The Nissan Xterra does 17.7 mpg combined (15.7 city, 20.8 highway), which works out to about $2,169 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.4L 4-cyl does 19 mpg while 3.3L 6-cyl does 16.4 — a difference of $320 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Nissan Xterra engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Nissan Xterra ranges from 19 down to 16.4 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $320 a year across 3 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 17 / 22.2 | 2000–2004 | $2,021 | |
| 4L 6-cyl | 15.6 / 21 | 2005–2015 | $2,182 | |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 14.6 / 18.8 | 2000–2004 | $2,341 |
What that actually costs
The Nissan Xterra burns a gallon every 17.7 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 678 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.181 |
| Fuel per year | $2,169 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,845 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$239 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,536 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Nissan Xterra gives up 5.1 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 20.8 out there against 15.7 in town, a 32% drop worth $600 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 15.7 mpg | $2,446 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 20.8 mpg | $1,846 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.1 mpg (32%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Xterra changed over the years
The Xterra peaked in 2015 at 18 mpg (16 city, 22 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2008 at 17 — 1 mpg apart, or $126 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2015 car does 18. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2014 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2013 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2012 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2011 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2010 | 16 / 20 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2009 | 16 / 20 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2008 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2007 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2006 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2005 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2004 | 16 / 21.5 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2003 | 16 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2002 | 16 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,194 | |
| 2001 | 15.5 / 20 | 2 | $2,194 | |
| 2000 | 15.5 / 20 | 2 | $2,194 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 21 EPA ratings of the Nissan Xterra — 3 engines across 2000–2015. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,536. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Nissan Xterra get?
17.7 mpg combined on average — 15.7 in the city and 20.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2000–2015.
How much does a Nissan Xterra cost in fuel per year?
About $2,169 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,845 over five years, or 0.181 dollars a mile.
Which Xterra engine is the most economical?
The 2.4L 4-cyl at 19 mpg, against 16.4 for the 3.3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $320 a year.
Is the Xterra good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Xterra figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Nissan Xterra is $3,536 against the $2,169 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 19 and 16 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.