Nissan Xterra Ground Clearance: What To Know
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The Nissan Xterra is an SUV that promotes easy-to-drive characteristics on the road and in off-road situations. Hitting the market in 1999, the Xterra spent 16 years as a rugged SUV before it got the ax in 2015. It’s still a very reliable vehicle to this day. This article goes over the Nissan Xterra ground clearance: what to know.
How Is Ground Clearance Determined?
Ground clearance is determined by the simple measurement between the ground and the lowest point of the vehicle. Sometimes the lowest point of the vehicle is the chassis and sometimes it can be the body if the body has ground effects or a big front fascia.
A lot of times dealerships will try to use the chassis as a starting point even if it isn’t the lowest point on the vehicle, but this is technically wrong. Even if a vehicle comes from the factory with a pre-determined ground clearance number and some type of aftermarket products are installed later that lowers the vehicle’s appearance, then that factory ground clearance number should change with the aftermarket upgrades.
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How Much Ground Clearance Does the Nissan Xterra Give You?
Although ground clearance varies from source to source, the general consensus is the base model will get 8.0-inches of ground clearance. Tire size and wheel size will go up as you go up in trim levels ranking the Xterra’s ground clearance at 9.0-inches.
The Pro-4X is Nissan’s special off-road edition Xterra. It offers larger tires, wheels, and Bilstein shocks ultimately giving the Xterra 10-inches of ground clearance. All three different ride heights are good for easy driving around town, on the express, and some off-roading experiences.
These Xterras are by far not an off-road monster, so if you have plans of traveling deep into four-wheel-driving territory, even with the PRO-4X, you might want to think about some major upgrades before taking those types of adventures. But two-tracking to your favorite campsite on well-traveled back roads should not be a problem at all.
Changing the Nissan Xterra Ground Clearance: What to Know
There is definite room for changing the ground clearance on a Nissan Xterra. The first option that you could try is to purchase a set of taller tires. There are plenty of good options for tires out there that will not only lift your Xterra but would also improve the way it rides both on the road and in off-road situations.
The next option would be to invest in a lift kit for your Nissan Xterra if you wanted a few extra inches of ground clearance. This is a good option, but it should be noted that before you venture too far into this type of decision, you should consult a professional. A professional can help steer you in the right direction and to the right parts and brands that will best help you accomplish your goal.
Important: Instaling anything type of suspension parts can be dangerous both to the vehicle and the installer. You should never take on a project like this as an amateur. Not only is there a risk of injury, but the cost of getting something fixed that you might mess up could be more than the cost of just having a professional doing it for you in the first place.
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Important Facts to Know About Ground Clearance
A lot of shoppers might think that ground clearance isn’t a very important number like gas mileage or horsepower. But it is an important number, one that could make your day-to-day activities and weekend adventures easier and fun, or your ground clearance could become a nuisance. Nissan Xterra ground clearance: what to know.
Damage to Underbelly: Unfortunately, a lot of experience parts are exposed and can be damaged under the Xterra. You may not have a lot to worry about on normal paved roads, but you should beware whenever you venture into off-road situations.
When parts get damaged under your vehicle, they are usually parts that play an important role in your vehicle being mobile with the possible consequences of being stranded. Also, it’s good to remember that parts that are important to a vehicle running are usually parts that are expensive to repair or replace.
Nissan Xterra Pro-4X Skid Plates: The Nissan Xterra Pro-4X come with a set of skid plates that help protect the underbelly of your SUV. Although they come on the Pro-4X as a standard, they can be bought as aftermarket parts and installed on any of the Nissan Xterra.
Stock Ride Height of the Xterra: We believe the stock ride height of 8-10-inches for the Xterra is a good riding height for everyday driving and parking situations. This ride height also makes for easy loading of cargo, groceries, etc.
If you’re thinking of raising your Xterra’s ride height, think of the extra work you might be giving yourself when it comes to everyday actives. If you’re young and still very mobile, it probably won’t make a difference to you, but the higher you raise your vehicle the more effort it will take to get in and out of it every day.
The Nissan Xterra Ground Clearance: What to Know About Its Competitors
Competitors in this class are the Land Rover LR4, Toyota 4Runner, Ford Escape, Chevrolet Equinox, Hyundai Tuscon, Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Rogue, and the GMC Terrain.
Most all competitors have a similar ground clearance with only the Jeep Wrangler beating it out with an 8.8 to 10.6-inch ground clearance.
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When Shopping for an Xterra
Remember shopping Nissan Xterra Ground Clearance: what to know - there will be a difference in ride height depending on which trim you choose from.
If you want something that was built more for road and expressway driving, then just about any model will do. But if your thinking about getting into some fun off-roading experiences, you should look for a Nissan Pro-4X.
Don’t forget, a lift kit is always an option on these SUVs, but be mindful of what you go with. You might not enjoy jumping in and out of your vehicle day-in and day-out if it’s too high. And regular activities such as picking up a kid in putting them in a car seat or helping elderly people in and out might become difficult if the vehicle is too high.
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