Nissan Pathfinder



The Pathfinder (or Terrano outside the North American market) is a midsize SUV by Japanese auto manufacturer Nissan. The first generation Pathfinder/Terrano platform, introduced in 1986, is also known as the WD21, and the second generation Pathfinder platform is known as the R50.

Until 2003, most Pathfinders were built in Japan, before shifting production to Smyrna, Tennessee. In late 2003, the fullsize Nissan Pathfinder Armada debuted, although the Armada no longer uses the "Pathfinder" prefix. In 2005, a redesigned Pathfinder was released and the Pathfinder name became international as it sold worldwide. It surpassed the Murano in size recently, and now slots between the Murano and Armada.

See Wikicars' comprehensive Nissan Pathfinder Review.

Recent Changes

 * The European Pathfinder and Navarra range has been given a facelift for 2010 as well as a new 3.0 litre Diesel V6 producing 231 hp and 405 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque available between 1,750 rpm and 2,500 rpm.

Styles and Major Options
The 2006 Nissan Pathfinder comes available in 4 trims: the S, SE, SE Off-Road, and LE. The S clovis carpet cleaning includes the most basic features, and each trim above it contains some standard upgrades. All but the SE Off-Road, which comes standard with a 4x4 drivetrain, are offered in either 4x2 or 4x4 versions, and all come standard with an automatic transmission. Additional option packages, such as Splash Guards or the Side Airbags Package, are also available for certain trims.

Pathfinder S
 * 4.0L 270hp V6 Engine
 * 5-speed Automatic Transmission
 * Power Windows, Locks, and Mirrors
 * Cruise Control
 * Under-Floor Storage
 * Roof Rails

Pathfinder SE
 * Fog Lamps
 * Running Boards
 * 8-Way Power Driver's Seat
 * Flat-fold Front Passenger Seat

Pathfinder SE Off-Road
 * Rancho® Off-Road Performance Shocks
 * Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Asist
 * 16" Aluminum Alloy Wheels
 * Dual Zone Automatic Temp. Control
 * Power Adjustable Pedals

Pathfinder LE
 * Power Sunroof
 * 17" Aluminum Alloy Wheels
 * Bose® Audio System with In-Dash 6-CD Changer
 * Leather-Appointed 1st and 2nd Row Seats
 * Power Heated Front Seats

Pricing
Today's actual prices for the Nissan Pathfinder can be found at CarsDirect.

Gas Mileage
As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Reliability

 * RECALL ALERT: On Oct 7, 2007, Nissan issued a recall for 372,250 MY 1997-2001 Pathfinders and Infiniti QX4s registered in the Northeastern United States (where there are large amounts of road salt in the winter). The problem stems from an insufficient coating on the fuel filler tube which can develop an opening at the lower mounting bracket of the metal fuel filler tube and salt and water will get in and corrode it, thus allowing gas to leak and create a fire hazard.


 * RECALL ALERT: More than 240,000 Nissan Pathfinders, Frontiers and XTerras Recalled


 * RECALL ALERT: Nissan recalls 2010 Pathfinder, Xterra models over potential airbag faults

Safety
Overall, the 2006 Pathfinder has received impressive marks from the NHTSA. Frontal and Side-Impact crash tests yielded ratings of 4/5 stars and 5/5 stars, respectively. In Rollover tests, however, both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive models rated slightly lower with 3/5 stars.

With the exception of side-impact and roof-mounted supplemental airbag packages, which are standard on the LE and optional for the rest, the following safety features can be found on all of the trim levels for the Pathfinder:
 * Advanced Airbag System with Occupancy Sensors
 * Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
 * Electronic Brake-Force Distribution
 * Front Seat Belts with Pretensioners and Load Limiters
 * Front Seat Head Restraints
 * Steel Side-Door Guard Beams
 * LATCH System

Colors
A complete list of colors can be found at CarsDirect.com.

Main Competitors

 * Honda Pilot
 * Volkswagen Touareg
 * Ford Explorer
 * Toyota Highlander
 * Mercury Mountaineer
 * Dodge Durango

Hybrid Models
Nissan has not yet announced any plans to produce a Pathfinder hybrid.

Resale Values
According to Kelley Blue Book, "the Pathfinder is expected to retain a somewhat weak resale figure, with a projected 24-month residual value of just 44 percent for the two-wheel-drive SE and LE and 46 percent for the four-wheel-drive models. In comparison, the Pathfinder's resale value is on par with the Ford Explorer, a few points behind the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and far behind the Hummer H3 and Toyota 4Runner."

Bulk Candy Wholesale

Criticisms

 * "...the second-row seats are snug when it comes to toe and shoulder room." - Edmunds.com
 * "Engine strains slightly in uphill acceleration at highway speeds." - Consumer Guide
 * "Front seats are comfortable and supportive, on road and off, but would benefit from a deeper bottom cushion for added thigh support." - New Car Test Drive

Future
The 2008 Pathfinder was unveiled at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show. The 317 hp V8 from the Armada full-size SUV will be added, along with revised front and rear styling. The interior gets a new center console and controls, along with second row reclining seats and an information center with rearview camera on all but the base model. Top of the line models feature a heated steering wheel, Bluetooth, Intelligent Key, and a revised navigation system with hard drive storage.

Current Generation: (2005–present)
At the 2004 North American International Auto Show, Nissan unveiled a completely redesigned Pathfinder for the 2005 model year. The new Pathfinder uses Nissan's F-Alpha platform, and is powered by a 4.0 L V6 engine VQ40DE (270 hp, 291 ft·lbf).

Second generation (1996-2004)
The second generation was introduced in 1996 with more rounded styling. The second generation pathfinder was completely redesigned from the first generation, switching from frame on body construction to uni-body construction. For the 1999 1/2 model year, the Pathfinder was freshened. 2001 brought a new 240 hp (179 kW) V6 engine, the VQ35DE.

First Generation/Origins
The North American first generation Pathfinder came in two different body styles. From 1986 to 1989 Pathfinders came in a two door body. In 1990 the body changed to a four door. Some 1990 Pathfinder's came with the two door body, but they are rare. From 1986 to 1989 Pathfinders were available with either the Nissan VG30I V6, or the Z24 I4. In 1990 the V6 recieved an upgrade from throttle body injection to a multi point fuel injection system. This engine was known as the VG30E, and was rated at 153 hp and 180 lb/ft torque. The first generation continued until 1995.