Test drive Nissan Pathfinder 2005 - 2007 SUV

Seeker of adventures

Nissan Pathfinder: A real car for traveling and outdoor activities

The new Pathfinder, built in the image of the Nissan Dunahawk concept car, presented at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, looks simultaneously aggressive and solid. After all, this is how his name was translated, the ranger was taken by an intermediate position between the X-Trail crossover and the Patrol SUV in the Nissan lineup.

Initially, Pathfinder was conceived as a car for active families who love adventures. Sailing sport, skiing on mountain bicycles, climbing, tracking, palagading, horse riding or just walking all these classes involve the presence of a universal car. According to the Nissanists, Pathfinder satisfies this requirement in all respects. In accordance with the tasks, the design of the model also completed the smooth contours of the body, embossed wheel arches, wide tires and a massive, made in the Nissan corporate style of a three-section V-shaped radiator grille. And of course, which became the family feature precisely Pathfinder (well -known to the owners of previous models) tilted at an angle, formed by the frame of the rear door, into which a high -raised handle is built.

A rather spacious salon is ready to take as many as seven (!) Passengers for this in the luggage compartment, two seats removed in the floor are provided. True, climbing on them is not so simple, for this you need to discard one of the seats of the second row and dive for it. But the main advantage of the salon is the breathtaking possibilities of transformation. For example, having folded the rear sofa in parts, you can also back the back of the front passenger seat. As a result, a length of 2.8 m will easily fit inside! It is provided as much as 64 layout options! In addition, the car is literally stuffed with numerous drawers and shelves hidden everywhere wherever possible: on the front panel, between the seats, in the trunk, under the seats of the second row ...

The interior of the new Pathfinder is probably chic, but it is far from poor. For example, already in standard equipment of machines for the Russian market, the stabilization system, headlight washer, rain sensor, climate control, heating the front seats and external mirrors, the route computer and the CD player are included. In any case, there is everything you need for a comfortable driving, and some option additives can create even super -appropriation. What is the built-in camera that transfers color image to the 5.8-inch monitor of the satellite navigation system (installed in the control panel) when the rear transmission is turned on. Or, say, high-quality music of a multi-disc CD changer reading already in MP3 format.

Under the hood of Nissan Pathfinder, a new 2.5-liter turbodiesel equipped with a Common Rail injection system, a turbocharger with a variable geometry and an intermediate air cooler. The characteristics of the motor are impressive: 174 hp. and 403 Nm of torque, which can already be achieved at 2000 rpm of the crankshaft. Working paired with a six -speed manual gearbox, the diesel easily accelerates a two -ton car to a hundred in less than 12 s! Vibration characteristic of such units are reduced to a minimum by installing balancing shafts. The rumbling of the motor does not annoy the driver and passengers did not have to raise their voice.

The gearbox is distinguished by the short moves of the lever and the clarity of the work, and the fuel -dimenship arrow convinces that at the full tank of the diesel fuel (80 l) you can go quite far during active driving along the capital's traffic jams amounted to 11.6 liters per 100 km! Thanks to the excellent elasticity of the motor, it is possible to make rapid restructuring without fear, sometimes without resorting to the help of lowering gearboxes. At the same time, excessive promotion of the motor (over 3000 rpm) does not give any results, the car is tangibly stupid. The mode of movement with cruising speed (140150 km/h) in sixth gear appeared optimal. The sensations are like you are driving an ordinary station wagon, only a higher landing. In addition, the impression is strengthened by the suspension on the waves and hard joints, it works completely lightly. The buildup is minimal, and the side fluctuations in the body are practically absent.

The off -road capabilities of Pathfinder are obvious not only thanks to the aggressive appearance. They can be judged by a large clearance and short overhangs both in front and behind. The frame (!) The car has an independent suspension of both front and rear wheels on double A-shaped levers and is equipped with the latest Nissan all-wheel drive system, which is called All Mode 4x4. Unlike Nissan X-Trail, the main drive of the ranger on the rear wheels. Four transmission modes are set by a rotating handle located at the bottom of the central console. The extreme left position is 2N rear -wheel drive. Traditionally, in this mode it is recommended to travel along roads with hard surface and high -speed tracks. Auto mode drive to all four wheels, however, controlled by electronics. If in this position of the handle it will go along a homogeneous coating, Pathfinder will still be rear-wheel drive, but with the slightest hint to slip, the ALL Mode 4x4 transmission will partially or completely connect the front axle (using multi-disc clover with hydraulic water). In the following mode, 4n clutch closes forcibly Pathfinder becomes a classic all -wheel drive with a rigid connection between the axes. This is exclusively for off -road. And finally, there is a reducing gear 4L. In this mode, the machine is able to overcome steep climbs, crawl with the necessary traction and even tow a trailer weighing up to three tons. By the way, you can use the lower row only after a complete stop. At the same time, the system of dynamic stabilization (ESP) is automatically turned off and electronic imitators of inter -celebrations (Active Brake Limited Slip Differential) are activated, which hold the brakes the boxing wheel. For greater clarity, the modes are displayed on a liquid crystal display built into a tachometer. The icon in the form of a schematic image of the axes of the car clearly shows the driver the used transmission mode All Mode 4x4.

Immediately, the case of checking the main transmission modes was presented, as they say, pouring rain, which instantly soaked the asphalt, went on its own skin. When Pathfinder was included in the next turn at a few high speed, the rear axle was noticeably settled for a 2n position. We switch to Auto mode and repeat the same maneuver, without changing the parameters of movement, the car confidently fits into the turning path. The reaction is all -wheel drive. No jerks and blows in the transmission. The drive is surprisingly soft, and most importantly, quickly connects the front axle, slightly ahead of the wheel of the wheels on the wet road. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to find a real thaw today (after all, a hot summer is in the yard), and therefore it was not possible to fully use other transmission modes. But most likely, if necessary, they will help the driver, of course, if he does not assign the goal of planting the car to death, but this can be done even with a wheel tractor.

The stylish appearance and successful design of the Nissan Pathfinder will find the way to the hearts of customers, although, probably, the main argument in favor of acquiring the tracker will be its reasonable price from $ 44,800 to $ 56,450. By the way, this fall, the top version of Pathfinder with 4- The V6 liter gasoline engine, aggregated only with a five -speed automatic transmission (proposed today as an option for a diesel version), however, its price will, of course, be higher.

Text: Andrey Konstantinov
 

A source: Mkobil magazine [04.07.2005]