Nissan Pathfinder 2012 brings the old school feel of a SUV in its true sense. Car review

In today’s modern world, the word ‘utility’ in SUV is camouflaged by styling, design and other luxury add-ons. Many SUV’s built today are made in a way to suit more of tarmac driving then to dominate challenging terrains. In this process, the old school ruggedness and ‘never say die’ attitude of a SUV is quite missed.

In such a market, when you meet an SUV in its true sense of term, it steals your heart away. Nissan Pathfinder 2012 brings an extended smile on your face for the same reason. Its rugged styling, the spacious interiors which are simple in layout but designed in way to suit all your off-road activities, a robust frame and 4.0L V6 brings back the true meaning of an off roader.

Picture Courtesy: www.nissan-me.com

Nissan Pathfinder bears a boxy exterior design which gives it a retro feel. The windows are in square shapes much like an armed military vehicle. Nissan’s signature family grille lies between the bold headlights and sporty fog lamps on the bumpers. Pathfinder offers nearly 9” of ground clearance which means a good amount of space below to pass comfortably over uneven terrain. The side profile of this SUV is very rugged considering there are no lines or curves, only a flat out design with profound wheel arches. As a matter of fact, the second door handles are placed on the top left to make the side look as flat as possible. On the rear the design is very simple yet striking, stylish tail lamps and a pop out rear bumper add to its boldness. The glass on the back door opens separate from the door for convenience with loading and unloading of small cargo. A lightweight steel roof rail, sun roof and 17” alloys make for rest of the exterior design. As you may have notice, every detail in Pathfinder’s exterior is concentrated towards off-roading and this is quite appreciated in UAE.

The 2012 model of Pathfinder is generous with space and loaded with technology. It lays everything in a simple design which gives it an old school look, further emphasizing on the true feel of a 4×4. The central stack incorporates a LCD which displays navigation, rear view camera and other useful information. A premium 10 speaker, 6 CD changer Bose surround sound system delivers rich music quality. Pathfinder also offers Bluetooth hands free phone system for convenience with phone calls when on the move. The Keyless smart entry system allows the Pathfinder to recognize you as you approach and unlocks the doors with a press of a button. As such this SUV is loaded with tech to provide utmost comfort when on the move.

Picture Courtesy: www.nissan-me.com

So much for technology, for the styling seats, steering wheel, gear stick and other components are wrapped in leather which gives the interior a soothing feel. Fake wood finishing on the central console and door casing goes in tune with the leather upholstery. Leg and head room is ample except for the third row which can only fit children comfortably. Various pockets are placed around the cabin and come in handy for storage of small useful stuff. When the are seats folded to a nearly flat surface, Pathfinder offers a sizable space to load in cargo of any size or shape. The cabin of Pathfinder is intelligently designed, keeping in mind passenger comfort and space to support equipment when off-roading.

Picture Courtesy: www.nissan-me.com

Nissan Pathfinder propels with a mighty 4.0L V6 fuel injector engine. This power pumping engine is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive (XE) or manual mode (SE & LE). Pathfinder commandingly crawls over any terrain without the slightest exertion on its power capacity. It handles amazingly well on sand through a smooth and controlled steering wheel. However, because of its slow steering ratio, Pathfinder feels less agile on city streets but the drive remains smooth. For off-roading purposes this SUV is integrated with technology like Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist provided great help on challenging slopes. Truly, Pathfinder has an amazing off-roading capability, it is equipped with everything to comfortably take you to the less accessible parts of UAE.

To safeguard its passengers in the event of an accident, Nissan Pathfinder is loaded with 6 airbags, active head restraints, ABS, EBD and vehicle dynamic control. To absorb impact in case of a collision, Nissan zone body construction on the Pathfinder comes into play.

Picture Courtesy: www.nissan-me.com

Nissan Pathfinder 2012 is a spacious and rugged SUV with exceptional off-road capability. It provides its passenger comfort through intelligent use of technology. Pathfinders raw and rugged feel makes it stand out of the heard of crossovers and urban SUV’s in the market today. Truly pathfinder is a special vehicle and it continues its 20 year old legacy of a dominant 4×4.

More Information:

Dubai:

Nissan-ME.com – Nissan Middle East

Nissan Pathfinder – UAE Dealer list

Nissan Dubai Dealer – Arabian Automobiles 

Saudi Arabia:

Nissan.com.sa – Alhamrani Nissan Saudi Arabia

*Price may vary as per features and options selected.

Posted by Monesh Konchady on March 13, 2012. Filed under Car Review,Nissan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry