Driving Impressions

The Pathfinder is a mighty smooth operator. Not only is Nissan’s SUV a true pleasure to drive and ride in, but it also delivers plenty of performance. The ride quality reaches close to gentle, and it gets choppy only on washboard-type road surfaces. Despite the soft ride, the Pathfinder’s handling ranks above average as it maneuvers easily and adeptly. It stays relatively flat in curves and corners, and little correction is needed on straightaways. An easy-acting automatic transmission delivers prompt gear changes.

The seats are comfortable and supportive. The backseat is as inviting as the front seat, and it offers fine legroom but not quite as much headroom. The Pathfinder is very carlike, in the best sense of the word.

    See also:

    Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
    WARNING: - Do not depress the accelerator pedal while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neutral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive), Ds (Drive Sport) or (M) Manual shift mode. Always depress the brake peda ...

    Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system (if so equipped)
    The Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system uses various sensors to monitor driver inputs and vehicle motion. Under certain driving conditions, the VDC System helps to perform the following funct ...

    Using panic alarm
    If you are near your vehicle and feel threatened, you may activate the alarm to call attention as follows: 1. Push the PANIC button 3 on the keyfob for more than 1 second. 2. The theft warn ...