Smyrna built SUV gets the prize.

[Lexy]

Picture courtesy of www.nissannews.com

This is huge. The last time the Exterra was the SUOY was, ironically, the debut of the Exterra in 2000. My hats off to the workers at the Smyrna plant for another fine vehicle that can make Tennesseans proud (even if its an SUV muhahahahahaha!). This plant has consistently been a top performer in all of North America. This award just goes to prove it. Here is the article from Motor Trend magazine online.

www.motortrend.com

Motor Trend Awards 2006 Sport/Utility of the Year

Diverse field of contenders defines the modern classification of an SUV

October 25, 2005

Motor Trend

2006 Nissan Xterra

Motor Trend, the world's number one automotive authority and part of Primedia's Consumer Automotive Group, has selected the Nissan Xterra as Motor Trend's 2006 Sport/Utility of the Year.

"The Motor Trend awards have become a staple in the automotive industry and we are pleased to award Nissan for stepping up to the plate with this impressive vehicle," said Angus MacKenzie, editor-in-chief of Motor Trend. "Our audience depends on us to honor the new model that best demonstrates overall superiority, significance and value, and the Xterra stood out in each of those categories for its outstanding engineering, impressive on and off-road ability and clear focus on its target customers."

Motor Trend's editorial staff selected this year's winner from a field of 12 vehicles after comprehensive evaluations, which included off-road, street and track testing. Eligible vehicles were new or substantially redesigned sport/utilities scheduled to be on sale by January 1, 2006. This year's contenders included Ford Explorer, Hummer H3, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Commander, Kia Sportage, Mercedes-Benz ML, Mercury Mountaineer, Pontiac Torrent, Range Rover Sport, Subaru Tribeca, and the Suzuki Grand Vitara.

After many days of grueling testing, the Motor Trend editors agreed the Nissan Xterra raises the bar in terms of engineering, design, performance and safety. This vehicle delivers amazing 'bang for your buck,' thanks to clever product development that ensures versatility and value.

The Xterra's value continues in the interior where savvy technology and electronics add functionality, while passengers experience comfort, space and support. Special attention was paid to the cargo area with an easy to clean cargo floor, rubberized rear seats, ten utility hooks throughout and two adjustable channels in the floor, which make it easy to secure gear and bikes.

"The Xterra is not a truck trying to be a car, or a car trying to be a truck or a minivan trying to be anything else," said MacKenzie. "It is a sport/utility in the purest sense of the term. No matter where the driver decides to go, through a country side road, hauling gear up a mountain, or simply from point A to point B, the Xterra will get them there quickly, quietly and in style."

[it's just dave]

That's great. Maybe Carlos Ghosn will drive into town today in one of those.

[Skyscrapergeek]

I have a love/hate opinion of the XTerra. While I'm proud it's built in TN, my ex-girlfrind (of too many yrs) drives one. Her name is Terri. Sooooo naturally I call it the....XTerri. I wasn't too impressed with the handling or the ergonomics either...of the suv I mean.