Full Test: 1996 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4X4

Nissan's Pathfinder on Urban Safari

By B. Grant Whitmore Email
Date posted: 01-01-1999

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By now you've seen it outrunning rhinos, entertaining vervet monkeys and negotiating cape buffalo. The very attractive Nissan Pathfinder strikes an impressive pose in the wilderness of Africa. Unfortunately, most of us will never get to Africa, much less be given the opportunity to explore the continent off-trail in this $33,000 sport/ute. We acquired our Pathfinder in the less exciting, but equally dangerous, Denver metropolitan area. The timing was fortuitous, as my wife and I are in the early stages of buying a sport-utility vehicle to cart our menagerie to Phoenix and back for the winter holidays. This gave us the chance to spend much more time with the Pathfinder than would ever be afforded by a test drive at the dealership with a yammering sales-toady telling us how great the engine is, how the seats can be folded flat, and how he thinks the optional running boards look really smart. To be honest, the Pathfinder wasn't even on our list when Nissan dropped off its new-for-96 sport/ute. On a ski trip last winter, we rented a 1995 model that was asthmatic and tinny. Not characteristics I wanted in a vehicle that would get a pretty serious mountain workout on a regular basis. I had seen the new Pathfinder at an auto show and around town, and had decided it was a second-tier vehicle compared to the Toyota 4Runner and Ford Explorer. Sure, the Pathfinder looked pretty, but it didn't offer the value of the Explorer or the Toyota-durability of the 4Runner.

Or so we thought. After spending a week with the Pathfinder SE 4X4, we were seriously considering a stop at our local Nissan dealer for a test drive, and not just for the free binoculars. The 1996 Pathfinder is screwed together tightly; offering a quiet, rattle-free ride on any surface at any speed. The interior can only be described as a masterpiece when compared to the slab-faced dashboard, unsupportive seats, and cave-like darkness of the previous model. The new dashboard features a passenger airbag, something that should help the abysmal crash test scores of previous Pathfinders, and has logically placed buttons and dials for the stereo and climate control systems. Speaking of stereos, audiophiles will have a good reason to look at the Pathfinder. A great sounding CD player and 6-speaker stereo is standard on all Pathfinders, creating a symphonic environment that surpasses the boomy, $706 JBL system that is optional on the Explorer. The Pathfinder's front seats are supportive without being pinchy. The rear seating positions, however, were the real surprise. Ample room and good visibility should quell any teenager protests about having to sit back there, although the narrow rear portals still make exiting and entering a bit harder than it should be. Maximum cargo capacity has been improved by 5 cubic feet, and the overall impression of the cabin is one of airy openness rather than gloomy oppression.

The Pathfinder wouldn't be our vehicle of choice for pushing the limit on one of Montana's use-your-best-judgment freeways, but improvements under the hood are noticeable and welcome. After narrowly surviving a trip to Winter Park, Colorado in a 1995 model, We were thrilled to see that the horsepower was up by 15 and torque by 16 in the new Pathfinder. Coupled with a 190-lb. weight reduction in the XE 4WD model, this means that the Pathfinder can move itself and its cargo up hills without having to shift into second gear, and that it doesn't become a road hazard when entering a high-speed freeway. Other mechanical improvements include the addition of 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes for the entire model lineup, and unibody construction that improves the vehicle's rigidity and handling characteristics. The resulting confidence that these features give drivers and passengers is noticeable on- and off-road. The Pathfinder's shift-on-the-fly 4WD system may seem a little archaic compared to the push-button operation found on the Chevy Blazer, or the AWD system that is standard on the Oldsmobile Bravada, but we still like the idea of shifting, so we weren't too put off by it.

Since on-road is where most of us tend to drive our sport-utility vehicles these days, it is nice to see that Nissan has paid some attention to our gripes. The Pathfinder no longer bumps and grinds along every expansion joint and pothole in the road, giving passengers a smooth ride that isn't very truck-like. The improvements to the chassis were immediately obvious, allowing safe, confident cornering at reasonable speeds. The meaty mud-and-snow tires gripped the tarmac better than we anticipated, squealing only when we mashed the accelerator from a standstill. We also liked the Pathfinder's rack-and-pinion steering, which communicated well and had good on-center feel. The high seating position, plenitude of glass, and small blind spots may make passengers feel a bit exposed at first, but they will quickly learn to appreciate the great views afforded by this capable truck. For suburban driving, the Pathfinder is about as good as it gets in an SUV.

Although most of us never intentionally take our SUVs off road, unless the gravel parking next to the soccer field counts, we still like to think that there are some of you who may actually use this vehicle for camping, hunting, or fishing. To satisfy those readers, our managing editor took the Pathfinder out for a day of wallowing in the mud. After scouting around his favorite stomping grounds for awhile, he chose to tackle a decidedly ugly hill replete with fender-eating trees, axle-smashing boulders, and suspension-crushing ruts. (Read: don't try this at home.) Despite getting out of shape (and on two wheels) on a particularly nasty stretch of this aforementioned game trail, our fearless editor and his faithful steed emerged unscathed and free of rattles; a firsthand testimonial to the rock solid stability of our Pathfinder. Even though you may never have to drive through a mess like that, it's nice to know you can if you buy this truck.

One of our main gripes about the Pathfinder concerns the running boards. They look great, balancing the rather stout body and swollen fender flares, but they are effectively useless. Their small diameter and awkward placement make them impractical for stepping out of the vehicle, but they are the perfect size to brush your calf; leaving mud, tar, oil, or soot on the legs of your favorite chinos. Our other complaint is about the high price. It is still difficult to reconcile the Pathfinder's price with its size and power. A more powerful 4Runner SR5 V-6 can be had for about the same money, so can a roomy Ford Explorer XLT loaded to the gills. For the price of the LE, you can buy a gigantic Mitsubishi Montero with all sorts of cool, gee-whiz options. Still, we think there are more than enough people who will be won over by its faultless interior, shift-on-the-fly 4WD, high standard equipment level, and great exterior styling to keep this vehicle in pretty high demand. By the way, it's still on my Christmas list.