2000 Nissan Xterra

The Xterra offers a choice of two engines: a 2.4-liter/143-horsepower DOHC 16-valve inline four or a 3.3-liter/170-horse SOHC 12-valve V-6. The base XE 4x2 with the four-cylinder engine is available with only a five-speed manual transmission, while all other models can be ordered with an optional four-speed automatic. The V-6 in our test vehicle was pleasantly smooth and quiet, and provided good power for most driving situations and enough low- and mid-range torque to have some serious fun in the boonies. While it didn't have the vast reserve power on steep mountain roads of some of the more powerful entries in the competition, the V-6 Xterra will satisfy most SUV buyers, plus it'll tow up to 5000 pounds. Likewise, at the test track, our V-6 automatic 4x4 accelerated 0-60 mph in 10.9 seconds, certainly not on the quick side of the sport/utility crowd, but ample enough to get the job done (choose the five-speed if you want maximum performance). Offroad, however, the Xterra shined. In "low" range, the lightweight 4x4 easily scampered up steep sandy hills that left the heavier vehicles struggling, and, try as we might, we couldn't get it stuck.

A part-time four-wheel-drive system with low-range transfer case makes the Xterra just as capable of handling foul weather conditions or gnarly off-road terrain as it is cruising to the beach or down a freeway. The Nissan's multifaceted personality is further helped by its nicely tuned suspension that provides a comfortable highway ride, good cornering feel, and responsive off-road handling. Overall, it feels tight, well mannered, and refined enough to cost much more than it actually does.

In fact, the Xterra's "wow factor" isn't so much in its styling hardware, technology, or performance, as in its value. The entry-level XE 4x2 with four-cylinder engine bases at $17,349, and even when well equipped slips in at under 20 grand. Move up to a V-6 4x2 and you're still looking at a base of $18,499; load it up and opt for an automatic transmission, and you're talking a little over $23,000. The extremely well-appointed SE V-6 4x4 we tested based at $25,549, and with floor mats and destination charges, totaled $26,148. With many other SUVs in its class at that figure, you'd just be getting started. This, in fact, is the price range wherein the sport/utility phenomenon first took root and grew. The early offerings were rugged vehicles with generous helpings of both sport and utility, and were largely accessible to the average buyer. Of course, as their popularity exploded and manufacturers realized they could sell more luxurious versions for higher profits, most of the segment's development efforts were targeted in that direction. Gradually, the pickings in the under-$25,000 range have become slimmer and slimmer, with recent entries such as the car-based Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V lacking the off-road prowess of traditional SUVs with low-range-equipped 4WD systems.

This is the simple beauty of the Nissan Xterra. It takes us back to a time when a solid, amply equipped, roomy sport/utility could be purchased by a young buyer, at a price that still allowed enough money left over to enjoy the active lifestyle that made it appealing. Offering all this built-in value, plus the refinement and technical know-how of a modern, new-millennium vehicle, the Xterra is clearly a winner. We're proud to bestow upon it our highest accolade: the Motor Trend 2000 Sport/Utility of the Year award. We hope it will set the pace for more affordable, expressive, and fun-to-drive SUVs to come.