Pathfinder cuts prices by dumping fancies

The cheetah can't change its spots, but the Pathfinder has lost a few - though the results is a more affordable vehicle.

The SE models have been given a few dabs of new make-up but still have the same proven 2.5-litre diesel engine and transmission Pathfinder is renowned for. Most of the range's appealing specifications have also been retained but costs were slashed by dumping onboard luxuries such as the third row of seats, leather finish, bum and back heaters in the seats, the two-memory settings of the driver seat, front fog lamps, sunroof, tonneau cover, intelligent key, SATNAV, VGA touchscreen, premium sound system, music storage, iPod connectivity and the rear-view camera.

SA sticks to tried and trusted

Pathfinder has been around in the same basic boxy guise since 2005 and with more than 6,000 local sales to its name, fans of this rugged family hold-all were expecting to get the same smart all-new Pathfinder destined for the rest of the world - but instead, Nissan South Africa has retained the familiar shape for its revamped range.

Who blinked first?

The two less expensive models are branded SE and are both 4x4's - one with five-speed automatic transmission and the other one with a six-speed manual box. The renamed SE manual chops R101,000 off the outgoing LE's price and the auto SE retails for R470,900 opposed to the R571,900 of the model it replaces.

So, a big drop at the till - all aimed at making the Pathfinder more competitive and less expensive than key rivals such as the R464,700 Toyota Fortuner 3.0 D-4D and the R461,300 Chevrolet Trailblazer 2.8 LTZ. The market has always respected the Nissan's toughness, build quality and reliability but its steep prices were a constant moan and the brand battled to lure medium SUV buyers away from other brands.

One thing the Patherfinder still has in abundance is traction.

Although a bit long in the tooth, Pathfinder's power train is respected and the manne will like the fact that Nissan has stuck to its guns with its familiar DOHC turbo-fed diesel under the bonnet. Performance figures and output of the LE's 140Kw and 450Nm remain unchanged. The six-speed manual and five-speed automatic transmissions are also all the same as on the LE models.

They should have kept the iPod, and the...

The binning of the third row of seats frees up more cargo space and is likely to be popularly received, but in this day of must-be-connected-and-entertained, ditching the touch screen and iPod connectivity is not going to earn Nissan any Brownie points. Nor is the loss of the rear view camera, because visibility out the back of the Pathfinder is not great and if luggage is piled roof high in the boot area, reverse visibility is zero.

There's bags of load space.

On the plus side, safety standards have not been compromised and it is still armed with a host of airbags, ABS brakes with EBD, Vehicle Dynamic Control and Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS), remote central locking and immobiliser. Nice to haves such as cruise control, power windows, dual zone climate control, on-board computer and steering-mounted audio buttons have also been retained.

The attraction of traction

Where the Pathfinder still hits bulls-eye is in its abilities to conquer hectic off-road conditions with ease, thanks mainly to its smart ABLS, which distributes power to the wheels with the most traction while being fed info from sensors about maximising grip and progress. Nissan has perfected this over the years and it works like a bomb as we discovered again when we put the latest Pathfinder to the test through grasslands, rocky outcrops, thick sand and dense bush in the rugged Waterberg area.

Ditching the touch screen and iPod connectivity is not going to earn Nissan any Brownie points, but safety has not been compromised at all.

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With the assistance of a click-and-select dial to choose drive options, 17-inch rubber combat boots, short overhangs, good ground clearance and the willing engine-gearbox combination, Pathfinder took it all in its stride.

Though it will probably spend its lifetime overcoming less challenging conditions carrying holidaying families to interesting destinations, in addition to its bushwhacking abilities Pathfinder is also quite capable of hauling a load or towing 3,000kg with ease.

Reasonable fuel-consumption claims, but...

Being equipped with independent multi-link suspension, it sprints along with the comfort of a medium-range sedan and without the jumpy-thumpy progress of bakkie-based SUV's. The engine does get a tad noisy if you are not a fan of a gruff diesel grunt; the power does take a while to kick in and in the higher gears revs have to be fed enthusiastically to maintain momentum but once up and galloping Pathfinder will cruise comfortably at relatively low revs at speed.

The binning of the third row of seats frees up more cargo space.

Drive it sensibly and it should give fair fuel consumption. Nissan claims 8.5-litres/100km for the manual and 9.0-litres for the automatic, but like all manufacturers' claims, these figures are achieved under mild test conditions and should be used as indicators only.

In terms of looks, the Pathfinder has undergone no dramatic changes and the boxy shape does seem a tad dated when compared to the curves, lines and softer edges of others in this class. It also doesn't offer on-the-trot drive mode changes.

But overall it does a good job whether in the dirt or on the tar, its occupants pleasantly cocooned in its spacious and comfortable cabin. Nissan is a respected brand and now that the Pathfinder's price tag is much more attractive it could well draw buyers away from other brands and achieve the 1,000 unit sales target Nissan is aiming for in the year ahead.

Specifications

b>All-New 2013 Nissan Pathfinder

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