XTerra, properly equipped, has awesome capability off road. They are a bit of a compromise in normal driving as far as both ride and gas mileage. Because it uses a conventional 4x4 system with a transfer case, I would not get one as a ski vehicle. It's more likely to get stuck in deep snow and on ice covered streets than an AWD vehicle.

In those rare cases when we have blizzards here in Denver, it always cracks me up how many conventional 4x4s like Pathfinders, Rodeos, Montero Sports, etc. get stuck when a young person in a CR-V has no problem. The vehicles that are best off roading are rarely good snow cars. If they have a torque distribution system, a la Grand Cherokee or Land Rover, they do fine.

But the XTerra is definitely superior off road. XTerras are well made and have a great "active lifestyle" image.