The Nissan Pathfinder is so much bigger than I remember it. However, in my head, that makes sense. Set between the massive Armada, and the slightly smaller Xterra, it is happy to be a 7-passenger, mid-size SUV. And along with that cheery nature is an appealing offering.
My first impressions were all very positive. The outside isn’t as rugged as it’s older-modeled siblings, and it’s obvious that what was once aimed at the adventure lifestyle crowd is now aimed at the married-with-children crowd. DVD players, fold down third row seating, bigger outside panels and a higher ground clearance make this truck the a people hauling expert. However, it does so with a bit of style and class, without breaking the bank.
The interior is all Nissan. There is no doubt. Everything looks like the Armada, which looks like the Frontier, which looks like the… well, you get the picture. That’s good news on almost all levels, too, since the interior of these vehicles are all well organized, easy to read, and simple to control. However, the one complaint I have is carried out through the lineup also, and so it feels extra awkward over and over again. That complaint is the temperature controls are on shuttle disks that snap back into place after rotating 90 degrees rather than free spinning knobs that allow you to quickly, or slowly, dial in exactly what you want. Instead your left turning and holding, which requires watching and waiting… which just feels annoying when driving should be the primary focus. I feel that this is pretty much the only downside to the interior; all other areas were simple and obvious and reasonably elegant.
Driving this was the biggest surprise. I hadn’t expected to like it, since I was not a fan of driving the Nissan Titan. But this handled it’s size very well, and even hid how big it was from the driver on many counts. Excellent visibility and a good turning radius allowed for exceptional maneuverability in small parking lots and narrow streets. On the freeway it was very quiet, very smooth, and made driving effortless. Ever since Nissan introduced the Xterra, the Pathfinder has become more and more subdued in its styling, while getting bigger and bigger. This model reinforces that trend, but proves that getting older doesn’t have to be a bad thing. 4 Stars.
Album: 2006-Nissan-Pathfinder
