I never expected to enjoy the Xterra Off Road Edition, truth be told. However, I realised later I had been wrong to pre-empt a test drive instead of embracing its potential with an open mind. My view wasn't altogether transformed, but it became evident that there was more than enough to like about this off-roader.
But I certainly didn't think that at first. To me, the Xterra's looks screamed "crossover". I was convinced, in spite of the bumf, that this was a replacement X-Trail, a car my friend once had to dig out of a dusty car park. While crossovers play an important part in the market, to portray one as a petite Patrol is heresy. I was convinced that the standard Xterra promised far more than it could achieve.
To me, it looked ungainly and disproportionate, as if it had once been a Pathfinder and had its rear cut by a third. The result was an overbearing snout and a snub back-end that finished all too soon. It just didn't have pleasing perspective or the gift of ratio.
And inside, I had noted it was filled with cheap plastic like a Hyundai, circa 1986. Nissan may have made the Xterra's interior look rugged, bare, utilitarian, but surely, I thought, at least they could have sprinkled a little good taste in the mix.
I had the Off Road Edition of the Xterra, which offers heavy-duty, all-terrain tyres, stiffer suspension, a locking rear differential and hill ascent and descent controls over the base Xterra models.
In addition, it has skid plates and a roof-rack tub that gives it a ready-for-Dakar look that adds to the image. On the whole, in spite of its unflattering proportions, the Xterra Off Road looks much better in this meatier guise.
The interior does look cheap -there's no helping that - but clean. There is far too much plastic of all sorts of textures and sheens around the cabin, but at least there's ample space both front and rear. One of the benefits of the boxy shape is it delivers an abundance of lateral room, while the engine is apportioned to make for good leg reach.
And within the swathes of plastic is plenty of storage space, much of it thoughtful. There's a cubby for your mobile, space for your sunglasses, a change tray, a thingy box and even more containers. However, this is not a car with all-out convenience, as those who wear make-up will find as they seek out a vanity mirror.
The dimensions also come at a cost, with very little lateral support for the front seats and little comfort behind. On the whole, though, it is well packaged despite the materials and very well put together.
With the big wheels, short wheelbase, bull bars on the front and tray on the roof to disrupt the airflow, the Xterra's watchword could never be stability. And these factors combine with a rather unresponsive steering wheel that feels loose and does not inspire confidence. It's best to push an Elvis CD into the excellent Rockford Fosgate six-disc changer because you'll be dancing like the King all the way down the motorway.
The 4.0L V6 engine, however, seems very able and reasonably spritely, emitting the whoosh that's synonymous with this type of unit as you kick down.
Its secret is in its excellent match with a five-speed gearbox that is true and precise, changing seamlessly and easily. This combination is a standout feature of the Xterra's roadly behaviour.
But another aspect that should be sent to the back of the class is the cornering, which can get a little hairy. Just like the unresponsive steering, the chassis is let down by the car's dimensions, and the back-end feels delicately light and downright iffy through chicanes.
However, those who opt for big tyres and hefty roof racks for substance more than form will be delighted at how this car transforms once it hits the sand.
In fact, it became apparent immediately through a simple five-step process we devised. Step 1: deflate tyres, Step 2: drive onto the sand, Step 3: promptly get stuck, Step 4: engage the diff-lock, Step 5: drive away. Simple as that.
It could only have been better had it been intentional, but the Xterra slid back out of its sandy grave like a viper cutting through the dunes.
Having driven a number of off-roaders actually off the road, it quickly became apparent how nimble this specimen was.
The short wheelbase and big tyres that made it so wonky on the blacktop came into their own on the sand. The confidence that was lacking on terra firma was restored on the soft surface as the Xterra did everything that was asked of it.
With a decent run-up it would scale dune crests; when the sand became brittle and powdery, it would power through with hardly a complaint. There was never even the mere suggestion that we would get stuck a second time. We quickly put that incident down to inexperience with a new car.
It was then that I decided that in spite of the looks, the plastics, the wobble and the wiggle, this was a likeable car.
It was hardly earth shattering but still it shattered my preconceptions as a vehicle that was capable - likely more capable - off the road and true to its promise.
I had misjudged it before I had tried it, something I will be more reluctant to do again in the future.
motoring@thenational.ae
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The%20specs
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
UAE%20FIXTURES
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.
There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.
Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.
People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.
There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.
The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The%20specs
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Abu Dhabi Awards explained:
What are the awards? They honour anyone who has made a contribution to life in Abu Dhabi.
Are they open to only Emiratis? The awards are open to anyone, regardless of age or nationality, living anywhere in the world.
When do nominations close? The process concludes on December 31.
How do I nominate someone? Through the website.
When is the ceremony? The awards event will take place early next year.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
