Need to climb mountains or traverse riverbeds on a regular basis? Nissan’s 2015 Xterra midsize SUV can do that. This 5-passenger, 4-door terrain tamer isn’t the most refined mudder on the market, nor is it entirely comfortable on your typical paved road. It does, however, make up for these shortcomings with a ton of value and some hefty off-road capability. Once again available in 3 trims, the base X, the up-featured S and the off-road-dedicated Pro-4X, this tough-guy Nissan goes up against the likes of Toyota’s tricked-out 4Runner and Jeep’s equally tough Wrangler and Grand Cherokee dirt-busting duo. All these rivals amp up the creature comforts and the convenience doodads, along with the ol' MSRP. Meanwhile, the 2015 Xterra returns with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) in the X and S iterations, while the Pro-4X comes only in part-time 4-wheel-drive configuration with low-range gearing. Don’t worry, though, said 4WD is again available to the two lower trims as optional equipment. Furthermore, for 2015 the Xterra S gets Bluetooth streaming audio capability as standard equipment, along with NissanConnect infotainment with Smartphone apps, as well as a USB port, satellite radio and hands-free texting. All these new techno-goodies, by the way, are now interfaced with a 5-inch color display. Returning aboard all Xterra iterations for 2015 is the ubiquitous 4.0-liter V6 powerplant that puts out 261 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque under the management of a standard 5-speed automatic transmission. However, if the 5-speed automatic isn’t hard-core enough, the 4WD Xterra S and Pro-4X trims each remain eligible for an available 6-speed manual transmission. EPA estimates return at 16 mpg city/22 highway for RWD trims, with 4WD trims carrying either transmission again estimated at 15/20. Max towing capability, meantime, remains 5,000 pounds with the available Nevada Towing Package (Class IV hitch and wiring) installed. The base Xterra X returns for 2015 toting standard 16-inch steel wheels, cloth upholstery and full power accessories, bolstered by cruise control and tilt-wheel steering. Of course, air conditioning returns standard, as does a single-CD player with 6 speakers and an auxiliary audio input. Move up to the S and expect to find, besides the already mentioned techno add-ons for 2015, 16-inch alloy wheels, Easy Clean cargo-area materials, added cargo tie-downs and hooks, and in 4WD Xterra S configurations, a roof-mounted gear basket. The top-shelf, terrain-busting Pro-4X, meanwhile, boasts such added standard bling as an electronic locking rear differential, hill-start assist and descent control, not to mention upgraded 16-inch alloy wheels with off-road tires and beefy Bilstein shock absorbers. Further standard stuff adorning the Pro-4X includes roof-rack crossbars, heated front seats, upgraded cloth upholstery, a fold-flat front passenger seat and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. Techno-wise, the Pro-4X is delivered with standard GPS navigation, a rear-view camera and a 9-speaker Rockford Fosgate premium stereo setup. Lower Xterra trims return eligible for several items that come standard on pricier versions as available equipment, while a hatch-connected 10-foot-square tent is a popular dealer-installed accessory on all trims, as are available side step rails. Finally, standard safety features toted by all 2015 Xterra trims include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and a remote antitheft alarm. The Pro-4X, meantime, adds standard front fog/driving lights, roof-mounted off-road running lights and auto headlights to all of the above, while the Pro-4X and now the S each tote standard NissanConnect emergency telematics.