At first glance the Nissan Pathfinder is quite imposing to look at, step inside however you will find a space as civilised and comfortable as an executive estate. The Pathfinder comes in three versions; the Trek, which is a 5-seater and the Sport and Aventura, which have seven seats. All models use the Nissan 2.5-litre 171HP dCi engine. Top speed is just under 110mph, 0-62mph takes just 11.8 seconds and the average fuel consumption with a manual transmission is 28.8 mpg. All models have a six-speed manual transmission as standard with the option to have an automatic, except on the Trek.At the front of the Aventura’s cabin, the driver gets an 8-way, power-adjustable seat, which can be set, along with the mirror positions, in one of the two memory buttons. The front passenger has 4-way power-adjustment to their seat and both are heated. Controls are well located and mostly self-explanatory in their operation. All Pathfinders have dual-zone climate control but the Aventura gains an extra control for the rear heating and air-conditioning. Other top-of-the-range goodies include Xenon headlamps, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and an electric tilt and slide sunroof. In terms of specification the Aventura comprises of; DVD Satellite-Navigation, a colour rear-view reversing camera, Premium Audio system with MP3 compatibility, Bluetooth telephone connectivity, voice-activation for both navigation and phone, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, auto headlights and the Intelligent Key system.
Around town, it feels more compact than it actually is with decent visibility and light, accurate steering. It's a similar story on A and B roads, where good grip and limited bodyroll gives it a feeling more akin to a large estate rather than a 4x4.
All models have two or four-wheel drive, high or low ratio gear selection with electronic stability control and traction control as standard. The Nissan Pathfinder really does offer the best of both worlds.
