Among all of the changes the 2005 Nissan Xterra has undergone, perhaps the most significant lies under the hood. That’s where you’ll find a new 4.0-liter, 24-valve, dual overhead cam V6 that provides 265 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 284 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,400 rpm. This all aluminum engine is shared with the redesigned Nissan Pathfinder and Frontier models, and comes standard on the Xterra S and Off-Road with a six-speed manual transmission. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard on the SE and optional on the others. All 2005 Xterras have a 5,000-lb. towing capacity, and curb weights range from the 4,081-lb. rear-wheel-drive S with the manual transmission to the 4,382-lb. four-wheel-drive Off-Road with the five-speed automatic.

Charged with stopping all of that heft is the 2005 Nissan Xterra’s capable braking system. Vented discs are fitted front and rear, measuring 296-mm and 286-mm, respectively. These beefy brakes work with a standard antilock system, electronic brake force distribution, and traction control. Stability control is standard on the Off-Road and SE and optional on the S.

Standard on all models is an independent double wishbone front suspension paired with a live rear suspension with leaf springs. The only exception is the Off-Road, which uses stiffer Bilstein shocks at all four corners. Four-wheel-drive 2005 Nissan Xterras feature a part-time system, controlled by a rotary knob on the lower dash. Switching between 2WD and 4H (for regular off-road conditions) requires a simple turn of the knob, but moving to 4LO (for especially difficult terrain) requires pushing the knob in and then turning. All four-wheel-drive Xterras come with automatic locking front hubs, and an extra 0.8 inches of ground clearance. The rear-wheel-drive S sits 8.3 inches off of the ground, while the four-wheel-drive Off-Road provides a generous 9.5 inches. A speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion system guides the Xterra to its destination.