{"id":53437,"date":"2026-07-13T04:31:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T04:31:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/53437\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T04:31:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T04:31:22","slug":"ask-nathan-whats-up-with-infinitis-xterra-based-suv-and-used-e-class-vs-camry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/53437\/","title":{"rendered":"Ask Nathan: What’s Up With Infiniti’s Xterra-Based SUV and Used E-Class vs Camry?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Image: ND Adlen and AI In this week\u2019s Ask Nathan: Are we getting an Infiniti 4\u00d74 based on the upcoming Xterra? Used Mercedes Benz E-Class vs used Toyota Camry? <\/p>\n

The first question comes from a fan who caught wind of an article from Wards Auto, when they interviewed Ponz Pandikuthira, Nissan Americas Senior VP and Chief Product & Planning Officer.<\/p>\n

Q (Via Facebook<\/a>):\u00a0RE: Did you see this article about the Infiniti 4\u00d74 based on the XTerra?! <\/p>\n

I prioritize the whole truth when I drive a good car. Over the past 15 years, I\u2019ve owned three Infiniti vehicles, and they\u2019ve been the best cars I\u2019ve ever owned. A lot of people push the narrative that there\u2019s something wrong with Infiniti. Not true!<\/p>\n

My FX35 has survived being handed down through two kids and has needed the bare minimum of maintenance. It\u2019s a ROCK!<\/p>\n

I currently own a 2023 QX80, and it\u2019s been brilliant. Zero problems. Did I mention the 10-year-old Q50 my wife drives every day? The only issue we ever had came after she was involved in a fender bender. It caused an airbag-related issue, but a recall took care of it. So my experience with the Infiniti brand is completely different from the \u201cwhipping boy\u201d reputation so many people like to give it. It just isn\u2019t fair.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been thinking about what my next Infiniti will be. I\u2019m not an idiot, I know the CVT-equipped models weren\u2019t particularly well received, so I avoided them. That\u2019s one of the reasons I\u2019ve been waiting for Infiniti to introduce a new SUV.<\/p>\n

So, did you see the article about the upcoming Infiniti 4\u00d74 that\u2019s rumored to be based on the next-generation Nissan Xterra?<\/p>\n

I am VERY interested in this, especially if Infiniti keeps its amazing interiors. If they can combine genuine off-road capability with the luxury and reliability I\u2019ve experienced over the years, they may have a winner on their hands.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mo Hashtag <\/p>\n

A: Yup! I have the Nissan\/Infiniti quote below! <\/p>\n

(WA) Will the new Xterra share its full-frame construction with the pickup?<\/p>\n

(Pandikuthira) Definitely. At the very minimum, you would do a pickup truck, a two-row SUV, potentially a three-row SUV and two- and three-row SUVs for the Infiniti brand as well\u2026up to five derivatives with both ICE and hybrid options.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind, there\u2019s not a lot of meat on this bone. We don\u2019t have many hard details to work with, but there are plenty of clues coming from Nissan and Infiniti that paint an interesting picture.<\/p>\n

One of the easiest things to imagine is the use of the Nissan Frontier\u2019s proven 3.8-liter V6. Right now, it produces 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque, and I\u2019d be surprised if Nissan didn\u2019t pair it with the excellent nine-speed automatic transmission.<\/p>\n

\"\" What about a solid rear axle? <\/p>\n

That\u2019s where things get interesting.<\/p>\n

Nissan and Infiniti already have an independent rear suspension that can handle serious power and abuse\u2014just look at the Armada and QX80. It\u2019s a proven setup that delivers excellent ride quality while remaining remarkably durable. On the other hand, borrowing the Frontier\u2019s solid rear axle would almost certainly reduce development costs and simplify production. There\u2019s a trade-off between ultimate refinement and outright ruggedness, so it\u2019ll be fascinating to see which direction they choose.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

It also seems likely that much of the Frontier\u2019s electronics, switchgear, and off-road hardware could find their way into these new SUVs.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s the question of hybrid powertrains, and that\u2019s where crystal ball gets cloudy. <\/p>\n

For North America, Nissan, and eventually Infiniti, plans to introduce its series-hybrid technology in several upcoming models. The Rogue will lead the charge. I actually drove the overseas version of this system a while back, and it\u2019s impressive. It uses a turbocharged three-cylinder engine solely as a generator to charge the battery, while the electric motor(s) drive the wheels. There\u2019s no mechanical connection between the gasoline engine and the drivetrain, and because of that, it doesn\u2019t require plugging in. It\u2019s smooth, efficient, and surprisingly refined.<\/p>\n

That said, it\u2019s also relatively heavy and mechanically complex, and it wasn\u2019t designed with hardcore off-roading in mind. If Nissan and Infiniti are serious about electrifying their upcoming body-on-frame SUVs, they may need to develop a different hybrid solution that\u2019s better suited for towing, trail work, and rugged use. Maybe, look to the Tacoma\u2019s system? <\/p>\n

Maybe not.. <\/p>\n

At this point, much of this is educated speculation. What we do know is that Nissan and Infiniti are serious about building proper two-row and three-row SUVs based on the upcoming Nissan Xterra platform. If they get the formula right; strong powertrains, genuine off-road capability, and Infiniti\u2019s signature luxury\u2026 they could have something truly special on their hands.<\/p>\n

\u2014 N<\/p>\n

The last question comes from a friend who hit me with a question that many have been thinking for their kid: older European car, or newer Japanese car? <\/p>\n

\"\" Q (Summerized) Used European vs Japanese, for the kiddo? <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say you have a teenager who\u2019s about to start driving, or maybe they\u2019re heading off to college and need something that\u2019s safe, dependable, and reasonably economical.<\/p>\n

European automakers like Mercedes-Benz have traditionally been several years ahead of the curve when it comes to safety and driver-assistance technology. Because of that, an older luxury car; say, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, might offer safety features comparable to a newer mainstream sedan like a Toyota Camry.<\/p>\n

I know, it seems like everyone would go with the Camry, but I see it differently. If you had a budget of around $10,000, which would you choose: an older, well-equipped European luxury car or a newer Japanese sedan like the Camry (or something similar)? Be realistic. <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s assume you\u2019re looking for the lowest mileage possible within that budget, understanding there are always trade-offs. While Japanese cars have a well-earned reputation for reliability, does an older Mercedes-Benz, with its more advanced engineering and safety technology, actually make the stronger case, or is the Camry still the smarter buy?<\/p>\n

\u2013\u00a0Mr. Burns <\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Funny thing about that\u2026 <\/p>\n

When I started researching this, something interesting happened. I found quite a few excellent Mercedes-Benz models, including this 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E350 BlueTEC, which strikes me as an outstanding bargain. Finding a comparable Toyota Camry within 500 miles of the South Bay; however, proved much more difficult. Many of the Camrys I came across had salvage titles, which I never recommend. Used Camrys are incredibly popular right now, and for good reason.<\/p>\n

Still, that doesn\u2019t diminish the appeal of a well-maintained used Mercedes-Benz. <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the examples I found.<\/p>\n

The first is this 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTEC Sedan, listed for $9,000. It has a clean history, appears to be in excellent condition, and has only 73,000 miles on the odometer. Better yet, it has recently received a long list of maintenance, including new brakes, rotors, a water pump, motor mounts, and several other service items. That\u2019s exactly the kind of maintenance history you hope to see when shopping for a used luxury car.<\/p>\n

The BlueTEC diesel is an excellent powertrain, offering impressive torque, highway fuel economy, and effortless cruising. That said, it isn\u2019t without its drawbacks, but we\u2019ll get to those in a moment.<\/p>\n

I also found a 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE Sedan with 86,000 miles that appears to be in very good condition. Like most Camrys, it looks like a solid, sensible choice. The hybrid system has an excellent reputation for reliability, and the Camry\u2019s lower ownership costs and inexpensive maintenance make it an easy vehicle to recommend.<\/p>\n

So now we have two very different approaches to the same problem: an older luxury sedan packed with advanced engineering and safety technology, or a newer, proven Japanese hybrid that\u2019s famous for its reliability. The question is, which one makes the better first car for around $10,000? These cars are bulletproof, and they are known to be a safe bet for Uber drivers given their reputation. This one came in at about $11,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now, here are the real numbers that come with both vehicles.\u00a0<\/p>\n

An oil change for an older E-Class can easily run $250. Oh, and servicing a diesel? It\u2019s even more expensive. If you look at a Camry, it\u2019s easily more than $100-bucks less. That goes for much of the maintenance throughout the Camry. When it needs service, it is far less expensive. Period.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you go with Toyota, I would look for:\u00a0 <\/p>\n

2017\u20132024 (XV70)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Massive choice of powertrains: I4, V6, hybrid and all-wheel drive (AWD) options\u00a0 Comfortable and smooth\u00a0 Some transmission options, too\u00a0 Remarkable reputation\u00a0 High safety scores\u00a0 The TRD V6 was actually fun to drive.\u00a0 If you go Mercedes, I\u2019d specifically hunt for: <\/p>\n

2010-2013 E350 (W212)<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

Naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 is solid\u00a0 Proven 7-speed automatic Excellent crash protection Comfortable, and a ton of safety features Modern enough to feel current, fun to drive too\u00a0 Better reliability than many later turbocharged models <\/p>\n

Normally, I\u2019d avoid diesel Bluetec models unless you know exactly what you\u2019re getting into. They\u2019re wonderful highway cars, but emissions equipment can become extremely expensive as they age. Also, there can be issues finding diesel fuel pumps locally.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So, Toyota is the answer, right? Well\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n

Simply finding a Camry with low mileage is tough. They are so popular, it\u2019s hard to find good ones before they are snatched up. And, other than getting a TRD model, they are the rolling approximation of the color beige. If you\u2019re looking to make an impression (other than \u201cHey, that\u2019s one logical, and practical guy\u2019), look elsewhere. <\/p>\n

The Mercedes-Benz, with its rear-drive architecture and outstanding balance, is a better driver. Very solid, safe, and has great performance. It makes a good impression, and it is fairly luxurious all around. It\u2019s not a\u00a0full-on \u201cballer,\u201d but it tends to ooze with\u00a0good taste. Yes, a well-maintained Mercedes E-Class can absolutely reach 250,000-300,000 miles. So can a Camry. The difference is how much money you\u2019ll spend getting there.<\/p>\n

Bottom line: it\u2019s easy to dismiss the Mercedes-Benz, as it is more expensive to maintain. Still, with the right model, it\u2019s a safe, well-put-together vehicle that has more presence and is a bit more enjoyable to drive than the rock-solid (but commonplace) Camry.<\/p>\n

\u2013 N<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Image: ND Adlen and AI In this week\u2019s Ask Nathan: Are we getting an Infiniti 4\u00d74 based on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":53438,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20951],"tags":[42956,42957,3622,42958],"class_list":["post-53437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mercedes-benz","tag-4x4-for-infiniti","tag-infiniti-and-nissan","tag-mercedes-benz","tag-xterra"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53437","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53437"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53437\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53437"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53437"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53437"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}