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2007 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4x4 Road Test

The 2007 Nissan Pathfinder, contrary to what its name might imply, blazesno trails that haven't been well worn over the past couple of decades. Of course, the Pathfinder has established a name for itself as an originator in the popular SUV genre. It helped usher people into what was then a burgeoning SUV segment by blending the virtues of some of the really old-school utility vehicles, like the Wrangler and Land Cruiser, with a more urban-oriented aesthetic that offered a solid roof, insulation, and amenities that put it more in line with family transportation than a trail-blazing maniac, while still displaying the ability to go beyond the road. It could still manage rough terrain and an adventurous lifestyle, but without seeming somewhat ridiculous navigating 9 and 5 commutes or school and milk runs.

Along with the Grand Cherokee, 4Runner, Explorer and Jimmy/Blazer twins, it brought multi-talented SUVs to the masses. Turns out, what people liked

One thing we wonder is how much of a plus having two extra cylinders would be... (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

more than the possibility of fording unexplored trails on the way to their cabin at the bottom of a 200-foot cliff, was how easy it made seeing traffic, loading children, plus the added sense of security of a big solid vehicle wrapped around them. And so SUVs gave birth to crossovers, dumping the truck platforms and locking differentials in favor of unibody construction and part-time AWD and retaining the high seating position and the security of a solid vehicle under their feet.

The Pathfinder, however, can leave that to the Murano and the upcoming Rogue,because it remains the big brother to the Xterra, Nissan's

Its clear off-road roots didn't bother us too much... even when we weren't having adventures. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

hardcore plaything designed to get adventurers to the most remote kayaking spots in the mountains (or so the commercial implies). The Pathfinder is a truck in truck's clothing, sharing the blocky, chiseled styling of the Xterra, but even more closely resembling the chrome-grilled Titan and Frontier pickups. After a generation of rounded '90s styling, the new sheetmetal is smooth and square again, reminding me of the original Pathfinder with its blockish edges and utilitarian simplicity.

But move inside and find a hospitable,modern cabin trimmed in low-gloss, rubbery surface materials, though the illusion of quality ends when you tap on the rounded dash or plasticky center-stack and hear the hollow tinny

4.0-liter V6 sounds great, kicks out V8-like power. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

echo. The design of the front seats is quite good; they have acceptable support, and the mesh bolsters are cool, although I don't know how long those microsuede inserts will last during day-to-day use. They're also excellent at generating static, so be sure to observe the static-discharge routine before filling up your gas tank.

The second row seats are uncomfortable and passengers of just about all shapes and sizes complained about the angle of the bench; when sitting, your knees are higher than your butt, which is fine for short trips but is sure to upset your tailbone and tire your legs. The third row is tight, hard to reach and not particularly comfortable either, but then again, which third row in a midsize SUV is?Nonetheless, there is room for up to 7, although I would limit the loading to five plus cargo. Meanwhile, the cargo area is ample,

Logically laid out, and finished in silver gloss trim. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

and the roof rails provide another area in which to tie down a serious reserve of camping or adventure equipment. The roof rails also happen to be the coolest looking of their type in the business, along with the FJ's chunky tube rack and the Audi A4 Avant Titanium's matte black rails.

Overall, the interior is functional and well-built, and filled with comfort amenities like dual zone climate control (with additional rear seat controls), 6-disc CD stereo, and in top-spec you can get a DVD-based nav system, rear-seat DVD entertainment, Bose stereo with six-CD stacker and satellite radio, so it has all the right boxes to tick, but still doesn't quite come together in such a way to suggest luxury—I guess that's best left to Infiniti.

Nissan is best suited to providing good all around vehicles at competitive prices, and they have always delivered with sharp styling and lively powertrains; this Pathfinder is no exception. The 4.0-liter V6

Up here, the driving position is car-like, and the steering wheel is sporty. Having a third row required too many compromises in the comfort department... (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

packs 266 horsepower and 288 lb-ft of torque, meaning it slots right in the heart of the midsize SUV power struggle, neither lagging nor leading by any great margin. To cement themselves as a leader (or at least remain competitive) in the SUV segment, however, Nissan decided to add their titanic 5.6L V8 to the Pathfinder lineup for 2008, although this V6 seemed plenty to me, unless towing is likely to be a regular aspect of its duties. The V8 in the '08 Pathfinder is a recycled pickup engine, so it's promising 300+ horsepower and 300+ lb-ft of torque, with the ability to tow at least 7,000 pounds, which will make the Armada seem really pointless unless you need its third row power-folding rear seat or 9,000+ pound towing capacity.

If it's not likely to see the business end of a hitch, I see no need to upgradebecause the V6 I sampled manages everything from the slogging light-to-light grind to highway merging and passing with a none-too-objectionable rumble and snort from its variable intake system. Nissan has attempted to benefit

A bit of Xterra for you: roof-racks are chunky, and yes, there's a first-aid kit inside. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

fuel efficiency with said induction system working together with continuous valve timing control on a two-stage timing chain, so they manage to reach an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) rating of 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. I stayed in the city most of the week, and came out under 14.7 mpg at week's end, so it's no Prius, that's for sure, but I'm sure you could do worse.

And while the Prius is a great choice for those who love the Earth from the comfort of pavement and concrete (as is the new Altima Hybrid, being that the subject is Nissan - Ed.), the Pathfinder is for those who like to love the Earth where you find it at its source. With an easy to use and very competent 4WD system, this truck has camping and adventure road trips written all over it (bonus points for the first aid kit that's strapped intothe tailgate), and I was itching to throw a tent and some sleeping bags in the back and get out of town, but our schedules just didn't work.

Once you get packed and loaded, pay extra attention to your vehicle's maneuvers, because this is no rigid, sport-suspension crossover. It's an old fashioned body-on-frame design (a high-strength,

Sometimes you just need a vehicle that can take you there. That's where the Pathfinder comes in. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

fully boxed, all-steel frame at that), so the suspension is bouncy (live rear axle, ahoy), rolly, but better when loaded down with stuff. The steering is easy and light, which I found comforting when maneuvering it into and out of parking spotsand navigating my urban crawl to work. When you're out cruising on the highway, it is plenty comfortable and soaks up rough patches, but once again requires a steady hand and does not inspire confidence to do anything more than cruise in nice straight lines. Maneuvers look scarier from outside than in the driver's seat, but this is still no performance 'ute, not by a long shot.

Then again, I wouldn't want it to be anything else. Overall, it's a durable, rugged vehicle, and if you're prepared to deal with something a little more rough and tumble, the Pathfinder is excellent at being a classic SUV. I look forward to sampling the improvements made to the interior quality for the 2008 model, although a V8 really only seems necessary for those who regularly tow their boat or trailer out to the cottage or camp. This is a vehicle that invites adventure, and a shame if it never sees a dirt track or complete removal from civilized roads, because this is one 'ute that still thinks trail riding and rock climbing is what people mean by sport.

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