And what's an SUV without a jazzy set of rims? Well, boring. But the Pathfinder is anything but. It proudly sports a set of P245/70R16 mud and snow tires accompanied with a set of 16-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels. Not the massive diameter rims common on mega-sized boom-boxes but still not too shabby, and much more appropriate for going off-road.
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| The Chinook model comes standard with all-terrain 4-wheel anti-lock brakes. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
Stopping power is quite good despite only incorporating discs in the front. I was a little disappointed that the Pathfinder only featured rear drums, but can appreciate this setup is preferred by 4x4 purists - or so the story goes. Personally, as I spend more of my time on paved surfaces, I would want 4-wheel discs. Nevertheless, the Chinook comes standard with all-terrain 4-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), which delivered excellent stability and relatively short braking distances during my test.
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| The Pathfinder Chinook comes with numerous practical standard features. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
My platinum-colored Chinook included some pretty functional features, standard keyless remote entry for one. A pet peeve of mine is when the keyless entry only operates within a few meters of the car. Not so with the Pathfinder. I loved the fact that I could be a block away (about 2-300 meters), and I could lock and unlock it. Due to my sometimes forgetful nature, I didn't have to spend the extra time to walk all the way back to where I had parked, aim the key at the car, and then walk back to carry on my business. Call me crazy, but how many times has this happened to you?
The keyless remote entry is just one of many practical standard features including the oh-so-handy cupholders, dual heated mirrors, roof rack with cross bars, side step rails, privacy glass (aka tinted windows), leather-wrapped steering wheel, front and rear door map pockets, cruise control, power fuel lid release (located on the drivers-side door), manual air conditioning, anti-theft system, full-size spare (underbody), and one-touch open/close front windows.