was the most trail-ready version of the second generation of the Xterra, and nearly 20 years later, it still gets the job done as a fantastic off-road main. Outfitted with a 4.0-liter V6 engine powered through an if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it traditional four-wheel drive, the ‘05 Xterra has a minimum ground clearance of 9.5 inches—all of which come together to form a timeless off-roading classic.

The 2005 Nissan Xterra came in three trims: the base S model, the Off-Road, and the

, all of which could be ordered with 2WD or 4WD and either a manual or automatic transmission. This would be a rarity in the current SUV era where automatic transmission and all-wheel-drives rule.

If you’ve been wondering about your 2005 Nissan Xterra’s off-roading capabilities, you can put your wonders aside, because we’re about to demystify all the details of what makes the 2005 Xterra such a good off-roader.

Here with a definitive off-road rating for the 2005 Nissan Xterra off-road is

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Can the 2005 Nissan Xterra go off road?

You bet it can! In fact, it has an entire trim dedicated specifically to off-road-readiness, and that trim’s name literally is “Off-Road.” It has plenty of ground clearance to allow it to bounce comfortably over uneven terrain, and its VQ V6 engine provides more than enough power to the drivetrain while getting fantastic low-end torque.

2005 Nissan Xterras could be ordered with either 2WD or 4WD drivetrains. Most off-road drivers will likely want the 4WD, but there is something to be said about the classic feeling of driving a RWD SUV off road. A 2005 RWD manual Xterra S fetches for about $4,500 on the used market, while a 4WD Off-Road with automatic transmission will likely cost about $1,000 more.

If you’re lucky enough to find one of these beauties in good condition, it might just be a sign from the heavens that you need to get into off-roading.

So just what is it that makes the 2005 Nissan Xterra such a good off-road SUV? Let’s check it out.

Ground clearance

With a minimum ground clearance of 9.5 inches, the 2005 Nissan Xterra is more than capable of conquering treacherous terrain without becoming high-centered.

Before we move on, you may be wondering what exactly we mean when we talk about a vehicle’s “minimum ground clearance.” All it’s referring to is the distance measured from the bottom of the car’s chassis to the ground.

Experts recommend that a consistently off-roading vehicle has somewhere between 8.8 and 10.8 inches of ground clearance. For some perspective, the 2005

Jeep Grand Cherokee

only has an 8.0-inch minimum ground clearance..

Torque

The 2005 Nissan Xterra’s came “VQ” 4.0-liter V6 engine sends a ton of traction to its drivetrain via 284 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. When it comes to off-roading, low-end torque is a must-have, meaning the wheels need to be able to push forward against the ground with enough force to maintain control. That will make it easier to move forward up hills and over difficult obstacles—no one wants to be stuck spinning their wheels and not going anywhere, and that’s where torque and engine traction come in.

Tires

Of course, the torque produced by your SUV’s engine is only as valuable as the ability of its tires to grip the ground. The 2005 Pathfinder initially came with 16-inch P265/75R16 tires, specially formulated for tough off-road moments. Even a RWD Xterra with great tires can get a lot done off road.

However, don’t forget that you need different tires for different conditions—specifically, it’s important to make sure that you have winter tires available for when ice and snow are likely to be a factor.

Drivetrain

All three 2005 Xterra trims got the same VQ sub-branded V6 engine, which kicks out 265 horsepower at 5,600 rpm. If you’re not sure what that means, rest assured that that is the strength of a considerable army of horses pushing this SUV forward—plenty of power for the most intense off-road challenges.

Angles

Another place the 2005 Nissan Xterra shines in terms of its off-roading capability is its impressively steep approach and departure angles. What does that mean, you ask? Well, we’ll tell you:

Approach angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can climb without interference

Departure angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can descend without interference

A 2005 Nissan Xterra Off-Road has a highly generous approach angle of 32.6 degrees and an equally amazing departure angle is 29.4 degrees. It’s also the only trim of the three to come available with hill-descent control and hill-start assist, standard with automatic transmission versions.

Off-road rating: Trail Boss

So, without further ado, we come to the end of our review of the 2005 Nissan Xterra’s off-road capabilities, and boy howdy are we excited to give it a definitive ranking on

Jerry’s

highly-complex and very official DIRT rating system.

Rating	Meaning	Description
D	Don’t Try It	Vehicles better suited to highway conditions
I	In a Pinch	Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances
R	Rough and Ready	Vehicles designed for casual off-roading
T	Trail Boss	True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain

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The 2005 Nissan Xterra—particularly in Off-Road trim—gets a T rating for being one of the ultimate trail bosses you can buy with less than $10,000!

Do take note, however, that driving an older vehicle is a much different beast than driving a current model SUV—safety features are particularly lacking on pretty much any 2005 SUV compared to the standard safety suites offered by many of the biggest auto manufacturers.

MORE:

The best old-school off-road vehicles

The best off-road alternatives to the 2005 Nissan Xterra

Not sure if you’re ready to risk an older model for the sake of cost savings? Or maybe you want a Nissan off-roader that’s even more affordable? Here are some good options to consider.

Alternative	Model	Price	Description
Best affordable alternative	2005 Nissan Frontier 4x4	$2,000	Another fantastic off-roader that’s quite a bit more affordable than the ‘05 Xterra.
Best eco-friendly alternative	2022 Hyundai Santa Fe	$27,400	One of most fuel-efficient off-roaders money can buy
Best alternative for serious off-roading	2022 Ram 1500 Rebel	$47,850	All-out capability and upgradable to the nines.

MORE: Cheap off-road trucks

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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles

Hopefully it doesn’t come as too much of a surprise that your 2005 Nissan Xterra was built with off-roading in mind, but if you’ve never given trail riding a shot and want to get into it, you’re going to want to set yourself up with an insurance policy that’s as robust as your suspension.

That’s where

Jerry

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It’s an absolute breeze to switch to a new plan with Jerry, and our users save on average over $800a year on their car insurance premium!