Find Your Path

Ignoring my corny heading, the Pathfinder is one of the most properly rounded vehicles I have driven this year. On the outside the Pathfinder shares the same boxy profile as the Nivara, but don’t for a moment think that it is just an enclosed Nivara. Yes, they share some panels but the Pathfinder is in essence, a vehicle on its own.

So, what is it like then? The Pathfinder is an incredibly butch looking thing with its flat front and large grille. On the inside, the Pathfinder again feels very similar to the Nivara, but is laced in leather. The dashboard is home to a 6 CD shuttle radio, controls for the climate control for both the front and the rear passengers, controls for the heated seats as well as things like buttons for the stability control and so on.

There is a third row of seats hidden in the floor of the boot. The boot is probably one of the biggest I have ever seen, just so by the way. All in all, the Pathfinder is as good as a SUV gets below the R550 000 mark. The drive is great. The handling is superb. The six speed gearbox is smooth. And I could just leave it there, but the real reason why I took the Pathfinder for a spin is because the 2.5 litre diesel motor that hides under the bonnet has been given a stiff shot of espresso and a good bashing with the ‘get-more-out-of-it’ hammer.

The ‘old’ 2.5 diesel motor produced 126 kW and 403 Nm. The ‘newer’ unit after a few tweaks here and there now produces a serious 140kW and 450 Nm.

I really do love this motor. All the Torque means things like up hills and towing are a doddle. Plant your foot into the carpet and you are met by a tiny bit of turbo lag, but the low down grunt starts to push the revs up until just below the 2000 RPM mark and then the turbo comes in. It is like being hit across the back of the head with a cricket bat. There is no other way to describe the surge of power other than brutal…and slightly addictive.

The fact of the matter is the Pathfinder is an incredibly comfortable vehicle, which offers seating for 7 people, is brilliant off-road, has monstrous power, and because its engine is slightly smaller than most of the competition – 2.5 litre instead of 3.0 litre, returns good fuel economy. Nissan claim a combined fuel consumption of 8.5 litres per 100 kilometres. I managed 9.5 litres per 100 during my time behind the wheel, but please do remember I was enjoying the full brunt of the Pathfinder, so it shouldn’t be that difficult to achieve the claim figure.

If I had the money and was in the market for this calibre of SUV, this is the one I’d have in my garage.