Though not quite up to Rolls-Royce legendary quietness standards--neitherare Rolls-Royces, for that matter--the Pathfinder is a quiet operator on
paved roads. Wind noise is exceptionally low, and the engine is well-muted.
The tires generate some sound (unavoidable with all-season rubber) but
even that is minimal.
On pavement, the Pathfinder's suspension delivers a comfortable ride.
Soft springs and generous wheel travel smooth out all but the worst bumps;
the sole negative in this area is body roll during cornering, a common
trait for sport-utility vehicles. Steering is good as well, striking a
nice balance between precision and low effort.
Performance is still another Pathfinder plus. Even with a load of passengers
and/or cargo, acceleration is brisk and there's enough torque to pull a
5000-pound trailer.
Good as the five-speed manual transmission is, the four-speed automatic
(standard with the LE) struck us as a better all-around match to our tester's
luxo character. It shifts crisply yet unobtrusively, and subtracts less
from straight-ahead performance than many automatic-equipped sport-utes.