Nissan Pathfinder Range
Theres often a substantial gulf between the way 4x4 buyers actually use their 4x4 vehicles and the utopian visions laid out in commercials and publicity material. The Ad men present the public with a rose-tinted vista of family life in which every spare moment is crammed with wholesome outdoor activities from horse riding, to mountain biking and rambling to kite flying. Of course, the 4x4 vehicle itself is the hero of the piece: always on hand to be loaded with beaming children and expensive equipment, ready to trundle off into the countryside at a moments notice.
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The range includes authentic offroaders like the Patrol and the Navara pick-up as well as plush crossover models like the Murano. The Pathfinder is positioned somewhere in-between, forming a Sports Utility Vehicle double act with the smaller X-Trail and going up against large 4x4 rivals, the most notable of which being the Land Rover Discovery. To be a success, the Pathfinder needs to do it all, be capable offroad but comfortable on it, have a spacious, practical interior and a competitive sticker price. The Pathfinder range is split into three trim levels named Trek, Sport and Aventura.
The entry-level Trek models do without the rearmost row of seats and so offer a five-person capacity but all other Pathfinders have the ability to seat seven. Externally, the Nissan family face, as seen on 4x4 models across the manufacturers range, is very much in evidence. The V-shaped grille with central Nissan badge gives a suitably imposing frontal view, one which is accentuated by a wide air intake in the underbumper and bulging wheelarches. The current models feature indicator lights intergrated into the wing mirrors.
As you ascend the range, more styling features are added to spruce-up the vehicles appearance, Pathfinder-branded roof rails help, as do front fog lamps, chrome mirrors and side steps. Inside the latest models theres aluminium kick plates and footwell illumination. Overall, its a cohesive and modern, if somewhat unremarkable, design which lacks the impact you get with a Discovery but certainly isnt going to offend many people.
"The composed driving experience in particular is likely to impress prospective buyers and the simple versatility of the interior is another strongpoint"
Only one engine is on offer - a 2.5-litre dCi diesel unit (the short-lived 4.0-litre V6 petrol option no longer being offered). The 174PS common-rail diesel unit offers up its maximum power at 4,000rpm and a hefty maximum torque output of 403Nm is available as low as 2,000rpm.
The Pathfinder is a big vehicle but the dCi engine seems up to the task of shifting it around, just dont expect anything too exhilarating. Theres a decent slug of acceleration available from low speeds and if you keep your foot planted, 60mph is a none too shabby 11.7s away. The Pathfinder will return an average of 31mpg and tow up to 3 tonnes, although, obviously, not at the same time.
The 6-speed manual gearbox is user-friendly enough and highly preferable over the slow-witted 5-speed automatic option, which seems to increase engine noise substantially at motorway speeds. On the manual models, you also get Nissans USS or Uphill Start Support that prevents you rolling back when pulling away uphill. The Pathfinder is a comfortable cruiser, even if overtaking manoeuvres do put a strain on that engine, but it also takes to winding country roads with a level of composure not normally associated with big 4x4 vehicles. Pick up the pace and the body rolls in corners and pitches under braking but not unnervingly so.
The steering is reassuringly accurate and the braking feels secure. All Pathfinders feature the Nissan ALL MODE four-wheel-drive system which includes a low ratio mode for proper offroading. Traction is governed by a special ESP+ system that marshals the ABS brakes, the traction control and the active yaw control for optimum performance both on and off the tarmac. As weve said, the latest automatic Pathfinders are also equipped with Hill Decent control and Hill Start Assist, the former to ease you down precipitous offroad obstacles, the second to aid smooth getaways up inclines.
If the Pathfinder is to fulfil all of the varied roles that family buyers are likely to require of it, the interior will have to be practical and Nissan have obviously put considerable effort in on this score. Were told that the 7-seat Pathfinder has no fewer than 64 different seating configurations, a total that eclipses many full-size MPVs never mind large 4x4s. Whats more impressive and likely to be more appealing to potential buyers is that none of the seats need to be removed for the different load/passenger carrying options to be accessed. When additional space is required, the rearmost seats simply fold into the floor with the release of just one catch and the middle three are almost as easy to pack down, giving a flat load floor behind the driver and front passenger.
With all the seats folded, the Pathfinder offers a massive 2,091-litre capacity with a 2.8m load length. The interior decor is tidy and largely functional, although theres little by way of design flair in evidence. The air-conditioning is controlled by dials that rock from side to side: these are unusual but they seem highly counterintuitive and dont really represent an improvement over traditional twisting dials. Leather upholstery is standard on Aventura models but the cloth trim on lower spec derivatives has a netting-like texture and may prove difficult to clean once your kids have melted a chocolate bar to it. The Pathfinder is available with a variety of nice technological features including Nissans market-leading Birdview satellite navigation system, a colour reversing camera and keyless entry but even the base models feature dual-zone climate control, electric heated mirrors, electric windows, ESP and traction control. At prices starting from £23,995, the Nissan Pathfinder looks a very capable and cost-effective family vehicle.
Only the absence of a more powerful diesel engine really stands in its way. The composed driving experience in particular is likely to impress prospective buyers and the simple versatility of the interior is another strongpoint. If theyre honest, most Pathfinder owners probably wont need a vehicle that can carry a family of seven and their luggage through rivers and up mountainsides but the Pathfinder can and itll cope admirably with more mundane duties as well.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Nissan Pathfinder range
PRICES: £23,995-£28,995 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 13-14
CO2 EMISSIONS: 238g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 11.7s / Max Speed 109mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 31.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver, Passenger, front seat and curtain airbags, ABS, ESP+
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height 4740/1850/1763mm
