Have you looked at the price tags for sports utility vehicles lately? I have. And it's not fun.

	2004 Nissan Xterra. The Bottom Line -- Prices start at $18,500. Powertrain: 143-horsepower, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder; 3.3-liter, 180-horsepower V-6; 210-horsepower, supercharged, 3.3-liter V-6. Fuel economy: 19 city, 24 highway base engine; 16/20 for V-6; and 15/18 for supercharged V-6. Click photo for larger image.

Prices in the $30,000 to $40,000 range have become commonplace, and many people who want an SUV -- whether for safety concerns, desire for better winter traction or room for the family -- are finding that they are priced out of the market.

You can always buy one of the so-called "cute utes," smaller versions of the standard SUV, but those rarely are options for people who need lots of room or who have more than one child.

But all is not lost. You might want to look at Nissan's Xterra SUV. Prices start at around $18,500 for a nicely equipped XE version, easily qualifying it for our "Wallet Watchers" special this week.

Right up front, let me tell you that if you're looking for a super plush, soft riding SUV, you'd better chase another moonbeam. The Xterra is a tough, rough and ready SUV that rides reasonably well under most circumstances -- but it isn't a marshmallow and isn't intended to be.

The Xterra is aimed at the young -- and the young at heart -- who plan to do lots of off-roading and driving through difficult and tricky environments, all of which are handled by the Xterra with a great deal of skill and ability.

The last time I drove an Xterra about a year or two ago, I disliked it heartily. "Just too rough," I thought. But I guess I've mellowed and learned how to evaluate products based on what they claim to be and are -- not what I wish them to be.

I've developed a taste for its no-frills style. It was refreshing after driving cars and trucks that require the reading of a 1,000-page owner's manual just to be able to turn on the radio.

I suspect the Xterra is bulletproof. There's simply nothing much there to go wrong, and what is there is put together with impeccable quality and toughness. What's more, all the switchgear is nice and chunky and substantial. All of that suggests a product with great longevity.

Interior of Nissan Xterra SUV. Click photo for larger image.

One of the biggest challenges you're going to have is getting into it. You really have to raise those legs, even with a running board to help out, before you can get to the driver's seat (shorter drivers, beware).

Once seated, you'll find the interior reasonably comfortable with nice, durable, easy-to-clean fabrics. But one unsettling aspect is that the foot wells are extremely shallow, and with the seat structure you get the sensation of having your legs and knees being forced closer to your chest.

And in the dash layout, the parking brake is on your right -- not likely where you expect it to be.

The Xterra comes in XE, XE V-6 and SE V-6 versions. A 143-horsepower, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine is standard on the XE, but my yellow version was an XE V-6 powered by a 3.3-liter, 180-horsepower V-6. The SE V-6 comes with a 210-horsepower, supercharged, 3.3-liter V-6.

Other optional features include a vehicle dynamic control and traction control system, an interior bike rack, a cargo organizer, leather seating, water-resistant seat covers and other items.

Standard features on my model included air conditioning, center console with dual storage compartments, ceiling tie-down hooks, luggage side nets, leather-wrapped steering wheel, six-way manual adjustable driver's seat and 50-50 split fold-down rear seat backs.

Driving the Xterra usually was a fun experience. You do feel the road because this SUV is built on a truck platform. It frequently meant a somewhat bouncy, firm ride, but nothing difficult -- unless you hit a bump or a rut. Then, it got jiggly and uncomfortable for a few seconds until things settled down.

Also, body roll on the Xterra was more noticeable than in other SUVs I've driven. That means some leaning in corners and around curves.

There is another point about the Xterra that seems to be universal among owners who participated in an Edmunds.com chat room: The Xterra badly needs better gas mileage. Almost every single person who entered the chat room mentioned poor gas mileage, some getting as little as 10 miles to a gallon of gas.

That's way below the EPA gas ratings for the Xterra: 19 city and 24 highway for the four in a 4x2 XE; 16 and 20 for the 4x4 V-6; and 15 and 18 for the 4/4 supercharged V-6 version.