2006 Nissan Pathfinder Sport Utility Vehicle Review & Performance

Nissan wants no one to mistake the Pathfinder for anything but a tough-as-trail-gravel truck. The Pathfinder is intended to be a no-compromise, fully off-road-capable SUV, and its dimensions and styling make this imminently clear.

Totally redesigned for 2005, this latest Pathfinder looks significantly larger than its predecessor, and it is: by six inches in overall length, and by five inches in wheelbase. It's an inch wider, too, and almost five inches taller.

Unlike older Pathfinders, the current models feature rugged body-on-frame construction using a ladder-type frame adapted from Nissan's full-size Armada SUV and Titan pickup. This is the type of construction best suited for heavy-duty towing, serious load-hauling, and ambitious bashing about in the backwoods.

Pathfinder's design shares styling cues with the Armada and Titan, as well as the latest Frontier pickup. Up front, angular chrome grille bars vertically bracket the familiar Nissan logo. Crisply outlined headlight lenses fold around the edges of the fenders. A strong, chin-like bumper houses a wide, low air intake, with small, round sockets for the optional fog lights just inboard of the fender blister creases.

From the side, the fender blisters encircle substantial tires and give substance to the mostly smooth body panels. Sloping C-pillars with high-mounted rear door handles are angled less severely than on the Armada, but still make Pathfinder's kinship clear. The roof line, mimicking the Armada's, bows slightly over the forward passenger compartment then flattens aft of the C-pillar. A vertical divide carried over from the previous generation splits the rear side door windows allowing the forward two-thirds of the glass to lower fully into the door, a nice feature. Short overhangs front and rear spotlight the new Pathfinder's off-road promise. Openings in the ends of the roof rails at first seem mere styling exercises, but actually offer convenient hand-holds when loading and offloading sport gear.

The rear bumper copies the Armada's, with a low lift-over between upturns at each end tying into the large taillights. The backlight's (rear windscreen's) bottom edge tracks the bumper's geometry as part of an elongated pentagonal outline, picking up on the geometric theme of the Xterra.

Inside, the Nissan Pathfinder is patterned after the full-size Armada and Titan, although appropriately downsized.

The three-spoke steering wheel with metallic trim is familiar to anyone familiar with Nissan. A large, round speedometer and tachometer complemented by four smaller gauges fill the top half of the steering wheel opening. A column stalk to the left manages the exterior lights, and one to the right runs the windshield wipers and washers. Outside mirror and pedals are adjusted with buttons located on the lower dash, to the left of the steering column. The ignition key slot is on the dash, which is preferable to being on the steering column.

The stereo sits uppermost in the center stack, above the climate controls. Both are fitted with delightfully basic, intuitively shaped knobs and buttons and easily deciphered displays. In models with Nissan's All-Mode 4WD system and electronically controlled transfer case, a large rotary selector is positioned in a panel at the base below a smallish storage bin. Stacked vertically to the right of this are two of the four accessory power outlets. Atop the dash above the stereo a shallow tray occupies the space reserved for the optional navigation system's pop-up display. The navigation system offers a bird's eye view, with map details tracking away to a virtual horizon. A bi-level glove box fills the lower part of the dash to the right of the center stack.

Dash panels are uniformly textured, flowing smoothly out from the base of the windshield around and down on each side of the center stack to the knee bolsters filling the space between the stack and doors. The center console is finished with a bright metallic look. Two cup holders are sandwiched between the shift gate and the storage bin. The bin is deep and wide, with receptacles for coins, a power outlet and slots for CDs. The underside of the console lid holds clips for a couple pens or pencils. Cupholders for second-row occupants fold out of the back side of the center console. These features add convenience and make life just a little easier.

The considerable length of the Pathfinder makes room for a third-row seat, providing space for up to seven passengers. But there's also more room in the front seats. The Pathfinder offers generous head, hip and leg room in the front seats, as well as in the important middle seats.

The front seats are comfortable and supportive, on road and off, but would benefit from a deeper bottom cushion for added thigh support. The rear doors offer easy foot access, and the seatbacks are adequately bolstered, at least for the two outboard passengers. Anybody sentenced to the center-row center seat had best hope the trip is short. Access to the third row is gained via a relatively easy folding of the middle seat, but climbing in provides a good gauge of how comfortable it's going to be back there. Put another way, limber, small-to-medium statures fit best. Grab/assist handles are plentiful, but conspicuously missing from the area of the driver's door. And the liftgate has an inside pull-down, sparing fingers contact with road grime, although a remote inside release for the liftgate was either non-existent or very well hidden.

The cargo area behind the third row of seats is a mere 16.5 cubic feet, but it's significantly more than the seven-passenger Ford Explorer offers. Collapsing the third-row seats boosts the Pathfinder's cargo capacity to 49.2 cubic feet, about 5 cubic feet roomier than a comparably configured Explorer. Oddly, however, once all its seats are folded, the big new Pathfinder falls short in cargo space when compared to the Explorer (by almost 5 cubic feet). On the SE Off-Road model, the front passenger seat folds as well, opening up space for objects 10 feet in length, a great feature.

Storage bins, pockets and cubbies abound. Each row of seats gets two cup holders. All four doors have map pockets, and the ones in the front doors have secondary beverage receptacles molded in. The lower level of the glove box easily handles a half-liter beverage bottle with room left over for a couple pair of gloves. There's a pouch on the inboard side of the front passenger seat base and a concealed compartment beneath the middle-row seats. Only the driver's seatback gets a magazine pocket. Garment hooks are integrated into the middle seat overhead handles. A first aid kit and yet another storage net are tucked into the liftgate's interior panel.

Power from the 4.0-liter V6, while not in the stump-pulling class, is more than adequate. The Pathfinder's power builds smoothly, pulling solidly to the upshift limiter, which is programmed to step in at 5600 revolutions per minute. The engine moved this truck's nearly two-and-one-half tons at significantly extra-legal speeds with the same aplomb as we noted while slogging through muddy ruts. A welcome side benefit is the healthy exhaust note accompanying the engine's ups and downs.

The five-speed automatic transmission shifts up and down almost imperceptibly, with smooth gear changes executed by the computerized engine management system. Pathfinder's throttle is drive-by-wire, which allows a more measured tip-in when in 4WD.

An extended exploration in an SE Off-Road of a muddy, technical, single-vehicle track in a heavily wooded area on Bainbridge Island across the bay from Seattle proved not only the effectiveness of this alternative throttle programming, but also the surprising dexterity of the Pathfinder in the rough. We crawled over downed trees, crossed axle-deep water holes and descended sloppy slopes without stress, strain or undue slippage. Give credit in part to the SE Off-Road's impressive 9.2 inches of ground clearance.

Pathfinder's available All-Mode electronic transfer case switches manually from 2WD mode to AUTO 4WD, with locked 4WD High and 4WD Low ranges as well. Standard on the 4WD SE Off Road model we tested is Nissan's Hill Descent Control (HDC), which allows for going downhill without the constant application of the brake pedal. HDC is engaged by the driver via a switch and is available only when the transfer case is engaged in 4HI or 4LO, although it does work in both forward and reverse. It can be activated at speeds up to 31 mph in 4HI and 15 mph in 4LO.

Hill Start Assist (HSA) allows the driver to stop on a slope, release the brake pedal and not roll back for up to two seconds. HSA is always active and is available in 2WD, 4HI, and 4LO. HSA is designed for rugged, low-speed off-road driving situations.

At highway speeds, the Pathfinder's steering provided comforting on-center feel. Swiftly executed lane changes excited no disconcerting tail wagging. Brake pedal feel was also solid. ABS is standard, as is Electronic Brake-force Distribution. The former helps the driver maintain steering control while using the brakes full-force, especially on uncertain surfaces. The latter continuously and instantly shifts maximum braking force to the wheels with the most weight on them, even as the car's weight shifts forward while stopping.

The 2006 Nissan Pathfinder comes in four trim levels, each of which can be ordered with two-wheel drive (2WD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). All are powered by the 270-horsepower, 4.0-liter V6 engine with the five-speed automatic transmission.

The Pathfinder XE ($24,650) and XE 4WD ($26,650) come with fabric upholstery; air conditioning; cruise control; power mirrors, windows and door locks with keyless remote; halogen headlamps; AM/FM/CD stereo playing through six speakers; adjustable lumbar on the driver's seat; reclining backs on the middle row seats; roof rails; and a pre-wired tow setup including hitch. XE models come standard with Vehicle Dynamic Control and aluminum-alloy wheels. Buyers may choose XM or Sirius satellite radio ($400), but few other options are offered.

The SE ($25,850) and SE 4WD ($27,850) add a power adjustable driver's seat; halogen foglights; running boards; roof rack cross bars; and a middle seat fold-down center armrest. Leather seating is optional.

The SE Comfort Package ($1,350) adds dual-zone, automatic air conditioning; a six-disc CD changer; adjustable pedals; a multi-accessorized, auto-dimming rearview mirror; upgraded sunvisors; leather highlights (but not leather seating); and painted silver interior accents. The SE Premium Package ($1,700) adds a two-way power sunroof; automatic headlamps; programmable remote garage door opener; Bose stereo with eight speakers plus subwoofer; redundant steering wheel-mounted audio controls; and capabilities for MP3 and satellite radio. The Mobile Entertainment System ($1,600) delivers a DVD player with a seven-inch color monitor and two infrared headphones.

The next model up is the SE Off-Road ($28,450), which comes with B.F. Goodrich Rugged Trail P265/75R16 tires on distinctive wheels; Rancho off-road shocks; and skid plates. The 4WD SE Off-Road ($30,450) also comes with Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist. The Off-Road models are upholstered in a robust, waffle-texture fabric. An optional Desert Leather Package ($1,400) includes leather-trimmed and heated front seats, four-way power adjustable front passenger seat, leather-trimmed doors and heated outside mirrors. The Mobile Entertainment System is optional.

The LE ($32,550) and LE 4WD ($34,750) come with leather upholstery; wood-toned trim; sunroof; Bose audio system with six-disc changer, eight speakers and subwoofer; and 17-inch wheels and tires. The LE-exclusive DVD Navigation Package ($2,000) includes a seven-inch color LCD display.

Safety features that come on all Pathfinders include two-stage frontal airbags; antilock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EDB); and electronic stability control, which Nissan calls Vehicle Dynamic Control. An optional Air Bag Package ($700) adds front-seat side-impact airbags and full-coverage side-curtain airbags. We strongly recommend opting for this last package as it can provide head protection to you and your passengers if someone crashes into the side of your vehicle, or if you roll over. Always wear your seatbelts as they are your first line of defense in an accident.