Nissan Pathfinder scores Titan's frame for tough SUV action
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
|
BREMERTON, Wash. -- A twin-rut trace, hacked through a fern forest of towering firs, climbs through highland fringes lapping the Puget Sound near Bremerton, Wash.
Thick tree roots and boulder-size rocks plus trunks of fallen firs liter this rugged trail, which seems best suited for agile hikers or sure-footed mules.
However, we're taking it in inch-by-inch increments with a whomp and the whip-squish work from a new double-wishbone suspension as traction applies to all four wheels on Nissan's souped-up Pathfinder sport-utility vehicle.
The traction action this four-wheel-drive (4WD) version of Pathfinder accomplishes quite easily, as the step-up work crawling over so many roots and rocks demonstrates that Nissan's new SUV has the acute angles on front and rear bumpers and a tall chassis height to make such tasks easy.
It's a serious off-road warrior, when properly equipped, and comes with top-of-class powertrain strength plus a wagonload of sophisticated electronic controls to make any off-road trek easy but also safe, even fun.
This treatment marks the latest generational upgrade for Pathfinder, the SUV badge that traces back almost two decades in Nissan's line.
Pathfinder's original model, a savvy three-door sport-utility built on the chassis of a pickup truck, became one of the first concepts from Nissan's California design studio. Market preferences for five-door wagons eventually prompted a five-door Pathfinder that concealed the two rear door handles in broad roof pillars so it still looked like a sporty three-door wagon.
Overhauling the five-door Pathfinder in 1996 led to a larger platform with expanded wheel track and longer wheelbase that stabilized the ride quality, while another rendition in 2001 brought a more powerful V6 engine.
Now, traces of the original five-door Pathfinder design are still apparent in the latest edition of 2005 because the forward-canted C pillars conceal rear door handles as nearly vertical bars blended by body-colored paint.
The new body-on-frame scheme for Pathfinder, which comes together at Nissan's manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tenn., measures far larger than the predecessor.
Its F-Alpha platform -- a light-truck ladder frame with fully boxed side rails -- is actually an abbreviated version of the frame underpinning Nissan's full-size Titan truck and the big Armada SUV.
As a result, wheelbase grows by almost six inches over Pathfinder's predecessor and the overall length of the wagon stretches for five more inches.
These linear expansions move Pathfinder squarely into the mid-size class of SUVs as the extra inches extend the package, particularly for the five-door passenger compartment, which brings more room in the rear to add a standard third-row seat.
That new back seat folds flat into the cargo bay's floor when not needed for passengers.
Seats on the second row also fold and tip forward, and the seatback of the front passenger-side bucket folds down.
When you start flipping and folding the various seats -- second tier is split 40/20/40 in individual sections and the rear bench divides 50/50 -- the various up-and-down seat arrangements add up to 64 different configurations for seats and cargo space.
In the rear bay Nissan adds utility hooks for securing gear plus an optional easy-clean waterproof floor mat.
Styling for the cabin is definitely upscale in tone with clean lines and clever touches including built-in storage compartments (like the stash box hidden below second-row seats) and as many as six cupholders plus four 12-volt power points to drive various electronic gadgets.
Styling for the exterior adopts cues of Titan and Armada, with athletic sheetmetal contours prefaced by a high hood and chin-forward face.
The stubby prow is anchored by a rectangular grille flashing flat diagonal stripes in chrome and corner multi-lens headlamp clusters in pentagonal format.
Flanks look flat, save for flared fenders wrapping around each large wheelwell.
A tall tailgate is nearly vertical with red lamps chiseled into corners and a padded bumper step below.
Nissan casts Pathfinder in three different trim segments -- entry-level XE, upscale SE and deluxe LE -- but adds a special Off-Road package to SE with hardware for serous 4WD trekking.
Interestingly, all three trims come with choices for rear two-wheel-drive (2WD) traction or Nissan's all-mode automatic 4WD system.
The 4WD equipment adds an electronically controlled transfer case for switching between 2WD and automatic all-wheel-drive (AWD) or 4WD high and low ranges.
Pathfinder's Off-Road package also brings additional electronic controls to keep the wagon tracking on steep slopes -- hill descent control (HDC) and hill start assist (HSA).
Four wheel disc brakes link to an anti-lock brake system (ABS) with brake assist (BA) and electronic brake force distribution (EBD) standard on all models.
A vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system is available to maintain lateral stability.
All versions also tote a rack and pinion steering system with power assistance worked through engine speed.
Other safety elements range from frontal air bags for front seat riders to structural crumple zones and body reinforcements, an energy-absorbing steering column and child-proof rear door locks.
Side-impact air bags for front seats and curtain-style air bags concealed above side windows for outboard riders on all three tiers of seats appear on the list of options.
Power for all Pathfinders flows from an impressive V6 assembled at Nissan's engine plant in Decherd, Tenn.
The plant, a new twin-cam design displacing 4.0 liters and metered through Nissan's continuous valve timing control (C-VTC), climbs to 270 hp at 5600 rpm with 291 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm.
Power builds steadily through every shift points, with about 80 percent of the peak torque on tap at only 2000 rpm.
Coupled to the engine is an electronically-controlled automatic transmission with five forward gears.
When properly equipped with a tow rig, Pathfinder earns a towing capacity of 6000 pounds.
|
| 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
5-door mid-size SUV |
| Model Options: |
5-door mid-size SUV |
| Wheelbase: |
112.2 inches |
| Overall Length: |
187.6 inches |
| Engine Size: |
DOHC 4.0-L V6 C-VTC |
| Transmission: |
Auto/5 |
| Drive: |
2WD Rear, 4WD part-time |
| Braking: |
Power 4-disc, ABS/BA/EBD opt. VDC, SE OR: HDC/HSA |
| Airbags: |
2 (front) plus opt. 2 (side) plus opt. 4 (side curtain), LE: 2(front) 2(side) 4(side curtain) |
| Gross Weight: |
2WD: 5800 pounds, 4WD: 6000 pounds |
| Towing Capacity: |
2WD: 6000 pounds, 4WD: 6000 pounds |
| Gas Mileage: |
2WD: 16/23 mpg, 4WD: 15/21 mpg |
| MSRP Price: |
$ 24,650 to $ 32,550 |
|
|
|
The Big Lot! is dedicated to privacy, security, and service. Read our Privacy Policy.
