I'm considering purchasing an Xterra to replace my 2002 Jeep Liberty Limited, but I'm concerned about the lack of an all wheel drive option.

Here in Michigan, I'm often driving on dry roads with occasional snow covered stretches, or on roads that alternate between pavement and dirt/mud. I usually use what Jeep calls "full-time 4WD" in those situations, which has an open center diff, allowing use on dry pavement. (My Liberty also has a "normal" 4WD option, as well as 4WDLO, and a limited slip rear.)

Before I had the Liberty, I had a Cherokee without the "full-time" 4WD option, and I found myself switching in and out of 4WD as I went from slippery to dry conditons. I found the Liberty's AWD option to be a great improvemnt, as I could just leave it in that mode forever if I chose.

Here's my question:

Since the Xterra doesn't have an AWD option, how does it do on snowy or icy spots in 2WD, considering it's ABLS and VDC systems?

Thanks in advance.

Good enough to race on a frozen lake

ABLS works great. I'm finding with the 05 I don't need to use 4wd as much as with my 03. I can just leave it in 2wd and let ABLS do it's thing in the conditions you're describing.

Haven't had the need for AWD. Get good tires and adapt your driving to fit the road conditions and you'll be fine.

In the April 2006 Motor Trend article “Snow Dogs” your issue was discussed. The magazine rated the Xterra against the Jeep Liberty, the Hummer H3, and the Toyota FJ. They said the Xterra engine coupled with the BFGs shined in the soft and slushy stuff. The editors actually felt it was the best of the four in the snow. However, the FJ ultimately did better of the Ramp Travel Index (RTI) giving it the editors favorite overall.

Snoopy----2005 Avalanche???? I can't wait to see what mods you do! Your X was one of the X's on here that inspired me to blow my money on mods. Ummm, thanks! I think.

Don't forget tires were also a mention as a downside that lead to the FJ winning overall.

Maybe I'm slow or haven't seen much posted from Snoopy in a while but I just noticed you have an 05.

I remember your first one when we were all at GOX a few years back. Good times.

I have a 4wd S and I have yet to actually use the 4wd mode (except to play around). I live in webstern NY where we get a bit of snow. I drive through some icy patches on my way to work and found the VDC and ABLS are exceptional. I have not wanted or needed to put it in 4wd yet.

On my way to work a couple weeks ago, I went over some icy roads that were open on either side. I felt the wheels start to slip a bit and the VDC kicked in and kept me going where I needed to go.

Also, it's shift on the fly so you don't need to stop and pull up a lever. If you notice that the roads are getting slick and want 4wd, you can engage it while driving.

Thanks for all the replies, guys.

BigE515,

Thanks for noticing our 2005 Xterra. This Saturday our 2005 will be two weeks old. We do miss the 'original' Snoopy, but he was getting up there in miles (150,000). I'm sure I could have gotten many more miles out of the old X but the concern of having something go wrong on the trail was often in the back of my mind. This concern was actually keeping the family and me from going on the longer trips.

Were looking forward to updating our website www.xsnoopy.net and posting more modifications and photos of the second book in our personal Xterra adventures.

BTW, sorry about giving you the mod flu. It's a very contagious disease

Take care,
Travis

I'm back! It's nice to still be a part of what having an Xterra is mostly about... The good folks you meet on the board and on Nissan events.

I'm looking forward to putting some faces behind some names here at goneMOAB.

just buy an X with 4WD........

The point being made was that you cant use part time 4wd on a dry road that may have icy spots.

AWD just provides a false sense of security most the time.

On on-off slippery surfaces, you shouldn't be hard on the gas anyways. AWD (and 4WD) only helps you accelerate; your braking and cornering traction is still the same. On test tracks where you're pushing the car 100%, then awd helps cornering by raw control, but again, you shouldn't be driving at the limit of grip on an icy road.

My X does fine in 2wd on some pretty slippery roads, and I don't even have snow tires.

Actually, my Liberty in AWD gives me a little more than "a false sense of security" on snowy roads. The diffence in going around a corner in AWD vs. 2WD is quite noticable.

Thanks for all the input guys.

I guess the key is to not drive like a mad man in the snow.

I had a Jeep Wrangler before the Xterra with same type of 4x4 transfercase. An Fulltime option like was described in the Liberty would have been nice due to such a short wheel base. In 2WD, if it was the tiny bit slippery and cornering, it would do a 360 in no time with the slightest touch of the gas. I would have spent all winter in FullTime if it would have had that option.

In the X, with the longer wheelbase, the ass doesn't want to get in the front like the Wrangler unless I give it too much gas on purpose.

Personnaly, I miss not being to do shift-on-the-fly at any legal speed instead of shifting to 4WD and back to 2WD when I think I may need 4WD later.

Well, with the hubs locked you can shift at any speed you like.

I keep my hubs locked when there's enough snow on the ground. If it gets to the point where 2wd will start doing 360s, then I go in 4wd.

AWD is nice for sure, but I'm not willing to pay for its complexity.

i'm not entirely clear here... so can you or cant you shift into 4wheel drive "on the fly" or whats the problem with just leaving it in 4wheel drive?
in reference to the 2006 4x4 that is.

on dry pavement your transfer case would bind up and eventually break things, it is still a part time 4x4. AWD accounts for slippage in the transer case and more than likely a viscous coupling instead of a mechanical connection. Think of how a locker works as apposed to a LSD same concept as a part time 4x4 and an AWD, about the only time AWD could be better that 4x4 is on moderatly snowy roads if the driver isnt paying as much attention. That and no low range in the AWD.

that's mostly right, the plus AWD has over 4WD is that you can use it all the time w/o damaging drivetrain parts.

but bring into the picture those full-time 4wd systems(ie AWD) which allow you to 'lock' the center differential and make it the same as a part-time 4wd system(like us)..with lowrange. i believe that's what the jeeps have an option for(and the new FJcruiser).

All Xs can be shifted "on the fly", as in you don't have to come to a full stop to engage 4wd. On pre-05s this had to be done at <25 mph to lock the hubs first. I believe the post 05's don't have unlocking hubs, and can therefore be shifted on the fly at any speed, theoretically, though the recommended is probably 50 mph or so.

Refer to granitex's and lj1983's posts for a 4wd vs. awd vs. full time 4wd explanation.