2009 Nissan Pathfinder LE--Driver's Log
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
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SENIOR EDITOR (SPECIAL PROJECTS) KEVIN WILSON: Never having been much of a fan of the $40,000 SUV weighing nearly 5,000 pounds, I didn?t find a lot enticing about this vehicle. It did go well in snow, with the drive-mode selector in ?auto.? The rearview camera, the heated steering wheel and the navigation system all proved useful enough at various times, but I could live without any of it and not miss a thing. The third-row seats, small as they are, fold down easily and double the cargo area, which was useful for a run to Costco.
The ride was on the harsh side, and there were some rattles heard inside as we banged over the potholes.
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MANAGING EDITOR ROGER HART: This V6 is nowhere near as smooth as the 3.5-liter in other Nissan products; it?s really loud and buzzy. It sort of matched the overall ride, which is pretty harsh, crashing over all the frost heaves in the road. And the door seals are terrible, with strong winds making sucking sounds on the windows.
COPY EDITOR CYNTHIA OROSCO: Roger hit the nail on the head: lots of general buzziness in this SUV. The noises coming from underhood sound as if the truck is working really hard, even when you?re not asking so much of it. And you certainly feel the weight of the Pathfinder, on expressways or surface streets, and there?s a noticeable hesitation when trying to get it to kick down. Aside from all of this, the interior is nice, with really good materials throughout; everything looks sporty and yet of high quality. I also like that you ride high in the driver?s seat.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR WES RAYNAL: Yes, the engine does sound a bit archaic compared with some of the smoother V6s on offer these days, particularly from Honda. I like this engine, though?the torque is impressive.
I didn?t have as many beefs with the way it drives, especially when compared with the other 5,000-pound utes. It?s solid and sturdy. The ride was a little choppy over rough spots, but the Lexus GS that I just drove was crashier. The Nissan?s steering was good and the brakes fine.
For the most part, I liked the interior. I thought the seats were among the best in the big-ute biz. Some of the surfaces could use an upgrade, but it looked well assembled.
I took the opposite view of the third-row seats: I still think doing a big ute without them is useless (the Ford Edge and the Volks-wagen Touareg come to mind). OK, so the ones in the Nissan are only for kids. Exactly. That?s why last night, when my mom and her husband came over and we were taking them and the kids to the art museum, we could do it in one car instead of having to drive two. When you don?t need the extra seats, fold ?em down. But at least they?re there when you need them.
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