Faceoff: Nissan Xterra vs. Toyota FJ Cruiser

The Nissan Xterra is a two-time winner of Motor Trend's SUV of the year award.

The Toyota FJ is a new retro-insipired product poised to go head-to-head with the Xterra.

Edmunds is an automotive website featuring car news, reviews and comparisons such as the one between these two machines.

Read "2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser vs. 2006 Nissan Xterra Off-Road" @ Edmunds

And the loser is:

Anybody that buys either one.

The FJ just looks dorky. At least the Xterra has some unique-ness as compared to the FJ which looks like hammered, then polished, $h!.

The FJ looks bad in that color, but I still like the styling of it and wish the RAV4 had taken some FJ cues.

And the loser is:

Anybody that buys either one.

How do you lose by buying an Xterra? No, really. Explain yourself.

Well, I've never driven either one, but I've always thought the Xterra looked kinda neat. I can see where it would appeal to the twenty-something demographic.

For all GM's confusing array of SUVs, I regret that we don't have a true CRV/Xterra/Tuscon fighter. The Equinox is nice, but not fighting in the same league. I hear we are getting a GM-DAT small SUV soon. I hope that it will look a little "cool" and have some decent specs.

The FJ just looks dorky.  At least the Xterra has some unique-ness as compared to the FJ which looks like hammered, then polished, $h!.

I fail to see, especially in comparison to the FJ, how the Xterra is even remotely unique.

I've driven an Xterra, and I'll say that it's a fine truck for what it is...I'm just not a fan of big bouncy SUVs. That FJ looks terrible.

I've always thought the Xterra was an honest 4x4 (I'm sick of the term SUV) in a "just the basics,Maam" kind of way. Hose out interior, not overstuffed with fluff, affordable, I respect it.

The FJ is just too ugly to even consider.

The recent restyle doesn't help out the XTerra, IMO. The badge placement got weird and I liked the circular headlamps.

the xterra is a fine piece. the FJ has quirky doors, an s-10 retro dash and other heinous interior bits (the rear cargo plastic is horrible) and traction control that cannot be switched off. The big blind spot I would not want either. It looks like a great big pu$$ymobile. As in, you are what you drive.

Nissan would get my money here although I would also be looking at Jeeps. The H3 would get a look also and probably my money, if it had a decent motor. But GM as usual screws something up and a piss poor power output is the H3's downfall.

I wonder if Toyota marketing folks bring towels with them when they drop cars off at Edmunds, because they need to wipe the gratuitary evidence off there faces in return for all the glowing reviews they get without fail. At least they don't need to bring butt lube like they do when they drop cars off at Consumer Reports.

Edited June 1, 200619 yr by regfootball

I wonder if Toyota marketing folks bring towels with them when they drop cars off at Edmunds, because they need to wipe the gratuitary evidence off there faces in return for all the glowing reviews they get without fail.  At least they don't need to bring butt lube like they do when they drop cars off at Consumer Reports.

:lol:xeleventybillion!!

:lol:xeleventybillion!!

yeah, everyonce in awhile i say something true and heartfelt.....

I don't think anyone here in Ohio would want to be seen driving an FJ Cruiser.

The FJ Cruiser looks like some environmentalist's attempt to lampoon Hummers and Jeeps... Except that Toyota is making them seriously, and people are seriously buying them.