TheCarConnection.com has driven the Nissan Xterra and presents its expert opinion in this Bottom Line. For even more information, TheCarConnection.com has researched available road tests pertaining to the 2009 Nissan Xterra, with useful and insightful pieces included in this full review.

If you’re in the market for a true offroad vehicle, the pickings are slim since the advent of crossover vehicles.

Crossover’s have been pasteurized, homogenized and softened to the point that they’re merely AWD station wagons with an SUV appearance. The number of true offroaders have dwindled to a handful. The choice boils down to the likes of a Jeep Wrangler, Hummer H3, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Toyota Land Cruiser, pricey Land Rover Range Rover Sport and Nissan five-seat Xterra, the latter a reasonably priced ute that is rugged and designed with the adventuresome in mind.

The foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains north of Phoenix are laced with trails that run along the tops of narrow ridges and through gullies at the bottoms of deep gorges.

The hybrid and now-in-development electric cars may be all the rage publicly, but walk into a Nissan dealer and you’re likely in for a surprise when you discover the Xterra is the vehicle those dealers can’t keep in stock.

When gas prices zoomed above the $4-a-gallon mark last year, Nissan slowed production of this sport utility vehicle. Well, prices are down and despite crankin’ up ye olde Xterra production, you’ll likely find a shortage, dealers throughout the U.S. report.

The 2009 Nissan Xterra may be more refined, but I just don't like it.

I want to.

I think it looks really cool when you walk up to it. The straight-line design conveys a kind of high-tech ruggedness. The vehicle's face is smushed as if a giant grandmother squeezed it just a little too long. There's an appeal to the Xterra.

And when you see people riding in one, they always look so happy -- and young. These are the people who kayak on Monday, bungee jump Wednesday, skydive Saturday and then go clubbing.

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Arabian Automobiles, Flagship Company of AW Rostamani Group, the exclusive dealer for Nissan, Infiniti and Renault in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, completed the handover of 109 units of Nissan Xterra to the General Department of Operations at the Dubai police general headquarters.