The bulge in the tailgate, oddly shaped rear window, and aggressive wheel flares – these have been, and continue to be just a few of the visual cues that make the Nissan Xterra stand apart.

Like the original, the 2005 Xterra’s tailgate is built to accommodate a first aid kit (standard on Off-Road and SE, optional on S), and the side profile still features that raised roofline over the second-row seat. However, unlike previous versions, the 2005 Xterra wears a face you’ll be familiar with, as it closely mirrors that found on the Nissan Frontier and Pathfinder. The new look is derived from Nissan’s successful full-size pickup, the Titan, and coincides with the brand’s launch of brawnier trucks. Behind the fresh face are familiar oversized built-in wheel flares and rear door handles sitting vertically on the C-pillar. Taken collectively, the visual tweaks give the 2005 Nissan Xterra broader appeal, while maintaining the vehicle’s unmistakable look.

Inside, dark plastic panels provide the Xterra with a rugged and utilitarian appearance, with subtle chrome accents on the door handles, shifter plate, and gauge rings adding a touch of sophistication. Less pleasing is the dash, which consists of too many pieces of different shapes. The result is a sea of seams and odd edges that turns an otherwise simple and functional interior design into busy and cheap.

Below that hodge podge of a dash are easy to use and understand radio and climate controls. The radio has straightforward buttons for power, volume, tuning, seek, and scan. Our tester’s Rockford Fosgate system also included power, volume, mode, and tuning buttons on the steering wheel. We enjoyed 380-watts of power, but even after adjustments, we felt the sound quality was a little flat. The climate controls, which amounted to three rotary dials, were as simple as they come and effective at maintaining the proper temperature. All other controls, including those for power windows and power mirrors, were logically placed.

While interior design and layout drew mostly praise, the materials used were less laudable. A mesh fabric on the seats felt durable and fit the Xterra’s personality, while berber-like floor mats added a nice touch to our SE. Points were lost with the plastics, all of which felt and looked cheap. The exception was the hard plastic on the cargo floor. Throughout the interior, grains and colors varied from piece to piece, large door panels provided lots of flexibility, and a low-grade headliner capped off the cabin.

Fortunately, the materials used were put together well, so our 2005 Nissan Xterra was free of any squeaks or rattles, and all of the pieces felt tightly screwed down. The exterior was less impressive. We liked the solid “thunk” when the doors were shut, but weren’t so crazy about the misaligned hood and the numerous large gaps, especially around the tailgate. Those rear door handles, while an Xterra trademark, expose the inner mechanism from behind and look unfinished. And there was one last issue with our test vehicle. In the rain gutter on the passenger side, right at the point where the roof rises behind the front seat, was a deposit of either paint, rust inhibitor, or something else applied before paint. It was soft enough to poke a pen through and in the event of rain, would force water out of the gutter. This isn’t a major issue, but could require a bit of repair and paintwork and should have been caught by Nissan quality control before leaving the factory.