2003 Nissan Pathfinder Review Summaries

What reviewers liked most about the Nissan Pathfinder:

...new full-time four-wheel-drive system... automatically transfers power to the front wheels as the rear wheels begin to slip... [and] provides the Pathfinder with exceptional on-road traction while preserving its off-road capability.

-- Automobile

All the added power is down in the low to mid-ranges, where it was so desperately needed.

-- AutoWeek

...exceptionally smooth-riding without a trace of mushiness on the road, and off-road it's agile and sure-footed.

-- Car and Driver

[with the new 3.5-liter V6] suddenly we're getting V-8-caliber 0-60 mph time of 9.2 seconds...

-- Car and Driver

Quality construction, supportive front seats and useful features make the interior one of the friendliest of any SUV on the market.

-- Edmunds.com

The Pathfinder has always been a comfortable and attractive truck, but with the new... [240-hp] powerplant, it has become something more - a startlingly powerful, quick performer.

-- New Car Test Drive

...The Pathfinder has a relatively low step-in height and feels nimble in city traffic.

-- Popular Mechanics

Gearshifts that rival, perhaps surpass, those of the best luxury-car transmissions.

-- USA Today

...so quiet that you can actually listen to the sound system while driving down the road at eighty...

-- Woman Motorist

What reviewers liked least about the Nissan Pathfinder:

...why isn't the new model, given its extra oomph, able to tow more? Overheating concerns, we were told.

-- Car and Driver

Tight rear accommodations.

-- Edmunds.com

Full of people and cargo, the rear suspension finds itself against the stops at almost every bump.

-- Popular Mechanics

The four-wheel-drive system remains a weak point. It's part time only.

-- USA Today

Nissan Pathfinder Comparisons:

...if you're considering a loaded 4x4 Pathfinder LE... for only a few grand more, the mechanically identical Infiniti QX4 offers a better warranty, a few more luxury items, and better dealership service, including free loaner cars.

-- Automobile

...with this Pathfinder - and the new SUVs from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and other luxury makes - the performance of these trucks has suddenly become competitive with conventional automobiles.

-- New Car Test Drive

Others may be better at one extreme or another, but the Nissan offers the best blend of ride and handling, on road and off.

-- Popular Mechanics

Best one-liner about the Nissan Pathfinder:

The new engine is spectacular, with incredible power and more spunk and enthusiasm than a high-school cheerleading squad.

-- Automobile

...the Pathfinder's days as an also-ran are over.

-- Woman Motorist