Costa Mesa, CA – Most SUV’s available today have little, if any, intent of being able to tackle off-road duty short of a stretch of unpaved road.  Throw a rock climbing exercise or any type of “off-road” excursion at them and they are afraid to get their chrome and polished wheels dirty, much less scratched.  Enter the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4X4, an SUV, dare I call it a truck in this day and age that takes the reverse approach to getting its occupants out of the concrete jungle and into the real thing.

 Looking to me like the smaller but more athletic brother of the Nissan Armada, a truck that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with, the Pathfinder is a handsome package. 

                The Pathfinder is based on the Titan pick-up chassis and you have a choice of V6 or V8 engines, a 5-speed automatic transmission is standard.  The 4.0-liter DOHC V6 is rated at 266 horsepower and 288 lb-ft of torque the V8, a brute at 5.6-liters making 310 horsepower and 380 lb-ft torque.  Both engine choices offer plenty of grunt to tow just about anything, 6000 pounds for the V6 and 7000 pounds for the V8. 

                The Red Brick Pathfinder you see here is the 2009 SE 4X4 model sporting the V6 engine.  Starting at $32,510, comes well equipped with splash guards, 17 inch alloy wheels with all season tires, fog lights, front tow hook, body color side view mirrors, and switch operated “shift-on-the-fly” 4WD system to bring out the off-roader in you.  To make things comfortable for all 7 passengers the steering wheel and shifter knob are leather wrapped, Audio and cruise controls on the steering wheel, remote keyless entry, the second row seats recline and are split 40/20/40 to fold-flat and 50/50 split fold-flat 3^rd row, dual zone climate controls with separate A/C controls for those in back, running boards/step rails, adjustable pedals for the driver, an 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat and an 6 speaker stereo with in-dash 6-CD changer with auxiliary  jack. 

By adding the Journey Package you gain auto on/off headlights, HomeLink to program the garage door opener into or turn lights on for you when you arrive home, rearview mirror with compass, handsome 17 inch Machine-Finished alloy wheels with rugged trail tires, rear view backup camera, and a roof rail with crossbars to carry all your camping equipment out into the wilderness. 

                The Premium Package brings a BOSE Audio system with 10 speakers and dual subwoofers, XM Satellite Radio and last but not least is the Leather Package which adds heated leather front seats and power operated/ heated, exterior side view mirrors.  Throw in the floor mats and you’ve reached a tab of $38, 345.00 with no sunroof.  I can’t honestly remember the last car or truck that I’ve been in that did not have a sunroof, unless, of course, it was a convertible!
                I was impressed with the V6 in this truck, ample acceleration for a vehicle of this size but the brakes left me feeling less confident.  They did not squeak, the pedal did not sink to the floor, nor were they grabby, I could not determine anything mechanically wrong with them but more “feel” from  them would be welcomed.
               Fuel economy – well fuel usage is a better term for this truck.  As you can understand when flogging around LA and Orange County CA in the typical stop and go traffic it’s not so good.  EPA estimates are 14 City and 20 Highway for a combined of 16 MPG.  Over the 300 miles or so I put on the truck I averaged 16.5 MPG according to the fuel economy readout on the 7 inch multi-information display. 
               Alas my time spent with this capable truck was in the concrete jungle and not in the wilderness.  We did have some bad weather here in SoCal that week (yes we do occasionally get bad weather here!) and the reassurance of the 4WD on demand was appreciated during a few torrential downpours.  As a boulevard cruiser this truck held its own, mainly on good looks alone, but this is a body-on-frame truck and not a corner carver which is probably why my friends at the fire station liked it so much, the “fire engine red” color didn’t hurt either.
               There are other 7 passenger Cross-Over vehicles out there that are more comfortable or maybe refined is a better word.  Will they get you to Grandma’s house through the snow, over the mountain, across the stream?  Sure if there is a paved road to get you there.  If you want to take the direct route through all of that fun stuff jump in a Pathfinder – It is a great truck doing what trucks do best.

Column and photos provided by Rich Branch, EVP of Race Central TV and Radio Network Partners.