Nissan Pathfinder (05 on) - Review

Review by David Ross on
Last Updated: 21 May 2010
Believe it or not, not everyone buys a big 4x4 to climb kerbs at Tesco. Some people actually need a big strong 4x4. The Nissan Pathfinder is made especially for those people. Built on tough unsophisticated ‘ladderframe’ underpinnings the Pathfinder has been designed, developed and built to effortlessly shrug off mighty tow weights and cope well with the slipperiest, stickiest, harshest conditions nature can throw at it. It used to go head-to-head with the likes of Land Rover’s Discovery, but that car is now priced in a class above. Now the Nissan compete with cars like the equally strong Mitsubishi Shogun and brutish Toyota Landcruiser. In 2010 the big Nissan received a more powerful 190bhp 2.5 dCi diesel to help it compete. Despite being 11% more powerful, emissions dropped by 15%. Later on in 2010 a range–topping 231bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel will be added to the range. Find out if this is enough to give it the Pathfinder an edge over its competition.
3 out of 5

Other Nissan reviews

4 out of 5

Safety

In official Euro NCAP crash tests the Pathfinder was awarded four stars out of five for adult occupant protection. This is average for a large 4x4 and on par with cars such as the Mitsubishi Outlander and Land Rover Discovery. All models get driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags along with ESP+ (a combination of ABS, an electronic stability programme and traction control) plus all seats have three-point seatbelts. From late 2006 the Pathfinder also comes with hill descent control which helps it crawl down steep hills at a snail's pace.

NCAP Test

Euro NCAP logo Euro NCAP

Provides motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe.

Visit Euro NCAP for more info

  • Adult Occupant Rating

    4 out of 5

  • Child Protection Rating

    3 out of 5

  • Pedestrian Test Rating

    2 out of 5
4 out of 5

Reliability

Nissan has a good reputation for reliability and the Pathfinder has attracted plenty of customers that may have been disappointed with the reliability of other 4x4s.

Car check problem points

Body

Check for off-road damage on used models.

Engine/Gearbox

No problems reported.

Other

A recall in 2005 where the propshaft may actually detach from the vehicle. More than 5,000 Pathfinder and Navara models were affected. Another recall in 2006 where steering control may be lost due to a potential fault with a steering shaft joint. This time, more than 7,500 cars were affected.