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Nissan XTerra Real World MPG

45 messages,  Last post on Mar 13, 2013 at 8:15 AM

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What is this discussion about? Nissan Xterra, SUV

Messages Page 3 of 5

#17 of 45 2008 Xterra OFF ROAD Model by pdclay

Jan 15, 2008 (11:18 am)

The government MPG says 16 City and 20 on the highway. I was told by the dealer to expect better. My 1999 Jeep Cherokee with 4.0 liter (straight six injected farm tractor engine technology) auto with 3" lift (to get over the rocks) get's 22 on the highway so I know its not just being an off road SUV. I am starting to believe they changed something for 2008 off road? Dodge kept doing this with the Cummins diesel engine so I bought an older one to get good mileage. The Cummins is such a good engine they kept making it bigger more horsepower now I understand the 6.7 liter of course get’s poor mileage and is breaking down on them. I wonder if Nissan did this.
Best of luck, Toyota next time.

#18 of 45 2001 V6 timeing belt by parkman

Jan 16, 2008 (10:43 am)

Was wondering how many years and miles you may have gone on the timeing belt? and if it broke at what miles?

#19 of 45 Re: 2008 Xterra OFF ROAD Model [pdclay] by asa

Feb 28, 2008 (10:56 am)

Replying to: pdclay (Jan 01, 2008 7:08 am)
I think the Off Road model with automatic tranny has a poor rear end ratio for fuel economy at 3.357. It's built for power.
 
My wife is considering an X-terra and I'm thinkin' that the S with the 6-Speed stick might hopefully do okay in the MPG Dept. I normally average 22.5 to 23 MPG with my '06 Frontier SE 4x2 Crew 4.0L 6-Speed driving conservatively at highway speeds, but I don't know how this would translate to an X-Terra.

#20 of 45 Re: 2008 Xterra OFF ROAD Model [asa] by pdclay

Feb 28, 2008 (1:31 pm)

Replying to: asa (Feb 28, 2008 10:56 am)
Thanks for the reply,
  I didn't know that the 3.327 rear axle ratio was different for 6 spd. Transmission. Thanks for letting me know. I still think it might be something else. The 2008 Xterra is getting 15-16 MPG on the highway and slips to 10 off road. The Xterra does have a lot more power than my 1999 Jeep Cherokee 4.0 liter auto with a rear axle ratio has 3.55 ratio. The Jeep definitely does have a higher ratio because the Jeeps engine RPMs are higher for the same speed. But the Jeep gets 22 MPG on the highway. I am thinking the Xterra has a large overhead rack (wind drag) on top. I am considering taking it off as a test?
    The other thing might be my Jeep has a conventional automatic transmission. When did the Xterra go to the CVT (continuously variable transmission)? This is the very first CVT I have had on a truck. I have had them work well in snowmobiles and go-carts but a truck… maybe that’s it???
 
Thanks,
pdclay

#21 of 45 mpg 2008 OR AT by bunker108

Mar 02, 2008 (8:25 am)

We are up to 15.5mpg in the city...we almost 2K on the odometer. We will be taking it on a 900 mile round trip this week so I will post those numbers when we get back.

#22 of 45 Re: mpg 2008 OR AT [bunker108] by bunker108

Mar 15, 2008 (2:01 pm)

Replying to: bunker108 (Mar 02, 2008 8:25 am)
Ok, the numbers are
 
almost 1000 miles round trip
 
17.2 on the way down
 
17.6 on the way back
 
cruise set on 80 with tach at 2500.

#23 of 45 Re: mpg 2008 OR AT by pdclay

Mar 16, 2008 (7:19 am)

Thanks for letting me know I am not the only one. Like the dealer said it is only me getting horrible gas mileage. I have never had a six cylinder get such poor mileage and I have had different six cylinders since 1975 (a 1966 model). I think Nissan has changed something. At $4.00 a gallon gas they need to figire out what is getting the poor mileage and change it. Quick. Next time time Toyota.

#24 of 45 Re: mpg 2008 OR AT [pdclay] by gobo

Apr 04, 2008 (8:31 pm)

Replying to: pdclay (Mar 16, 2008 7:19 am)
New S model with manual transmission --- so far about 600 total miles almost all highway, mostly at 70-75 MPH and getting about 19.8/gallon right now. Typical trip is 240 miles round trip with first half a moderate climb almost the full 120 miles and into a stiff wind coming off the mountains; tail wind on the way home. About what I expected but hoping for more as it breaks in...

#25 of 45 MPG, Speed, CVTs and Computer Resets by asa

May 01, 2008 (10:06 am)

Y'all drive a lot faster than I do and my driving is on low rolling hills, so perhaps that's why my V-6 6-Speed Frontier Crew Cab 4x2 is yielding better. My 22-1/2 to 23 MPG is at 65 to 70 MPH. As y'all know, wind resistance increases geometrically -- fuel economy losses at higher speeds get worse by leaps and bounds with each small increase in speed. Frankly, my brain is too puny to react at 80 mph (117 feet/second!)
 
To pdclay, the Xterra has a traditional 5-Speed geared automatic transmission -- it's never had a CVT, in North America at least.
 
I wonder if it would do any good to disconnect your battery cable for an hour and let the computer reset. I just got my truck back from the dealer and my MPG is bad because it has to re-learn my conservative driving style. At least I hope that's the problem!

#26 of 45 real world mpg -- 21.7 highway by gobo

May 15, 2008 (6:42 pm)

Well, I've now logged about 2500 miles in my new 2008 Xterra S 4WD with manual transmission and I'm averaging 21.7 mpg. Almost all that mileage is highway and I use the cruise control probably 70% of the time and set it at about 75...
 
I've noticed the milage is considerably less when I've been up in the hills offroading, but I think that makes sense. All in all I'm quite pleased with the mileage but not so excited with gas approaching $4/gal...

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