If Nissan owners conform to the general SUV-buyer profile, most Pathfinders will spend the bulk of their lives on the highway. We spent most of our test drive on paved roads. But we added a foray into the California desert, an unplanned run through a mountain snowstorm and a daylong run around an off-road obstacle course in Canada.The Pathfinder is a competent performer, especially in the highway cruise mode. Soft springs and generous wheel travel smooth out all but the worst bumps. In hard cornering, the body leans a fair amount, but the Pathfinder handles well. The steering strikes a nice balance between precision and low effort. Braking is competent and without drama, since anti-lock brakes are standard equipment.
The Pathfinder performs well even when packed with a full load of passengers and cargo. The engine is responsive and quiet and it's strong enough to pull a 5000-pound trailer. At high altitudes the engine is taxed a bit, so a little planning is needed when attempting a pass in the mountains. The base 5-speed manual transmission shifts well. Even better is the 4-speed automatic, which comes standard with the LE package. The automatic matches the Pathfinder's character well upshifting and downshifting responsively for efficient, pleasant city driving. Automatics are preferred by many experienced drivers for off-road use. Sport-utility vehicles are not noted for fuel efficiency. Our 18-mpg average during testing was par for the SUV course.