Extrmely quiet interior, Bose radio and 6 disc changer sound and work nicely. Truck has lot's of features. Engine is powerful for a small truck

EPA mileage rating isn't very good for a small truck. Engine noise at higher RPM's isn't sporty sounding, just noisey

I was driving a '96 Chevy pickup 4X4 and was looking for a new vehicle. None of the full size trucks are worth getting excited over and I was looking for something sporty, I had my mind set on a sports car of some kind. My fiance' already has a turbo jetta with a 5 speed so we decided a sport ute was a better fit for us. I happen to get a discount from Nissan but have never liked thier Xterra. I went and drove a PF on a whim and loved it. I got my SE 4x4 in black with the moonroof and a manual. So far the manual is a great drive. I haven't even gone through a tank of gas yet so opinion is lacking in depth

I would recommend this vehicle to anyone, 250 hp, 240 ft-lbs ROCK

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Looks, handling, smooth engine, nice ride

Lack of power, gas hog, floor liner between carpet and floor crumbling to pieces, exhaust system falls apart, Nissan Corp's lack of follow up on defective components used in their products.

Overall, I have to say that this a very nice vehicle. However, recently my exhaust system has started to give me many expensive headaches. First of all, the heat shield that surrounds the pipes have begun rattling and falling off. Apparently, the only practical solution is to tear it off and wait for the rest of your exhaust system to need replacing at an exorbanent price. Then my exhaust manfolds started leaking. I took it in to find out that this is a very common problem on pathfinders and it will cost $800.00 to fix both sides of the engine. The studs that hold the manifolds to the engine crack, fall off, then the manifold leaks and warps. One can ask any mechanic about this and Nissan even has a technical service bulletin(94041). My car has only 62,000 mi on it and the warranty ended in march. The 1996 models are so bad that they have extended the warranty for the manfolds to 100,000mi. When I approached Nissan about this, all I got was an offer of 100.00 off of a 60,000mi tune up. What a joke! Now I'm stuck with at least an 800.00 repair or I get to listen to annoying exhaust noise and inhale fumes when I have the vent on! I was going to purchase an Xterra in the near future, but not a chance after I saw how nissan stands behind their products. Check out the NHTSA website and you can see the complaints to the government piling up http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/compmmy1.cfm

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none

The SUV have a great motor, a lot of power. I like the look of the interior. The exterior body also looks great.

The interior do not have leg roon, I'm 6' tall and after the 3er year my legs starting to hurt. I sold the car and but a new Durango.

I will not recommend this SUV or any other Nissan truck or SUV to a 6'tall person or higher.

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But Dodge Durango sport 2001, a lot of leg room, very very comfortable interior, big cargo area and big V8 engine with much more power, but gas eater.

Carlike ride, incredible amount of power (this SUV caused Lexus and Honda/Acura to upgun the engines in their similar SUVs), great acceleration, great sound system (unreal for a factory stereo...6 speaker Bose!), great looks. Pwr sunroof package and the standard features round it out. Best was the price-don't hate, got a purchase prog at work due to contracts with the manufacturer :)

At the list price, a pwr drivers seat should have been included, even without the leather package, and side airbags should have been avail. seperately as well. Limited slip rear differential should also have been standard on the SE as well.

Probably the most reliable (although with the new engine, the leading non-profit consumer magazine gives high marks for past reliablity of the platform, and the great Maxima engine the new 240hp was based upon)and certainly (for the moment) the most powerful SUV for it's size. The sound system in this ride is untouchable compared to other factory electronics, if cranking music matters to you while driving. All in all the best SUV of it's class on the road-it even outclasses more expensive "luxury" competitors in many ways. The best bang for the buck on a SUV today, bar none.

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Beats others I test drove hands down, 4 Runner, Expedition, Trooper, Lexus, etc.

I like the look of the interior, and the smooth, luxury-SUV ride. The exterior/body of it looks great...at times it reminds me of an Escalade. Also, trunk space is great.

This is a heavy car, and you feel this in every aspect of motion...from the Herculean-strength requiring steering to the weak acceleration from an engine that makes 200 lb/ft, the Pathfinder makes sure you know you're not driving a Maxima. Also, the tall body destroys and thoughts/hopes of any fun driving. A major gripe I have is the interior. It looks great, but the seating space is probably the same as a Sentra. The floor is sooo high, like in most SUV's, which is something I hate. And the stereo claims to have something to do with Bose...but in the 95 Maxima music is heard and felt in both the front and back seats, whereas in the top-of-the-line Pathfinder the stereo sounds like a stock stereo with a CD player.

The Pathfinder can't compete with SUV's from Germany or even new SUV's like the RX 300. The 1997 model is slow, bulky and far from a nible handler. However, Nissan proves it can make even a pickup truck a classy passenger hauler. However, for $30K+, I would opt for a used RX 300 or something faster, like two used Maximas or a used luxury car. The Pathfinder is a $25K car that sells for almost $10K more...definitely not worth it, unless it's the latest model with the 240HP 3.5L....

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Nissan Quest...yeah, it's a van, but it's a little quicker(we raced them), a little more nimble, and a lot spacier.

Construction
Excellent Antilock brakes
Balance
Quality
Driveability
Cargo Room
Features
Probably the best SUV ever made for the money.
Wife Loves it
Feeling of security
Incredible value when purchased used

Maybe engine power...maybe
Rear Seat legroom
Climate control system is a bit finicky
4 Wheel drive isn't full time- but at this price I can't really complain.

The minute I test drove our burgundy SE Pathfinder I knew I wanted it. I had driven everything before buying the Nissan, and found every other competitor severaly lacking in overall driveability. The Toyota, Mitsu,Passport and especially the explorer all felt like trucks. Not that there is anything wrong with trucks, but for roadholding, ride and overall handling the Pathfinder feels like a car, but with the ruggedness and solidity of a truck. I forget half the time that I am, in fact, driving a truck. I also find it extremely comforting that the Nissan doesn't lull the driver into a false sense of security with it's balance. Even under pressure the Pathfinder exhibits wonderful athletic ability; it's Brakes, suspension and communicative steering make dealing with hairy traffic a breeze. It doesn't feel the least bit tippy even when takking offramps a little fast. The Brakes are especially impressive and have pulled this 2 ton vehicle down from highway speeds in a straight and short direction.

We purchased the Pathfinder for 19,000, and even though it had 35,000 miles on it when we took ownership it felt like new, with no rattles, creaks of groans coming from the structure. This is more than I can say for the American products from Jeep and Ford. Driving both used and new samples of the Explorer and Jeep was not pleasant- either you were faced with the cheezy interior, numb steering and overly insulated interior of the Jeep, or the bouncy, steril, creaky offering of the Ford (I am not surprised that Ford is now in the position their in). The Jeep also scared me simply due to it's ability to drive at speeds in excess of 80 mph with little communication to the driver. Personally I think this is extremely dangerous, and an example of lulling the driver into a false sense of security. It's Camry-like interior is also extremely comfortable, and it's history of reliabilty and superior build quality make me feel as my wife and I will get our monies worth for the next several years.


The only gripes (and I mean gripes, not problems) I have with the Nissan is it's cramped rear seat (for adults, it's pseudo-automatic climate control (which doesn't tend to hold medium temperatures all that well) and it's sometimes anemic engine power (which sometimes requires a little gooseing to get up to speed). I could also complain about the lack of full-time 4 wheel drive (ala Subaru), but quite honestly the Pathfinder has such a great chassis, I often go without using it unless it's really crappy weather. The this "truck" in fact has such a well balanced chassis I have found it hard to break it's tail out under many conditions. Sure in snow it will loose it's composure if your an idiot, but compared to the rest of it's competition the Nissan never feels like it will loose it's balance.

I work in the technology industry and realize how hard it is to create a great consistent product while dealing with marketing pressures, parts supply pressures, schedule pressures and products that get designed by Marketing as opposed to engineers and endusers. The Nissan is a prime example of a well-designed, well engineered, well executed SUV which not only nailed it's design but also, given it's reliabiltiy record, it's manufacturing. This in my opinion is indicative of a great company. Take Chrysler Corp for example. I think that they have some of the best designs in the American Market (their minivan design is a standard that hasn't seen serious competition until Mazda and Honda started selling their brilliant designs), but their manufacturing continues to build vehicles that exhibit horrible quality. Hopefully Mercedes will set them straight.

One last comment and I'll get off my soapbox...:-)

With the media anxious to point out the dangers of SUV ownership given the whole Ford dabocle, I wish someone would wake up and show some fairness in reporting the issues. Make mention of the fact that like any "tool" or mechanical device there can be danger when it is used improperly. If I go and lop off my hand while using my table saw without the blade guard, it's not the fault of the manufacturer (unless the guard presents a safety hazard in itself) it's my fault as a stupid enduser. The same holds true for those idiots who choose to drive their SUVs through snow at illegal speeds. I get physically sick when someone doesn't fess up to their stupidity but instead chooses to use a manufacturer as a scapegoat. That being said, Firestone and Ford should have their hats handed to them. I think that no amount of punishment is too good for them if the allegations of irresponsibility are true. I can see a manufacturer missing something because of it's complexity, but to cover up the mistake after the mistake has been proved, while people suffer and die, is inexcuseable. Ford and Firestone have not looked at solving the problem, but instead chose to point fingers. They should take a lesson from Johnson and Johnson and their handling of the whole Tylenol Cyanide scare a few years back. The VP whose name escapes me, did not look to blame anyone, but instead took on the responsibility of dealing with a situation where people were dying because of his company's product. As a result J & J acted fast and with the utmost professionalism, redesigned the packaging of their product and never pointing the finger at anyone but themselves. This was even more impressive given the fact that the cyanide-laced capsules were not their doing, but the act of a sociopath.

Anyway, apologies for the venting...I just get extremely irritated by such things.

In my opinion Nissan, should in all fairness, reap as much success as is possible- they deserve it given their engineering prowess.

I only hope that I'll be in the Market for a another SUV by the time the newer 240hp Pathfinders find their way into the used Market.

My ratings are price-independent because given the competing products Nissan was about equal in cost/feature to it's piers. I do think that our Pathfinder, considering the used price paid, is better than a 5 in value when compared with all other SUV's.

So I will give the Nissan a 5 for overall value because I think that Nissan has the best vehicle in it's class (especially now, considering the new engine)

I will give overall rating a 4 because like all things the Nissan isn't perfect (rear seats, engine gas mileage). But for a man-made piece of machinery it comes really close.

Bravo Nissan, just keep refining your design.

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Test Drove used 4Runners, Explorers, Drove 97 Jeep grandwagoneer, Mitsu Montero, Landrovers, Honda Passport(Isuzu Rodeo), and even a Subaru Outback, before purchasing the Pathfinder

Looks, ride, comfort, options included, warranty, fit & trim

Could use a little bit more power. Tight turning radius. Uses quite a bit of gas. Could be quieter in the cabin.

I paid just under 30Grand (Canadian) for my '99 SE, this is the older body style. And so far, I have been really happy about it. I doubt I'll be doing any off roading in it (like most everyone else), but it's great for going up and down curbs when need be. Yes, I would definately recommend this truck if you are looking for a SUV that has quite a few options, and a decent price, with a great re-sale value.

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Toyota 4-Runner. I also like the Toyota, but it was just too costly.

Well initially I leased this vehicle because I'd brought a dog and after a few months I realized he was shortly going to outgrow the backseat of my car. So of I went looking for an SUV to accommodate the both of us. That's when I first drove the Pathfinder. To be honest there were a lot of reasons to like it, first and foremost was the car like ride, followed by Nissan's reputation of build quality, and warranty which both exceed many of their competitors. So I suppose those two reasons as well as my utter satisfaction with the vehicles ergonomics and standard features prompted me to lease it.

Well to be frank there really isn't anything about this vehicle I can't live with. I do admit it's acceleration leaves something to be desired, but I never intended to race it. I've also noticed it does get a bit loud under hard acceleration, but again I can live with that. Occasionally I've read people complain about the back seats being cramped, a complaint I've never had from my friends. Perhaps some of those people should put the doughnut down and go for a walk???

I leased this vehicle so price is irrelevant, but I would definitely recommend this vehicle to anyone who is shopping for a compact SUV, (the only size SUV I think is really practical). I have never had a single problem with this vehicle, not even a fuse has gone out, and it now has 31K miles on it. As a matter of fact, my lease expires on Christmas day (go figure?) and I've already driven a '01 Pathfinder LE and it seems all of the minor things I had, "come to live with" have been resolved. I am confident that if I should release I can expect the same quality and service as my current Pathfinder. Now if I could just find a way to get a special lease price my hunting and shopping will be over......

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'oo Forerunner rather pricey, '99 Chevy Blazer my current girlfriends old car it was plagued by transmission problems, poor warranty service from the dealer (who she now despises), and pathetic ergonomics.

Great looking in and out, smooth ride, built solid

gas mileage

I would definetly recommend this truck. I have three kids and previously owned a maxima. I loved the max, but the family was getting too big. I thought about a minivan, but just couldn't. The PF was a great choice. Although the back seat might be a little tight for adults, the kids fit just fine. I knew about the 2001 with the bigger engine coming out at the time I leased the 00, but used that to get a great deal.
Coming up to almost a year of driving it, and not one problem.

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first suv

- Car like Ride
- Decent Car Stereo (Bose)
- Realiability, reliability, reliability
- No pings, no rattles whatsoever after three years and 45000 miles (so far so good)
- Fairly supportive seats
- Good maneuverability
- No cheapy cheapy plastics on the inside
- Good paint job
- Handles the snow well (we live in a somewhat rural area and street clean up is sometimes a day or two late)
- still rides as well as the day I got it

- Could use more power (use K&N air filter cause it does help somewhat)
- Tight entry on the back_seat
- narrow step tubes (assist your kids)

After hearing/reading all these horrible feedbacks about other SUVs, I am so thankful that I bought this particular SUV. I would highly recommend this vehicle to anybody looking for an SUV (repeat, an SUV) and doesn't want any repair or recall headaches. I haven't been back to the dealer except to replace a broken headlights from a rock chip. All in all, a pretty good experience with this vehicle. Right now I am in the market for a minivan (likely an Odyssey bec. of reliability) because I realize that SUV'S ARE NOT FOR TAKING KIDS TO SCHOOL, running errands, ETC. (hard to get in/out of, tight space, kids bruising their shins on the small step tubes, Nissan's awkward back door handle, etc). I realize that minivans are more "kid friendly" and more flexible. But am I trading/selling my Pathfinder? A big NO!!!! I'll keep it till it succumbs to a natural death (which I expect will be a long time coming). Again, if you are in the market for an SUV, its reliability counts a lot. You will have a whole lot less headaches in the long run ( and more extra cash to boot). I pity those who see their car dealership every other month for reasons not of their own doing.

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Blazer - used it for one month as replacement vehicle when my wife's Honda CRV had to be repaired after it hit a deer and the Blazer just doesn't compare i.e. in comfort, styling, maneuverability, finish. My wife's '97 Honda CRV - it's on a different class of its own i.e. small SUV with not a lot of power but has a pretty nice ride and haven't had problems so far with 33,000 miles on it.
'94 Pathfinder - a good performer but my newer Pathfinder has lots of refinements compared to the older model. This one is Very Realiable too.