The Nissan Pathfinder looks every-inch like one of Jack Bauer’s 4x4s from the US action show ‘24.’ Sadly it drives more like a coach. So rather than gaining an insight into the life of an action hero, you learn how that poor man who drove your school bus felt each night: A bit tired is the answer.
The refinement on long runs was not terribly impressive and just a little bit schizophrenic. Much of the time it seemed acceptably quiet, but on other journeys there was a general engine noise as the 2.5 diesel engine tried to cope with the enormous 2265 KG of weight and some clatters appeared at one stage – it reminded me of the noise those plastic toys from cornflake packets used to make when you clipped them onto your bicycle spokes.
But that’s not to say it doesn’t have its moments. Every touch of the throttle when moving slowly gives the impression to both you and any passing pedestrians that you have a hurricane under the bonnet – ready to be released at the slightest twitch of your big toe. This put a smile on my face every time I pulled out of the car park. I think I would consider buying a Pathfinder just on that basis. Plus, everyone that has seen me in it has taken me strangely seriously – clearly people who pull up in one of these don’t let people mess them about.
But there is a hierarchy in every walk of life and the Pathfinder did nothing to improve my standing with the trucking community. On some horrific A-road diversion near Duxford, a lorry driver, upon seeing his lane ahead was blocked, tried to out-run me. He should have slowed down, given that I was half way past him. This left me with the option of an emergency stop (and all the risks that go with that) or, because the wheels on this beast wouldn’t be out of place on a tractor, absorb a bit of the central reservation kerb and avoid an accident altogether.
It was the same story when parking in town. You image in it will be immensely hard and start looking for the double-whammy of two parallel spaces. Which almost never happens. But you can just driver over kerbs like they don’t exist. Then when you pop it into reverse, the rear-view camera is like having someone stand at the back and guide you in. It is much nicer than parking sensors that whistle at you until they have made you agitated.
Unfortunately the car still whistles at you a lot. It gives you at least 3 bleeps when you unlock the car, lock the car, start the car, stop the car. It would have been less irritating if they were jolly tunes rather than audio equivalent of elipses. Other little design irritations include the location of the door handles; they are positioned so that the shorter driver or passenger has to do a comedy stretch out of the side of the car in order to reach, which passers-by who heard something beeping, may find some schadenfreude-amusement in.
The seats are comfortable, the visibility tremendous and there is nothing wrong with the build quality. Everything is a bit bland but, heck, when I tell you that a 2006 year Pathfinder can be yours for less than £14,000, will you care that much?
If you are re-programming the Sat-Nav or searching for a radio station while on the move, you will, as the legal disclaimer on the dash warns you, probably regret it. This car, more than most others, will wander if left to its own devices – it’s the price you pay for having those big farmer-boy wheels.
Around town, you will also find the steering a bit heavy (although no heavier than the more expensive Volvo XC90). You should also be prepared that if weaving in and out of lanes or turning tight corners, a little more thought is required; the back of the car is about four metres behind you. It is impossible to please all the people all the time of course; if you want a light inner city experience, buy a Hyundai i10. If you want a butch 4x4 that no one will mess with, then buy a Pathfinder.
Summary
A macho-looking 4x4 that turns heads and delivers in a basic-way. Practical and straightforward but not impressive in terms of equipment or comfort.
Road test car details:
Nissan Pathfinder 2.5 dCi Sport
OTR: £26,745 (new price – see 4x4 pages for used prices)
MPG: 28.8
0-62: 11.9 secs
CO2 g/km: 264
By: Matthew Tumbridge