nissan Xterra’s infotainment unit?

The Nissan Xterra features a 6-speaker stereo system with a CD player, auxiliary audio jack, and steering wheel controls. The infotainment unit comes with SIRIUS satellite radio along with Bluetooth connectivity. The high-end Pro-4X trim comes equipped with a premium 9-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system. There is also a speed-sensitive volume control and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. Other major infotainment features include-

• Rockford Fosgate-powered audio system
• AM/FM/in-dash 6-CD changer
• 9 High-performance speakers, including an 8" subwoofer
• Steering-wheel-mounted audio controls
• Auxiliary audio input jack and MP3/WMA CD playback capability
• Speed-sensitive volume and Radio Data System (RDS)
• XM Satellite Radio

The 2012 Nissan Xterra looks like a more rugged SUV while also looking a bit outdated while maintaining a larger looking stance and footprint. The Xterra looks the most off-road oriented while all others in the segment look like a crossover.

The vehicle has a really boxy design language. The chrome front grille accentuates the front end while there is an abundance of rugged elements all over the exterior. The Nissan Xterra has a ground clearance of 9.1-inches.

The Nissan weighs the most, weighing in at 4,356 lbs, followed by the Mazda CX-7 which weighs 4,001 lbs, followed by the Kia that weighs 3,466 lbs. The weight differences in this competition are significant and the Nissan weighs a lot more than the competition.

The Mazda is the longest with a length of 184.3 inches, followed by the Nissan and the Kia. Compared to the Xterra and Mazda having a ground clearance of 9.1 and 8.2 1inches, the Kia has a lower clearance of 6.8 inches. Major exterior features of the coupe are-

• Tubular roof rack with air dam
• Roof-rack-mounted off-road lights
• Fog lights
• Rear bumper steps
• Black bodyside moldings
• Splash guards (4x4 only)
• Dual power outside mirrors

The 2012 Nissan Xterra comes with a lot of standard safety features, which include ABS, Nissan Advanced Airbag System with dual-stage supplemental front airbags with seat belt and occupant classification sensors, driver and front-passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental airbags, roof-mounted curtain supplemental airbags for side-impact and rollover head protection for outboard occupants. The 2012 Nissan Xterra gets an impressive safety rating of ‘Good’ from IIHS. It stops from a distance of 60mph at a distance of 131 ft which is an average distance. Major safety features include-

• Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children)
• Zone Body construction with front and rear crumple zones
• Hood-buckling creases and pipe-style steel side-door guard beams
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System
• Vehicle Security System

The 2012 Nissan Xterra is a capable off-roader in the segment with a powerful engine under the hood. It is among the most rugged vehicles of its class. There are many others in the segment offering a better acceleration and a more spacious and luxurious interior with more features. So for more conventional usage, any of those options can be chosen while the Nissan fares better in a rugged line of usage.