2005 Nissan Pathfinder Review

Specifications

Bigger, Bolder and Better than Ever

When Nissan introduced its full-size Pathfinder Armada last year, a general concern spread over those faithful to the venerable midsize Pathfinder. Would this Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition competitor replace their favorite SUV?

While it was initially confusing for Nissan to attach the Pathfinder name to their new full-size sport utility, which was recently simply renamed the Armada, its hard to blame the Japanese brands marketers for trying to associate something all-new with an SUV as legendary as the Pathfinder. After all, the first Pathfinder entered the scene in 1986, garnering accolades and devout 4×4 loyalists ever since. It was among the forerunners in the SUV game.

Speaking of forerunners, Nissans number one Pathfinder competitor since day one, the Toyota 4Runner, was completely updated last year, making the outgoing Nissan look and feel more than a bit dated. But out with the
old and in with the new, Nissan has given its midsize SUV a complete makeover including all the right equipment to take on its Asian, European and domestic challengers.

When I first saw the 2005 Pathfinder in photos I knew I was going to like it even more in person, and happily wasnt let down when I first arrived in the beautiful mountainous regious Nissan had chosen to debut it, complete with a bevy of multicolored SUVs lined up in the hotel parking lot. Personally I find the new Pathfinder the best looking of all new midsize sport utes. Its bold, in-your-face chrome grille mirroring its larger Armada sibling, works for me, while its muscular fender flares add to its take-no-prisoners persona.

From the back I couldnt help notice that the Pathfinder pays some tribute to Nissans car-based Murano, not a bad choice of models to emulate considering the success the Japanese brand has had with this particular model. While it features a much more vertical tailgate, necessary for the versatile cargo area and third row of seats, a similar trapezoidal rear window is highlighted by unique sheetmetal creases. Outside of the Nissan family, theres nothing that remotely looks like the Pathfinder, which is an impressive feat consider the shear number of SUVs on the market. No doubt, Nissan will win over many converts just on styling alone, but the new sport utility offers a great deal more for new vehicle buyers than merely appearances.

Step inside and its easy to see the automaker has been working on improving materials quality. I really like the dash design, which runs a horizontal tubular shaped segment from door to door, intersected at the middle by a protruding center stack. The textured soft-touch plastic used on this horizontal piece is particularly nice to the touch, while surrounding plastics are an upgrade over the outgoing Pathfinder if not class leading.

The instrument cluster nestles beneath a semicircle shroud, shading four simple white on black dials and a myriad of trouble lights. The steering wheel that frames these is another coup for Nissan, sporting a thick, leather-clad grip and thumb actuated buttons for audio and cruise control. I found them easy to reach despite my smaller than average hands, and noted that the controls themselves clicked with high-quality tactility. The same can be said of the column-mounted wiper, headlight, and turn-signal stalks, easy for my fingers to find without the need to remove my hands from the steering wheel, while made of premium materials.

The audio head didnt appear as integrated into the center stack as some Ive tested, but it was easy to use and delivered good sound reproduction. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit was also simple to figure out, a three dial automatic system with additional buttons located on top of the large dials. The build-quality of the three dials, which are identical to those used in the Armada, Titan and Infiniti QX56, still have me complaining however. I love how they look, and the manner in which the outside portions rotate around fixed inner buttons, but in execution Nissan has not made them of thick enough plastic and therefore they wiggle and wobble in a less than acceptable way. Its difficult to say if these will pose a particular long-term quality problem, as the longest running vehicle making use of them is the Titan, just barely a year old. Most likely theyll continue to hold together for years to come, despite feeling that at anytime they could fall off in my hands. Thin metal rings would solve the problem once and for all, without detracting any styling points.

The drivers seat, and front passengers, gave me no reason to complain, mind you. They sit occupants high above the road below, important for this class, and in my fully-optioned version featured extremely nice quality leather surfaces. I took the opportunity to sit in back too, and didnt have any problem stretching out. I declined trying to squeeze my less than flexible body into the standard 3rd row seat, however, relegating it to “just in case one of the kids wants to bring along a friend” status.

Fortunately, the 50/50 split 3rd row folds completely flat into the floor, totally out of the way. This opens up the entire cargo area for carrying stuff, unlike the Toyota 4Runners optional side-mounted 3rd row that takes up a significant portion of space when put away - one of the only complaints I have regarding Toyotas midsize 4×4. What I like best about Nissans system is that the 3rd row head restraints dont need to be removed in order to tumble the seat down.

The second row folds flat too, in a unique 40/20/40 configuration no less. Nissan has also added the option of dropping the front passenger seat forward in order to fit in longer items, like a 10-foot long stepladder for instance. Altogether, the Pathfinder boasts 64 different seating/cargo configurations.

Also handy, the rear seatbacks feature eight cargo area utility hooks on their backside, ideal for hanging groceries. Floor hooks are also included, capable of 110 pound loads, making them ideal for tying down bikes or camping gear. Theres also a nifty storage area hidden under the second row of seats, ideal for stowing valuables. Quick access to the cargo area comes via a flip-up rear glass hatch, with loading and unloading larger items best through the conventional liftgate.

The longer wheelbase that optimizes passenger accommodations and payloads also pays dividends in the Pathfinders ride and handling. Factor in that the new truck now rides on a fully-boxed, all-steel “F-Alpha” platform, more suitable for going off-road, hauling and towing than the unibody design of the outgoing model, it rides extremely well. I wouldnt say that it eclipses the old model when it comes to handling, as it was already pretty agile, but the added strength of the steel frame, enhancing every aspect of true off-road capable 4×4s, makes up for it big time.

I started out driving the new SUV at an off-road challenge set up at Nissans Camp Pathfinder. The automaker had sectioned off a fairly steep hill climb just for testing its 4×4 equipped Frontier pickup trucks that were also on hand. I asked if it would be OK to take the Pathfinder up the same trail, and after some wincing, no doubt at the thought of scratching up such pristine new examples with rocks, roots and branches, they agreed. I dont know why they were concerned, as it nonchalantly walked up the trail, cool, calm and collected. I have to admit that I love 4×4ing in comfort, and the Pathfinders combination of a tough-as-nails undercarriage mixed together with a compliant ride made for a less than bone jarring experience.

On the way out of the camp the road seemed longer than when I came in. Being that I was trying to keep up with the lead SUV, which carried occupants that knew a shortcut back to the hotel, and stopping here and there to take photos, I really needed to kick some gravel up in order to not hold anyone up. Was I ever glad for the Pathfinders traction control system, that put more spin on the wheels with the most grip, and even more important, Nissans Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) stability system kept the rear end of the SUV from losing grip on the loose road surface.

Out on dry pavement there were no such concerns, and I was able to let off some steam and test out the Pathfinders road-holding and engine performance. As for road-holding, I already mentioned that its not necessarily the best in class, but its a far cry better than most truck-based 4×4s that preceded it. I was able to push it into corners at higher than posted speeds without any concern about rollover, with it even remaining stable after applying the brakes mid-corner - not recommended unless youre experienced in vehicle control methods, but nevertheless a good test of a vehicles stability under stress.

The Pathfinders ride quality also isnt up to the Muranos, for instance, but once again Im comparing a 4×4 capable SUV to a light-duty car-based crossover. Against its off-road capable rivals it fairs pretty well, with a firmer ride than the Toyota 4Runner, but what seemed to be a similar improvement in overall handling. Its set up well for my tastes, so no complaint here.

From a technical perspective the new Pathfinder features a 4-wheel independent double-wishbone suspension, speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion power steering, with off-road models featuring performance shocks specially tuned for 4×4 duties.

As for braking, the 4-wheel discs with ABS, Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA) scrub off speed with much appreciated ability. My tester was equipped with the optional 17-inch rims wrapped in 265/65R17 tires, optimizing the contact patch that reached the road, which no doubt helped bring the SUV to a stop quicker than if fitted with the standard 16-inch wheel and tire package.

That larger contact patch helps when moving forward too. To this end Nissan has equipped the Pathfinder with a substantial 4.0-liter V6 as its only engine choice. The motor, derived from the brands ubiquitous 3.5-liter V6, makes a total of 270 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque. To put this into perspective, the 4Runners new 4.0-liter V6 only makes 245 horsepower and 283 lb-ft of torque. Where the 4Runner walks away from the Pathfinder is when the optional 4.7-liter V8 is applied. Now sporting 282 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, its a hard package to beat. The Nissan brass that joined us for the event wouldnt deny the possibility of the 305 horsepower 5.6-liter V8 with 379 lb-ft of torque finding its way under the hood of the Pathfinder, which would decimate any rival as effectively in the midsize SUV class as it does in Titans full-size pickup truck segment and Armadas full-size sport utility category. With a wry smile we were reminded that the Pathfinder is built on the same frame as the Armada, so fitting it in wouldnt be a problem.

But still, youve got to be pretty power hungry to want more than the 4.0-liter V6. It gets up and goes without hesitation, due in part to Electronic Throttle Control. When mateed to 4WD models, the ECT features secondary mapping in 4LO, while the engine itself gets Continuous Valve Timing Control (C-VTC), Nissans variable Induction Control System (NICS), a silent timing chain, microfinished camshaft and crankshaft surfaces, molybdenum-coated pistons, a resin intake manifold, a digital knock control system, a high capacity muffler, plus a lightweight aluminum block and platinum-tipped spark plugs. Whats more, it tows an impressive 6,000 pounds.

Unlike the outgoing Pathfinder, no manual gearbox will be offered. Rather, all new Pathfinders get an electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission. The shifter doesnt offer a manual mode or a gated shift pattern for that matter, but features a 1st to 2nd gear side-to-side gate for optimizing takeoff in slippery conditions. I had no need to use the 1st to 2nd gear “gate” but tested it out purely for academic reasons. It seems like it would work quite well for off-road duties as well as ice and snow, a bonus for sure.

On my way up the hill climb I slipped the all-mode 4WD system into 4LO, which did a good job of finding traction on the way up and engine braking on the way down. Nissan sets up 4WD Pathfinders with 2WD/4H/4LO modes, controlled by an electronically actuated transfer case. In top-trim the dash-mounted dial includes an AUTO mode, ideal for winter driving.

With regards to safety equipment, the 2005 Pathfinder adds crumple zones for crash protection, Nissans Advanced Air Bag System (which includes dual-stage front supplemental air bags with seat belt sensors and a front occupant classification sensor), plus pretensioners and load limiters for the front seatbelts. Front seat-mounted side-impact airbags are not standard, but are available, as are roof-mounted supplemental curtain airbags for all three rows of outboard occupants.

When it comes to price, I personally expected the 2005 Pathfinder to start out a bit higher than $24,650. After all, the revamped 4Runner costs quite a bit more in base trim, allowing Nissans SUV to reach a larger potential audience. The base XE model isnt missing any necessities either, unless 4WD is needed in your area. Standard features include air conditioning, power remote heated sideview mirrors, remote keyless entry, tire pressure monitor, active head restraints, and a 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system, just a few items from what is otherwise a very long list.

Move up to the SE and the price climbs to 4Runner territory, or more exactly $25,850. It includes wider tires, fog lamps, running boards, the flat-folding front passenger seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, auto climate control with dual A/C, a rear A/C controller, 8-way power drivers seat, power adjustable pedals, and more. A power glass sunroof can be added to the SE, as well as the HomeLink system, a 9-speaker Bose audio system with a 6-disc dash-mounted CD changer, curtain side airbags for all outside occupants, side-seat airbags up front, and auto on/off headlights.

If tackling 4×4 trails is part of your lifestyle an SE OR (Off-Road) edition can be ordered for $30,450. It includes trail rated tires, specially designed off-road wheels, Rancho shock absorbers, hill decent control, hill start assist, and a total of four underbody skid plates. Blue interior cloth is also part of the package, unless leather is ordered of course. Along with the leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, a 4-way power passenger seat, curtain side airbags and front side seat airbags are also available.

The top-line LE features all the leather package add-ons as standard equipment for $32,550, plus an all-mode 4WD system with an AUTO position when 4-wheel drive is ordered. Also, the LE includes larger 17-inch alloys, a memory drivers seat, memory mirrors and pedals, and woodgrain interior accents. The fold-flat passenger seat is deleted from the LE. A DVD entertainment package can be added as well as a navigation system.

With or without a V8 engine, I think Nissan will do very well with its new Pathfinder. Its really attractive, offers impressive conveniences at the bottom end of the scale and luxurious appointments at the top, plus it moves along at a fairly brisk pace. Its a giant leap forward compared to the outgoing model it replaces, and is easily up to fighting it out with the best in its segment.