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| Cato on
canadacar
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| 14 July 2000
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NISSAN PATHFINDER
To truly appreciate what improvements Nissan has made to the 2001 Pathfinder, you must enjoy studying thermal efficiency, the inertia effect of long a branch manifold, improved volumetric efficiency and...
Oh, heck. Rather than launch into a technical dissertation sure to have you dozing off, let me just tell you that Nissan beefed up the power. Where the 1995-2000 Pathfinder had 170 horsepower, the 2001 has 250 hp. (manual transmission) or 240 hp (automatic). Where the old Pathfinder had a rather wimpy 200 ft-lbs of torque (which measures critical twisting force to the driven wheels), the new one has a Schwarzeneggarian 265 ft-lbs (automatic) or 240 ft.-lbs. (manual).
And folks, those numbers make this latest Pathfinder -- with its new engine, new interior, added features and slightly larger price tag - the most powerful V6-powered sport-utility vehicle in its class.
As for the whole story about thermal and volumetric efficiency, long branch manifolds and so on? Well, the short version goes like this: any time engineers improve breathing into and out of an engine, along with doing a better job of managing the 2,000-plus Celsius in heat associated with combustion, then the result is better performance. And when they take out weight, better still.
In the case of the 2001 Pathfinder, they have put in a new engine, one adapted from the Nissan Maxima Sedan. Both engines are the same size at 3.5-litres of displacement. But this new Pathfinder engine is a lightweight powerplant made of all alloy material, and it's all nicely finished to reduce friction (and heat).
 Fact is, this engine is 16 kilograms lighter than the old cast iron engine in last year's Pathfinder. It also comes with all sorts of advanced computer controls to make it breath and fire better.
Which brings us to the zoom factor. As in, how zoomy is this updated Pathfinder. Nissan claims 0-100 km/h in 8.0 seconds for the manual, 8.8 sec. for the autobox. That's sporty sedan territory.
There's also a new instrument panel and centre console with a dressier look, and a very generous assortment of gadgets and power accessories. For instance, the most expensive trucks sport steering wheel audio controls and a Bose audio system.
Nissan also has made electronically-controlled all-mode or full-time four-wheel drive available on SE and LE models with automatic transmissions. The all-mode system slips from two- to four-wheel drive automatically, depending on road conditions.
The latter is important because the strictly part-time four-wheel system that has long been a Pathfinder staple is not sophisticated enough for many buyers in the burgeoning sport-ute market. If you're an off-roader, note that the four-wheel auto system can be locked in four-wheel drive, for the really nasty stuff.
Not that the typical Pathfinder ($34,700-$44,300) gets into the nasties very often. Canada's favourite compact sport-ute attracts 9.3 per cent of buyers not because it's a path-breaker. Rather, it's a winner for having all the functionality and user-friendliness of a station wagon, clean styling and above all excellent quality, reliability and durability. In the most recent J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey, it ranked first among sport-utes and it's a recommended buy from Consumer Reports.
Plus, it's just a very comfortable truck. A little generic, a little bland, maybe. But comfortable. And if you own one, chances are it will start every day for the next 10 years.
Just as it has for the last five. You see, the basic design of the 2001 Pathfinder dates to 1996. A total redesign is a year to 18 months away, so in the interim Nissan has done its tweaking here and there.
Today, the Pathfinder has a certain kind of honest charm. Especially as the ranks of new, flashy sport-utes and hybrid car-truck vehicles like the Pontiac Aztec continue to swell. There's something very true-blue about a truck with squared off sheetmetal on the outside and levers and controls to play with on the inside. A lever, that is, for the part-time four-wheel-drive system with the manual gearbox. Manual gearbox? Rare in a sport-ute world of automatics.
Still, there's no question Nissan has gussied up the Pathfinder with luxury do-dads, in order to clearly differentiate it from the Nisan Xterra sport-ute -- a really serious truck.
The top-of-the-line LE version ($44,300) comes standard with not just power everything, but also auto on/off headlights, the Bose sound system, automatic climate control, fender flares with mud guards, a power sliding glass sunroof... The list is long, indeed.
Features aside, the Pathfinder's ride quality is impressive. Coil springs soak up bumps and body roll is held nicely in check by front and rear stabilizer bars. My SE tester also had fat 255/65/R16 tires to hold the road AND cushion the ride. And if you are among the 3-5 per cent of sport-ute owners who actually venture off-road from time to time, I can say from personal experience the Pathfinder is extremely competent.
Let me put it this way: I've yet to meet a disappointed Pathfinder owner, and as far as my wife is concerned, it's her favorite sport-ute.
2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE
Engine: (front engine/all-mode four-wheel drive) 3.5-litre V6, w/four valves per cylinder operated by dual overhead camshafts (DOHC); electronic engine management/sequential port fuel injection; 250 hp at 6,000 rpm; torque rated at 265 ft-lbs at 3,200
rpm.
Transmission: five-speed manual or electronically controlled automatic w/overdrive
($2,000).
Steering: power-assisted rack-and-pinion.
Brakes: power-assisted front disc/rear drum with four-wheel anti-lock
(ABS).
Tires: P255/65SR16 mud and snow rated tires.
b: 2,700 mm. or 106.3 in.
Curb weight: 1,954 kg or 4,305 lbs.
Max. trailer weight: 2,268 kg. or 5,000 lbs.
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 15.6 city/11.9 hwy or 18.1/23.8 mpg
Price (MSRP base): $38,200; freight: $972.
Key standard equipment: alloy wheels, full-size spare, fuel tank skid plate, roof rack rails, front bumper mounted tie down hook, 60-40 split fold-down rear seat, cargo area concealed storage bin and mini storage bin, overhead sunglass storage, white-faced gauges, cruise control, manual control AC, power windows/door locks/heated outside mirrors, AM/FM stereo CD and six speakers, power sliding glass sunroof, tilt steering flip-out
liftgate glass, front, rear and centre console box power outlets, delay accessory power, cloth
upholstery.
Key options: automatic transmission ($2,000), leather and side airbag package
($3,200).
J.D Power & Associates Initial Quality Ratings (industry average 154
b: 125
Nissan lineup: 153
Consumer Reports predicted reliability: average
(recommended).
Performance in 0-100 km/h: 8.0 seconds
Safety/security: dual airbags; available; no rating for headrest effectiveness; anti-theft device; four star/five star rating for driver/passenger crash protection; five star/five star front/rear side impact crash protections; worse than average rating for collision claims; worse than average rating for comprehensive claims; worse than average rating for theft claims.
Warranty:
Basic: three years/80,000 km
Major components: five years/100,000 km.
Rust perforation: five years/unl. km.
Roadside assistance: three years/unl. km.
Pros
* Finally, a hot engine that really makes Pathfinder go
* Top-notch quality history
Cons
* Not as big inside as some rivals
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