Liberty vs XTerra

rlanda · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 6:50 pm

Hello all,

Still searching for a Renegade '04 but very hard to find it (at least in this city).

In this process, came across an 05 XTerra that let me say is by itself a real
opportunity: ($10,000 less than a new one and with only 3,000 miles on it).

I currently own an 04 KJ whose only drawback I see is that is a 4x2 (that's
why I'm trying to upgrade). But the rest is perfect for me, a great SUV.

In the other hand, XTerra has among other things:

- LSD front and rear.
- Hill descend/start assistant.
- 265/75 R16 tires (that's more than 31's).
- Button activated rear locker.
- 9.5'' ground clearance.
- 265HP / 284 lb-ft torque engine.

Exactly those characteristics I found are most wanted for the KJ by reading
the topics in this forum.

But after all, I'm still Jeep biased and from the bottom of my mind (and
perhaps my heart) comes that voice that tell me no matter what an XTerra has,
a KJ is a KJ and Jeep in general makes better quality vehicles than Nissan.

What do you think?

Why is the XTerra so bad after all (based on what I read in the forum)?

Why Jeep (KJ) is better than that even with the lack of all those
features?

Is that equipment real or is only gimmick?

I've seen KJ's than could made over obstacles XTerras couldn't (but those were 04 models
with the 170HP engine). Never seen an 05 off-road. How do they perform?

Thanks again for your input. Always a great help!

auggy · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:01 pm

I'd go for the xterra personally .. that sounds like a nice vechicle

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:02 pm

Id say they would do purty good. They would beat a stock kj offroad for sure. :wink:

I like the look of the kj alot more. I believe you have to use premium in the 05's dont ya? The kj is about the same size on the inside although the outside of the kj is smaller.

Its really up to you. Ive built my jeep the way I like it and Im sure it would beat an xterra offroad.

eggwhite93 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:46 pm

I am/was a die hard Nissan guy and when I started looking for a small SUV the 05 Xterra was at the very top of my list. I looked and looked and could not find what I wanted for the price I wanted to pay. So I started looking at the KJs. I found that for the money it was hard to beat the 05 Renny I ended up getting. I wanted leather and it is not even available in the X and I like the light bar, factory skids, and rock rails. If I had it to do over again Im not sure that I would go with the jeep I might just have more Patience and wait till I found the right X but like I sad I am a die hard Nissan guy and have been for years.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:54 pm

I would rather own a mopar than a nissan anyway, even if their service(dealers fault) and balljoints suck. I service my own jeep anyway...

waddy whiteguts · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 10:04 pm

Do you think you could resell the Exterra without losing money if you had to? Sounds like a nice vehicle but if the price makes it too good to be true beware of something lurking like flood damage or whatever, get a carfax and inspection. That does sound like a nice vehicle though.

Kjenvy · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 10:35 pm

OK, I'll weigh in..

I have in my collection of vehicles a 2005 Liberty Renegade 4x4 off road package and a 2005 Xterra S package 4x4 with skids.

Both are great vehicles. The ultimate choice is what are you looking for:

On the up and up both pull down around the same mileage overall =19 MPG

The Liberty is more nimble and able to get in smaller places. The downside is the carge space is small and the spare on the back is a bit of a pain unless you off road alot.

I don't wheel hard mostly small (basketball size) rock, sand and desert runinng. I like the Xerra because it is bigger and has more places to stick stuff, although I really like the storage under the front seat in the Liberty.

My family is good size. I'm 6'4" 250lbs, my father is similar. My wife is 5'9 and my daughter is 5"8". For family vacation last year we took the Regegade and this year the Xterra ( MOAB!). The Xterra has more cargo space and is easier to load than the Jeep. It also has more interior leg room.

Decide what you need the vehicle for. My vote is family vehicle = Xterra. For a fun vehicle with 1 child or no kids, go for the Liberty.

Another plus for the Xerra is the HP and towing capacity. Looks like the Xterra is a good buy. If youa re seriously considerone. Check out XOC (Xterra Owners Club).

Don't get me wrong, I love the Renegade, but the Xterra is a better vehicle in some aspects.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 10:49 pm

Does the xterra feel like it has more power Kjenvy? Do you believe it would tow better?

Ohh, the libby is supposed to be bigger on the inside?

edmunds

Metrowest_Kev · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 11:15 pm

Jeepjeepster, regular 87 is recommended for the 05.

dirtykj · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 11:24 pm

The XTerra has a stong following. Check out the SoCal chapter, for example.

I would get this XTerra over the KJ if it's cheaper. You still have to modify the KJ and this one looks fairly good already. Keep in mind the lift for XTerra is more expensive, around $2000 I believe (don't quote me on this).

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sat Sep 30, 2006 9:06 am

let put in my .02 on this
They are both ,in my eyes, the same that is comparing apples to apples
I think ,and could be wrong, a mid priced Xtera is more expencive than a KJ renny with the same equipment
the other things like the ground clearance #'s they give you are squed to make it look better the 265 hp may be usless off road if you need to crank out 5000rpm to get it cause unless it has a 6 to 1 low range at that rpm you will be going to fast for most any trail I run
yes it has bigger tires and can take even bigger tires when lifted but are the approach ,break over, and depart angles as good as a kj from the looks of it a new one would end up loosing a bumper trying to wheel the trails we wheel with a stock KJ

I think that I could wheel one and do fine on any trail that I could wheel a stock KJ but I also belive that when it comes to driving off road it is 70% driver

and rember you can not take an Xterra to a jeep jamboree

chetos · **Posted:** Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:00 am

What about parts? What vehicle has the cheaper replacement parts? I had a friend that had a nissan pickup and the cost of repair was always outrageous because of the parts. But this was about 10 years ago.

hillcountrykj · **Posted:** Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:29 am

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hillcountrykj · **Posted:** Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:30 am

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hillcountrykj · **Posted:** Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:31 am

I think the 05 is the frist year of the new body style and it is a full frame not a unibody like the liberty. my brother has one my liberty is the same highth as his X. my liberty is lifted with bigger tires his X is stock. when we go fishig down the beach his X does real good in the sand. and his X gets alot better MPG than my Liberty.

auggy · **Posted:** Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:32 am

Triple post :shock:

To be honest I think the X looks better from the outside than the liberty, but I think I would rather drive a modified liberty off road because of its smaller size.

Kjenvy · **Posted:** Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:38 am

JeepJeepster,

As for power what you feel driving is Torque not HP. I don't find that they feel different in terms of power, but I like lots of torque and HP for towing. I prefer a full frame for towing and for me the X terra gets the + in that category.

Edmunds may suggest interior space is larger, but which features? Cargo space is larger in the X and the leg room is larger in the back seat in the X.

As I said my family is not a group of small people and we find the X more comfortable and has more room for trips. Check the Xterra site or Jeep site. They usually will have comparison for side by side in terms of HP,Torque and interior space wheel base etc.

Good luck on your decision. BOth are very nice vehicles. I have had no issues with either vehicle other than a few little TSB things.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Sep 30, 2006 11:57 am

Kjenvy wrote:

JeepJeepster,

As for power what you feel driving is Torque not HP. I don't find that they feel different in terms of power, but I like lots of torque and HP for towing. I prefer a full frame for towing and for me the X terra gets the + in that category.

Edmunds may suggest interior space is larger, but which features? Cargo space is larger in the X and the leg room is larger in the back seat in the X.

As I said my family is not a group of small people and we find the X more comfortable and has more room for trips. Check the Xterra site or Jeep site. They usually will have comparison for side by side in terms of HP,Torque and interior space wheel base etc.

Good luck on your decision. BOth are very nice vehicles. I have had no issues with either vehicle other than a few little TSB things.

I posted a link to edmunds giving all the comparisons possible. :wink:

Edmunds

desertkj · **Joined:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 8:24 pm **Posts:** 677

It doesnt sound like you could go wrong with either vehicle. Its a matter of preference pretty much. Me personally I like the heritage of the brand Jeep compared to Nissan. Also, I agree with what was stated earlier about the 265 hp useless at 5000 rpms.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Sep 30, 2006 1:06 pm

I love the low end torque of the libby. Driving around in the city, I can go anywhere without going over 2krpms, 2.5krpms would be pushing it.

My low end torque is one reason Im selling my offroading tires.

Im getting some more though. :wink:

Liberty vs XTerra

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