Test drive Nissan Pathfinder 2005 - 2007 SUV

In search of the edge of the world

With the third generation of Nissan trackers, we happened to get to know the very edge of the world -in Portugal, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Quickly gaining popularity in America, Pathfinder intended to conquer Europe once again.

The second generation of the Nissan Pathfinder, shown in 1996, appeared before a somewhat surprised public in all the glory of the design of Monoframe - with a frame welded to the body. This time, Nissan went even further, supplying the next generation of his medium -sized SUV with a completely independent spring suspension. On the other hand, diesel engines returned to the power gamut, in combination with which extremely interesting transmissions are offered-5-speed automatic and 6-speed mechanical. At the same time, a lowering gear remained in the handout, and the drive was implemented on the principle of on-demand (moment on demand), that is, with an automatic connection of the front bridge. Electronics know most of the functions, but the new Nissan has not turned into a robocop, leaving the driver a leading place. The style of the car is focused on the future and at the same time is based on the family features and finds tested on the magnificent concept of Dunehauk. Pathfinder is an ideal image of the XXI century, which is equally good both on asphalt and off -road, combines comfort and good handling, successfully balances between the complexity of the design and potential survivability in difficult operating conditions, which will probably be able to attract a wide range of demanding buyers.

For home, for the family

In fact, we could not completely get used to the role of the average owner of Pathfinder, since the automakers had not yet guessed to invite not only journalists, but also their family to such events. But the portrait of the buyer is quite transparent and clear even without marketing research. The soul of an elegant cut hides a thirsty for adventure - our hero, as well as his car, has excellent adaptability to the habitat. In other words, when he replaces the business sset to storm from Gortex, no one will say that this style is not to his face. The current Pathfinder is seven -seater, and the second and third rows are folded in a variety of versions, freeing up a place for cargo up to 2800 mm long or turning into an even bed, on which a person will fit a ninety meter. With all the ranks installed in the passenger position, a place for 190-liter baggage remains, which is perhaps the best indicator in the class of medium-sized SUV. True, a second -row mechanism was very difficult to use, which can be removed in a ratio of 35x35x30 percent. It has two handles and a ring of pillows. As a result of the jerking for everything at all, I achieved that the pillow leaned back, the back was formed, and after the whole seat, including a powerful tubular frame, which children's chairs are attached to the ISOFIX system, rose on its hind legs ... But they pleased the places for storing road trifles including a double glove, a large box in an armrest, pockets and cards scattered throughout the cabin. Even under the label of the trunk, we found a locker suitable for storing objects of automotive and relevant arsenal.

In the patrol style

The driver’s place was decided in a car with a vertically standing steering wheel and a low landing with elongated legs. This is a distinctive feature inherited by the model from Terrano. Now, however, the space has become noticeable and the convenience of landing has almost no shortcomings. Almost - because the seat pillow could be longer, and the adjustment of it is more. And so knees almost hang in the air. But there is enough space for the rear row passengers.

A completely new instrument panel is most similar to Patrolevsky, but somewhat more elegant and fresh. The general solution of the interior echoes the corporate identity in the design of the exterior. This is a certain industrialism of the 21st century in combination with moderate Japanese minimalism with equilibrium between functionality and form. At the head of the central console in the most expensive versions, a 4-inch screen of the navigation system, on-board computer and audio was located. By the way, Pathfinder install a 6-disc receiver that can read the discs recorded in the MP3 standard. The acoustics showed itself from the best side, giving out a juicy sound throughout the frequency range. Navigation was supplemented by a very useful function - showing traffic details in the form of real streets and roads along which the car is moving, with houses, signs and signs, as if from the window of the car. A spectacle from a fantastic action movie! And the navigator can contact the information center through a satellite and tells the driver about traffic jams, road repairs and the like obstacles lying in the way!

Diesel machine is not a comrade

The first Pathfinder of the tests we tested on the test was equipped with a diesel engine and an automatic gearbox. The motor is completely new, serially has not yet been put anywhere. When developing this 2.5-liter Common Rail of the YD series, the designers clearly tried to provide it with the highest torque in the widest speed range. The box in theory should help him realize all its potential. In fact, it turned out that the automatic transmission is clearly designed for gasoline, and some excess thrust at low revolutions turns into a power of power for a diesel engine immediately after 4000 rpm. Later we went on mechanics, and the best impressions remained of it. After the diesel transmission showed itself an ideal option for a car with a diesel engine in the first and sluggish in the fifth gear of automatic transmission. The next day of the test, we were presented for a brief acquaintance of the pre-production version of Pathfinder, equipped with a new gasoline 4.0-liter V6, which will go to markets only of some countries, probably to ours too. After a diesel engine, this option can be called a hurricane. There are no data on the dynamics of the car yet, but it can stay in the tail of the Nissan Z350 relative at a speed of two hundred. Acceleration to a hundred, according to our measurements, approaches 8 - 8.5 seconds.

The car has excellent aerodynamics. At a speed of 130 km/h, only diesel is heard. There is no familiar to other SUVs of the wind at all. When we moved into a car with a mechanical transmission, the roar of the motor did not interfere with the talk in an undertone at a speed of 140 km/h! At the same time, the car behaves very, very good. Of course, his steering wheel is empty at the very zero and the excess argument causes a rather violent reaction, but the reactive force is great, and the feedback is sufficient for accurate control at high speeds. The Pathfinder section with almost mountain serpentine is very stable and predictable. In critical situations, an electronic trajectory retention system and very powerful brakes with a slightly sluggish, but quite accurate pedal are connected. According to the manufacturer, the braking distance Pathfinder is the shortest in the classroom.

The clutch of joy

As an off -road part of the test, we were offered two sites: one with a crossed area, the second - sandy. The Pathfinder uses the All Mode 4WD all-wheel drive system, related to the X-TRIIL installed. Connecting the front bridge in it is led by a multi -disc cyk with an electric servo, connected through a microprocessor with ABS sensors. That is, with the advent of a significant difference in the speed of rotation of at least one wheel in relation to the rest of the coupling, the Nissan becomes all -wheel drive. Without this, 100% of the moment is transmitted to the rear axle. The system is controlled by the handle on the central console.

The switch has four provisions - the rear -wheel drive, an automatic full, full with a blocked differential and full with the transfer case that is turned on by a nearby. At AUTO 4WD, the moment is distributed smoothly along the axes, in a ratio of 0: 100 to 50:50, depending on the situation. Additionally, the ESP+electronic system is involved in the all -wheel drive traffic, braking slipping wheels. To the question about the reserve of strength and the possibility of overheating of the coupling, one of the Nissan specialists assured that the supply is sufficient, although there are borders, and when exceeding the loads, the mechanism simply prevents the transmission, and the presence of a lowering transmission provides a high bar of the system. In fact, it turned out that with too steep diagonal hanging the car crawls up while there is enough wheel clutch, or simply twisted by the hydrotransformer of the automatic transmission. Manual transmission allows you to move the limit of Pathfinder capabilities, limiting it to the parameters of geometric patency and the tenacious tires. In our case, the high -tier's rubber surrendered first.

In principle, SUV, similar to Pathfinder, is not intended for crossing water barriers, so there is no information about the depth of the ford, although the external inspection and the inspection of the subsidiary space indicate a safe depth of 40 centimeters, no more. At least I did not see the hoods of the hoods brought under the hood. But what will happen if Pathfinder on the forest road to the picnic falls into a clay puddle or will drive on the rut, I found out, looking up from the group and turning into a strange Portuguese forest. Sequoias, cork oaks and an incredible number of various bushes are growing there, terribly scraping the Nissan body. So: entering a puddle or track, you should be afraid of a license plate hanging on the very edge of the front bumper, and when you drive away or get out, monitor the reserve hanging under the rear overhang, and mudguards, which, however, are easy to install in place. The car sits on the spare tire without warning, since an independent suspension practically does not inform the pilot about the residual road lumen, as is the case with hard bridges. A little rear wheels go deeper into the rut or hole, as if someone had enough for the rear bumper. It is important to stop in time and evaluate the situation so as not to aggravate the situation up to a dense landing. However, by drawing an analogy with the Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX56, it can be assumed that when the luxury version of Pathfinder is released under the Infiniti brand, pneumoballones will appear in its rear suspension, and this will improve the situation.
Large transverse irregularities are easily and relaxed. The suspension equipped with reproach stability stabilizers works excellently when passing a series of fast turns like a snake. There were no special rolls and cloves, except for the track on the gravel, the car did not hold too confidently.

The market is waiting

Nissan Pathfinder will appear on sale in the spring. At a price of 50,000 euros for the basic configuration, it will become an extremely dangerous opponent in his segment. Its main competitors are seen by Mitsubishi Pajero, Jeep Cherokee and large Korean SUVs. The remaining brothers in arms - like Land Cruiser Prado, VW Touareg or Land Rover Discovery - is much more expensive. At first, a diesel version with two transmission options will enter the Russian market, and the gasoline version of Pathfinder will appear in the fall. In the meantime, our choice is a diesel with mechanics. The SUV with a similar combination of power plant can much in skillful hands, forgives mistakes and helps to realize the full potential of the new Nissan, looking for his way.

Grades off-road

Pathfinder geometry is very good for an SUV this class. The angles of the entrance and congress are 33 and 25 degrees, the angle of longitudinal patency is 24 degrees. The maximum road clearance is not an extra 254 mm at all. The suspension showed itself unexpectedly soft on a highly crossed area with constant diagonal hanging and a large amplitude of transference through the upper points of obstacles. Many SUVs with an independent suspension are frighteningly thumping, shaking the gut of passengers, but Pathfinder is gently rolling, although the overall energy intensity of the suspension seemed more than sufficient.
 
 

A source: Magazine 4x4 [04/2005]