2003 Car Review : Nissan Pathfinder SE 4x4
SEE ALSO: Nissan Buyer's Guide
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS The Nissan Pathfinder was one of the earliest compact sport- utility vehicles. Like other primordial SUVs, the original Pathfinder borrowed heavily from its manufacturer's pickup truck for chassis and engine components. Offered in two- or four-door style, with four-cylinder or V6 engines, it achieved success and a good reputation for ruggedness. It also changed with the times, and so when the second generation was introduced in 1996, four-cylinder engines and two-door bodies were gone. No more pickup-with-a- built-in-camper-shell, thank you. The Pathfinder went upscale. But it didn't forget its roots. And, although the Pathfinder has continued to evolve as a civilized, gentrified SUV - aided by the introduction of the Frontier pickup-based Xterra for the get-down- and-get-dirty crowd that originally took to the Pathfinder so many years ago - it is a very different vehicle than the car-based ``crossovers'' that are infiltrating the compact SUV class. Its ``MonoFrame'' chassis combines the best aspects of car-like unibody and truck-like body-on-frame construction for rugged strength to deal with unpaved or poorly-paved roads balanced with the space, comfort, and civilized ride expected by today's upscale SUV buyer. Unlike many of the new-breed crossovers, the Pathfinder is offered with true dual-range four-wheel drive or a multi-mode four-wheel drive system, depending on model. In 2001, its original 3.3-liter V6 gave way to a high-tech 3.5-liter V6 that is related to the engines used in Nissan's Maxima and Altima sedans and now the 350Z sports car. With 240 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque, power deficiency is a distant memory. For 2003, the Pathfinder is offered in sporty SE or luxury- oriented LE trim. Both are available in two-wheel drive or 4x4 trim, with the SE 4x4 having a shift-on-the-fly dual-range system and the LE offered with a push-button multi-mode system. The interior has been freshened, with leather seating surfaces now standard in the LE. For improved safety in inclement conditions, the ``Vehicle Dynamic Control'' (VDC) stability control system is now available for all Pathfinders. For the past week, I've been driving a Pathfinder SE 4x4 with almost enough options to qualify as an LE. It doesn't exactly hide its truck heritage, nor should it. It's small on the outside, to better fit into tight spaces between trees and rocks on the trail or between larger vehicles in the mall parking lot, but offers more space than you might think inside. The more powerful engine is as smooth and refined as the variants found in other Nissan products, and gives the Pathfinder serious power. It can tow up to 5000 lbs, far more than most crossovers. In short, it combines the best features of a truck and a car. APPEARANCE: The original Pathfinder was distinguished by a unique C-pillar design, high-mounted rear door handles, and three nostrils at the front of the hood, above the grille. The 1996 version lost the C-pillar styling and incorporated the nostrils into the grille. The Pathfinder has gone more mainstream in the ensuing years, and the nostrils are long gone. The rear door handles are intact, however. Despite all of the changes, it's still noticeably a Pathfinder in proportion, and has styling that balances ruggedness and refinement. Both SE and LE models have new wheels this year. COMFORT: One of the chief benefits of the Pathfinder's MonoFrame construction is space efficiency. Although it is not all that large on the outside, there is as much interior space as is commonly found in a mid-sized sedan. Access, even in 4x4 models, is easy, even for short people. Versatility is the name of the game in the SUV class, and the Pathfinder won't disappoint. The 60/40 split rear seat features flip-and-fold cushions, so a long cargo floor with a reasonably low height is easily available. Both models have a new four-spoke steering wheel this year, and are differentiated in trim. The SE gets titanium-look interior accents that would not look out of place in a sports sedan, and matching instruments. The front buckets are sport-sedan spec, too, combining comfort and support. Optional leather surfaces and heating, part of the ``SE Leather Package'' add style and more comfort. A 6-disc CD changer is standard, with a BOSE(tm) audio system available. Also new this year is satellite radio. And, unusually, Nissan gives customers the choice of XM or Sirius systems. SAFETY: The 2003 Nissan Pathfinder has front and rear crumple zones, special bodyside reinforcement, side airbags (standard on the LE, optional on the SE), child safety locks, and standard antilock brakes. ROADABILITY: History repeats itself. Last time I tested a Pathfinder was during a wet El Nino winter. El Nino is back...fortunately, so is the Pathfinder. It tracks surefootedly through rain, hail, mud, and wind. Good clearance and skid plates add confidence when fording streams or ponds where roads should be, and, if worse comes to worse, shift-on-the-fly 4-wheel drive can be engaged at any speed up to 50 mph. The new Vehicle Dynamic Control stability management system can help maintain control when the going gets slippery. Independent struts are found at the front, with a solid axle at the rear. But coil springs and carefully- designed location linkage negate most solid axle drawbacks. The Pathfinder feels like a truck, but it's a very, very civilized truck. Not everyone wants a mere car. PERFORMANCE: The last time I drove a Pathfinder, it had the old 3.3-liter, 168-horsepower V6. While adequate, more power would have been welcomed. And more power was welcomed a couple of years ago when Nissan dropped a 3.5-liter aluminum alloy V6 into the Pathfinder's engine bay. This high-tech powerplant makes 240 horsepower at 6000 rpm, with 265 lb-ft of torque at 3200 and great pulling power right from a standstill. Power deficiency cured, and then some. The four-speed automatic transmission is as smooth as any found in a car, adding to the Pathfinder's refinement. CONCLUSIONS: The 2003 Nissan Pathfinder combines truck strength and car comfort. SPECIFICATIONS 2003 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4x4 Base Price $ 28,799 Price As Tested $ 34,663 Engine Type dual overhead cam 24-valve aluminum alloy V6 Engine Size 3.5 liters / 213 cu. in. Horsepower 240 @ 6000 rpm Torque (lb-ft) 265 @ 3200 rpm Transmission 4-speed automatic Wheelbase / Length 106.3 in. / 182.7 in. (190.7 w/external spare) Curb Weight 4131 lbs. Pounds Per Horsepower 17.2 Fuel Capacity n/a gal. Fuel Requirement 91 octane premium unleaded gasoline Tires P255/65 R16 Bridgestone Dueler HT Brakes, front/rear vented disc / drum, antilock standard Suspension, front/rear independent strut / solid axle with coil springs and multi-link location Ground clearance 8.3 in. Drivetrain front engine, on-demand four-wheel drive PERFORMANCE EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon city / highway / observed 15 / 19 / 16 0 to 60 mph est 9.0 sec Towing capacity 5000 lbs. OPTIONS AND CHARGES SE Popular Package - includes: BOSE audio system with 6-disc in-dash CD changer, steering wheel audio controls, foglights, rear cargo net and cover, automatic temperature control $ 799 SE Sunroof Package - includes: Visors with illuminated vanity mirrors, LED outside temp gauge & digital compass, Homelink, power tilt and slide sunroof $1,099 Dynamic Control Package - includes: Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), tire pressure monitoring system $ 749 SE Leather Package - includes: Leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, front seat side-impact air bags, power driver and front passenger seats, simulated leather door trim, dual visors $2,199 XM Satellite Radio (subscription extra) $ 399 Floor Mats $ 79 Destination Charge $ 540