A face only a mother could love.

As much as I liked my '01 Isuzu Trooper, it was getting a little long in the tooth. I really didn't want to buy a new vehicle, but the botched body work by my local 'ZU dealer to replace the entire roof (due to rust developing around the sunroof opening) put me over the edge.

I had briefly believed there was going to be a new Toyota Forerunner in my parking spot, but that deal fizzled New Year's Eve like a damp firecracker. It was for the best, though. I never liked pink tail light lenses anyhow (why does Toyota do that??). For a variety of reasons, I had previously considered the Nissan Pathfinder. So, during the following week, I conducted a feverish search of dealer inventories via the Internet. In order to save a few bucks, I really wanted a leftover 2006. Although that was in January of the new model year and supply was dwindling, I located one only a couple of miles from home that was exactly what I wanted, even down to the color and trim.

All current Pathfinders are fairly well equipped, but I chose the top-of-the-line LE model because it comes standard with everything I wanted, and then some. I resisted the urge to buy the four wheel drive version. Just like I reasoned when I bought the 2WD Trooper, I didn't want the ongoing expense of added maintenance and fuel costs associated with 4WD, not to mention the extra initial cost at purchase. I don't go off-road at all, and driving conditions in SE Texas, with the possible exception of navigating road-kill armadillos, rarely warrant 4WD. Consequently, settling on a 2WD vehicle required no second thought.

Overall, the Pathfinder is a very attractive truck in my opinion. Everything about it has a beefy look to it. The lines are somewhat angular, but not overwrought. The large wheel arch flares (which are formed as part of the fenders, rather than being plastic add-ons) and 17-inch alloy wheels give it a muscular stance. The almost vertical rear hatch is totally businesslike, and the standard roof rails and cross bars confirm the broad utility of the vehicle.

The design of the rear doors leaves no doubt whose stable this pony sprang from. Love 'em or loathe 'em, the rear-canted "C" pillars and vertically mounted rear door handles are trademark Nissan. Less creative, though, is the front end styling, which is identical to the Frontier pickup truck in every respect forward of the rear doors. I would have preferred they at least use a different, more attractive grill, but Nissan failed to consult me on that.

Equipment-wise, the truck is fully, and I mean FULLY, loaded. The navigation system, which is absent on my truck, is one of only a handful of options available for the LE. The only installed option on my truck was carpeted F/R floor mats, which I have since replaced with factory all-weather rubber mats. At the risk of appearing to cut-and-paste from the window sticker, the impressive list of standard equipment includes:

Full Body-On-Frame Construction
270 HP 4.0L V6 Engine (sweet!)
5-Speed Automatic Transmission with Overdrive (even sweeter!)
Traction Control (well, kinda sorta)
Rack and Pinion Steering (thank you, Nissan)
Independent Rear Suspension (thank you again)
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
Front and Side Air Bags for Front Seat Occupants
Power Moonroof with Sun Shade and One-Touch Open / Close
Automatic Dual Zone Climate Control with Separate Rear Passenger Compartment Controls
Automatic Headlight On/Off
Ten Speaker Bose Audio with Subwoofer and 6-Disk CD Changer (MP3 Compatible)
Steering Wheel Mounted Audio and Cruise Control Switches
8-Way Driver and 4-Way Passenger Heated Power Seats
Driver Memory System (2)
Power Windows with Driver's One-Touch
Power Adjustable Pedals
Power Heated Outside Mirrors
Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror with Compass / Temp Readouts and Three Homelink Buttons
Full Orange Backlit Instrumentation
Full Function Trip Computer / Info Display
Perforated Leather Seating and Steering Wheel Cover
Wood Grain Interior Trim (though, just a bit cheesy)
Third Row Seat (such as it is)
Reclining 2nd Row Seatbacks (outboard seats only)
Fold Flat 2nd and 3rd Row Seats
Class III Trailer Hitch Receiver (6,000 lb. towing capacity)
6-Spoke 17-Inch 6-Bolt Alloy Wheels (including the spare)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System

. . . and it goes on . . . and on.

The drive train components of this truck work together flawlessly. The beautifully responsive 24-valve V6 engine moves this 2 1/4 ton hauler in a "right now" manner. When the right foot signals that it's time to advance, it's on it with a vengeance. The mechanicals aren't shy about offering audible feedback when you toe into the power, and I still grin every time I do it. The transmission compliments the engine almost perfectly. It is so smooth and quick that, without the electronically controlled split-second rpm drops at upshift points, its internal goings-on would be nearly imperceptible. Downshifts are just as pleasing, as they occur with only a twitch of the go pedal.

I find the front seats to be exceptionally comfortable, which is surprising considering how firm they are. They are simultaneously supportive and compliant, a design feat many auto manufacturers still can't pull off. Second row seats aren't quite as well executed. The seat and back cushions are flatter, and toe room is, shall I say, close. I can't speak to the "back there" comfort factor, because I've never ventured there. The third row seat, vinyl covered to match the leather on the others, is best reserved for a well mannered pet. Getting to it is a royal pain, at best, making it unsuitable for car-seat-bound rug rats. On the other hand, it's probably ideal for rambunctious pre-schoolers, 'cause they can't easily get anywhere else from there.

With the third row seat folded flat (which is how it will stay in my truck), cargo room is ample. Unfortunately, it isn't as cavernous as the Trooper, even though spec-wise the two trucks are identical in height. The difference is in the top 3.5 inches measured on the Pathfinder - they are occupied by the roof rails. Consequently, the interior height is 3.5 inches lower than the rail-less Trooper. Further, the folded third seat, although creating a perfectly flat cargo surface, actually forms a floor that is higher than in the two-seating-row Trooper. Guess the next refrigerator will have to be delivered.

Steering response is far quicker and more accurate than in my Trooper. Boost assist is managed electronically by engine speed-sensitive programming. It is nicely weighted at all speeds, with no perceptible transitions. Road feedback through the wheel is very good. It's simply a fact that the rack-and-pinion setup has it all over recirculating ball steering.

The Pathfinder's suspension is somewhat of a mixed bag. I'm repeatedly surprised at how flatly this truck corners. Fairly tight 90 degree turns can be accomplished at 25 MPH without the inside frame rail attempting to distance itself from the pavement. Maybe I'm still transitioning from the Trooper and it's tendency to roll. When suggesting that it slightly alter its forward direction, it seemed to prefer to do so on its side. "Keep the shiney side up," Dad always said. He must have known I'd drive a Trooper someday.

The bouncy pieces have a couple of shortcomings, though. At highway speeds the front end feels a bit looser than I like - the wheels seem to not stay firmly planted on slightly irregular swept concrete. Whether that's a valid issue that I have to adapt to, or whether it's just my imagination, I can't really say. At the other end of the rolling stock, the rear tends to wallow a little before fully comprehending steering input from the front. Both issues can likely be resolved with upgraded aftermarket suspension components. It's just regrettable that Nissan's slide rule slingers missed the mark on this part of an otherwise very capable machine.

A few short-and-sweets:

The Climate Control system, so far, seems totally adequate in keeping all this inside space at a comfortable temperature. I'm sure that the four roof mounted vents over the second and third row seats help in that regard. I'll report back in July the first time we hit 105!!

I'm not a fan of Bose Audio, which typically offers muddy lows, weak mids and shrill highs. But this system seems to reproduce most sounds clearly and accurately throughout the frequency range. Maybe my hearing is failing, or maybe the acoustics in this truck are better suited to the Bose than the '02 Audi A4 in my life (which has an almost identical system). Regardless, I take no issue with its ability to entertain in a relatively enjoyable way.

Fuel mileage . . . well, it is what it is. 16 around town, 21 on the highway is typical for me. Nothing to write home about, but identical to the Trooper. The undeniable fact is that a 4500 lb vehicle requires more go-juice to motivate than one weighing 3000 lbs. It can run safely on 87 octane fuel, but it takes a slight power hit in the process. I use 91 octane consistently. When the price passed $3.00/gal, I swore I would change to regular. At $3.16, I'm still feeding it the good stuff.

Fit and finish are very respectable. The body panels align evenly, the switchgear operates smoothly and with good tactile feedback, and, except for an awful lot of hard plastic surfaces (the dash, console and door panels), interior materials are attractive and of good quality. The controls are laid out in logical fashion. My only complaint is that the power window buttons on the front doors would be more comfortably located slightly forward of where Nissan chose to plant them. But that's a minor issue, and I've adapted.

For the money I spent, I don't believe I could be any more pleased with a new vehicle. Its size, power, comfort, capacity, handling, equipment and appearance are everything I need and want. But make no mistake, the Pathfinder is a truck, with true truck capabilities. Although it is almost car-like in comfort and handling, it is still a breed apart from a crossover vehicle. I prefer it that way. Others may not.

Note - I rated Reliability "4" because I have owned the truck only five months and driven a mere 3300 miles. No problems so far, but it's really too early to predict long term reliability.