Like the angler who needs to know where the best fishing hole is and what the bass are biting, Nissan engineers need to know who 2005 Xterra buyers are and what they want. These consumers have typically been outside of the mainstream – a quiet anti-establishment group of SUV owners, if you will.

They should be happy with the newest Xterra. It still has that odd silhouette, still has the first aid kit in the tailgate, and still has a simple, utilitarian cockpit – no cowhides on the seats, no navigation systems with maps of the Yucatan peninsula, and none of that dual- or triple-zone climate control fluff. What the 2005 Nissan Xterra does have is lots of added power and the ability to reach almost any destination.

And with a 5,000-lb. towing capacity, you can even bring your bass boat along for the adventure.