Hi, I am in Maryland right now, and considering buying a used xterra as a first car. A quick question that I have is, do all of the xterra trims have the ability to go into 4wd? I test drove a 2010 xterra (cant remember what trim) and it had a selector switch above the gear shift to go from 2wd to 4hi and 4lo. I am sure that I would like the ability to have the 4wd after this last winters blizzard.
Thanks!

All 4wheel drive Xterras have 4 wheel drive. There are some 2 wheel drive Xterras out there. The one you test drove definately had 4WD.

In the brochure I have, it shows 4x2s. Does that mean that it only has 2wd or has the switch?

welcome

Welcome to CX!

4x2 means it is only 2wd. 4x4 means it has a part-time, driver selectable 4 wheel drive.

Hi, I am in Maryland right now, and considering buying a used xterra as a first car. A quick question that I have is, do all of the xterra trims have the ability to go into 4wd? I test drove a 2010 xterra (cant remember what trim) and it had a selector switch above the gear shift to go from 2wd to 4hi and 4lo. I am sure that I would like the ability to have the 4wd after this last winters blizzard.
Thanks!

Welcome to the club!

and yes i remember that winter blizzard.

my X in that blizzard lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn8gsYIKeu4

What kind of mileage have you guys been getting on your xterras (keep in mind id be looking at a 2006+ model). Thats pretty much the only reason my dad has been a little hesitant about buying it.

I get around 22 on interstates (cruising around 72-73), 25 on two-lane (under 60mph), and around 16 in town.

Those are some of the better mpg numbers, because I have 2wd with a 2.90 rear end. 4wd Xterras have lower final drive gear ratios and weigh a little more (the 4wd components add weight as well as driveline drag), so they will post lower mileage numbers.

Do you find that the 2wd variant can handle offroad or snow?

It can handle it, but not as easily as a 4WD. The 2WD just has power to the rear axle, and without really good tires, you will get into trouble in both quicker that you would think. Ron's video show's how difficult it was in 4WD. I would venture a gess that a rear drive truck would have been stuck in that.

Case in point, my wife's Tacoma is 2WD and I had a 4WD Taco for last winter. Each time we had bad weather, she was able to get down the road ok, but could not get out of the driveway. She parked on the street, and almost slid into a pole. My Taco went around like it was nothing. She's wishing she had 4WD after last winter. That was just to get to and from work, nothing at all about off roading.

I've only ever driven it off road in sand and muddy forest roads, so I can't really tell you how it would perform off road. But I've driven a Ford Ranger 4wd in snow before, and let me tell you, 4wd is the way to go.
Also, in off-road situations, in 4wd, the front tires can grab and pull their own way up and over obstacles, whereas in 2wd, they're being pushed. It's simply not as easy or ideal.