Pathfinder Tries to Please Everyone — And Fails

[91 s-10baja]

Rugged Yet Friendly? Pathfinder Tries to Please Everyone — And Fails

What Works:
Torquey V6 engine, quick-witted transmission, capable off-roader, attractive interior with simple controls, comfortable front seats, well suited for hauling cargo and kids.

What Needs Work:
Disappointing build quality, second row still cramped for adults, doesn't brake or handle as well as the old Pathfinder, no V8 for towing.

Bottom Line:
As ready for an all-terrain adventure as it is for carpool duty, but not as docile as its predecessor, nor as solidly crafted as the Toyota 4Runner

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ine.promo.2g.*

[tgagneguam]

...Disappointing build quality...

Not to decipher the article piecemeal, but isn't this the true story at Nissan? I cannot help but think that you can only blame startup problems on Canton for all of Nissan's product for so long. At some point, Nissan's gonna need to improve quality, both with the vehicle and at the dealership. As much as the Asian-philes love to embrace all things from the Land of the Rising Sun, Nissan clearly demonstrates that alas, the Japanese automakers aren't infallible.

...We like the handsome interior with its simple controls, comfortable seats and Maxima-grade cloth upholstery. But it's cheapened by hard plastic and misaligned panels...

Let's face it; Nissan cannot do interiors. I cannot for the life of me understand how anyone can find most Nissan interiors attractive. I truly do believe they're worse than any of GM's new interiors. And I generally possess the same disdain for Infiniti interiors.

Were it our money, we'd think long and hard before spending it on the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder.

Ouch, surprising closing statement. Who woulda thunk?

[BigAls87Z28]

What I want to know is when did people think Nissans made good cars? Throw in some crazy Renault design, and I guess that improves quality? Its acutaly ok to own a Nissan now a days...never would have thought. Nissan will always mean junk to me. Even the Infinity models still lack a lot of quality build, but get away with clean design.

[Squachy]

i personally think the Nissan interiors look nice for the most part (not all of them, I did sit in a Murano one time, strange interior i think. Oh and dont get me started on the Quest....)

quality? im not sure, never actually touched one.

But this is something GM cannot QUITE get with some of its models.
Vehicles like the Cobalt, the minivans, XLR, Lucerne, Imp, DTS, STS, this works, but with better quality materials (espeically the higher end vehicles)

But others like the CTS, SRX, G6, Ion. These interiors dont LOOK that great. The materials may be there but the design falls short (not asthetics, just how it looks).

[powervette]

quality of Nissan is simply French

[mgescuro]

Nissan interiors have looked nice for the past 5 years or so. However, they are about as bad as GM when it comes to the material quality. Thing is.. .GM didn't have the nice interior deisgn.

I mean, G35's interior was revamped almost immediately after it was released because it was so poor in quality. The materials are now better.

Nissans are better cars now. But I have a few friends that will never ever ever buy another Nissan so long as they live.... including an Infiniti.

[FightingChance]

I see huge amounts of older Nissans on the road without trouble - piles of 200SX's, 240SX's, Sentras and Altimas. Nissan has always meant boring and reliable to me, haha.

[hudson32]

Yeah, Nissan interiors leave lot to be wanting. Gm's interiors were pretty crappy until the 2004's releases and later. Now the new GM cars have very respectable interiors, they've come such a long way. The Nissan interior though, is just hideous in the Pathfinder.

[nsap]

That Pathfinder has a horribly cheap-looking interior! I have liked most of Nissan's interior lately, but not that one! It reminds me of the Tahoe/Silverado/Suburban interiors!

I think Nissan is pumping out more new products at a time that it can handle. If they want to remain in ToyotaHonda club they had better slow down and take there time so the quality levels are higher.

[DDelphic]

Folks,
I went out to look at the Pathfinder/Frontier.They are new introductions this year and looking at them both inside and out, I cannot find fault at all.What is so horrible about the interior? horrible to me is the Colorados interior,like the chevette's .If I were to be extreme I may say that the XM radio, must be installed at the dealer, in a SAT ready radio.And, maybe no auto start available.The ones I saw had great fit finish,paint,did you see the new material they use for the cloth seats? it's very rugged and far better looking than the Trailblazer stable of just reduced GM SUV's.It is a more off road vecicle than the one that preceded it.I can see where the suburban moms will not like the stiffer suspension.The engine is best in class.But that is where I part the water...........although best,(Torque,towing) it is also the biggest fuel user in the segment,and the price is out there as well.The decked out Pathfinder is 38K, way overboard ...............but then the tahoe is price arena too, and that is a rolling antique.I am not sure the price of the Trailblazer all decked out but I would have a pathfinder before the underpowered trailblazer anyway.I would take the frontier before the Colorado/canyon anyday and did you see the interiors on those... ......con you say TAXI.Now I have to admit the exterior is sharp............but drive one of those strait 5's .and you run away,when you see the price........you run faster.

What I want to know is what is the problems to go with all the complaints on this board.
The biggest bargan now is the silverado Work Truck ...saw one new in the paper on sale for 12,900.00 but you have to be GM or it was 1K more.

What are the real problems with the Pathfinder? It's so new I do not think that they even have any track record yet.I liked the vehicle,but what kept me from buying it was 1) PRICE 2) MPG's

[4runner]

Originally Posted by DDelphic

Folks,
I went out to look at the Pathfinder/Frontier.They are new introductions this year and looking at them both inside and out, I cannot find fault at all.What is so horrible about the interior? horrible to me is the Colorados interior,like the chevette's .If I were to be extreme I may say that the XM radio, must be installed at the dealer, in a SAT ready radio.And, maybe no auto start available.The ones I saw had great fit finish,paint,did you see the new material they use for the cloth seats? it's very rugged and far better looking than the Trailblazer stable of just reduced GM SUV's.It is a more off road vecicle than the one that preceded it.I can see where the suburban moms will not like the stiffer suspension.The engine is best in class.But that is where I part the water...........although best,(Torque,towing) it is also the biggest fuel user in the segment,and the price is out there as well.The decked out Pathfinder is 38K, way overboard ...............but then the tahoe is price arena too, and that is a rolling antique.I am not sure the price of the Trailblazer all decked out but I would have a pathfinder before the underpowered trailblazer anyway.I would take the frontier before the Colorado/canyon anyday and did you see the interiors on those... ......con you say TAXI.Now I have to admit the exterior is sharp............but drive one of those strait 5's .and you run away,when you see the price........you run faster.

What I want to know is what is the problems to go with all the complaints on this board.
The biggest bargan now is the silverado Work Truck ...saw one new in the paper on sale for 12,900.00 but you have to be GM or it was 1K more.

What are the real problems with the Pathfinder? It's so new I do not think that they even have any track record yet.I liked the vehicle,but what kept me from buying it was 1) PRICE 2) MPG's

I don't think there are any major issues with the Pathfinder but it is lacking in comparison to a 4runner (other than 0-60 time, and only by a few tenths at most). I think what Edmunds is trying to say that the 4runner is the leader and the Pathy didn't stack up.

If you're comparing the Pathy to a TrailBlazer - the Pathy may very well be the better vehicle. Just my opinion: neither is as good as a 4runner when you factor in towing, handling, braking, resale value, and overall fit and finish.

[jd4548]

I know that the quality of Nissan's has improved over the years, but they still aren't up to par like the other ***. manufacturers. How did Nissan get such a good reputation over the last few years?

[mk1700]

It s 100% better looking than any Toyota SUV.
This article just shows how Toyota has brain-washed all the american customers.
In the other hand, lets talk about the Colorado seats (Very cheap looking) and what about the Silverado dashboard (80s look). An what about those bad finished Equinox dashbord and textil nets on the central console?
I ll buy a Pathfinder over any GM SUV.
Sorry.

[Darc Requiem]

Originally Posted by jd4548

I know that the quality of Nissan's has improved over the years, but they still aren't up to par like the other ***. manufacturers. How did Nissan get such a good reputation over the last few years?

Quality by association Jd4548. Its kinda of like last years NFL draft. Do you really think Eli Manning would have been a number 1 draft pick if it weren't for the accolades of his father and brother? Same deal with Nissan, they get lumped in with Toyota and Honda because they are also a Japanese car manufacturer.

[gmsickofan]

Disappointing build quality

Must be because it was built in America, or so they'll say.