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:

    Warning signals
    The Intelligent Key system is equipped with a function that is designed to minimize improper operations and to help prevent the vehicle from being stolen. The warning buzzer sounds and the war ...

    Seats
    Seats - Do not ride in a moving vehicle when the seatback is reclined. This can be dangerous. The shoulder belt will not be against your body. In an accident, you could be thrown into it ...

    Backing up on a steep uphill
    When backing up the vehicle up a hill, the distance guide lines and the vehicle width guide lines are shown closer than the actual distance. For example, the display shows 3 ft (1.0 m) to the pl ...