2005 Nissan Pathfinder Road Test

From the back I couldn't help notice that the Pathfinder pays some tribute to Nissan's car-based Murano, not a bad choice of

Nissan has given its midsize SUV a complete makeover including all the right equipment to take on its Asian, European and domestic challengers. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

models to emulate considering the success the Japanese brand has had with this particular model. While it features a much more vertical tailgate, necessary for the versatile cargo area and third row of seats, a similar trapezoidal rear window is highlighted by unique sheetmetal creases. Outside of the Nissan family, there's nothing that remotely looks like the Pathfinder, which is an impressive feat consider the shear number of SUVs on the market. No doubt, Nissan will win over many converts just on styling alone, but the new sport utility offers a great deal more for new vehicle buyers than merely appearances.

Step inside and it's easy to see the automaker has been working on improving materials quality. I really like the dash design, which runs a horizontal tubular shaped segment from door to door, intersected at the middle by a protruding center stack. The textured soft-touch plastic used on this horizontal piece is

As soon as you open the door, it's easy to see that Nissan has been working on improving materials quality. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

particularly nice to the touch, while surrounding plastics are an upgrade over the outgoing Pathfinder if not class leading.

The instrument cluster nestles beneath a semicircle shroud, shading four simple white on black dials and a myriad of trouble lights. The steering wheel that frames these is another coup for Nissan, sporting a thick, leather-clad grip and thumb actuated buttons for audio and cruise control. I found them easy to reach despite my smaller than average hands, and noted that the controls themselves clicked with high-quality tactility. The same can be said of the column-mounted wiper, headlight, and turn-signal stalks, easy for my fingers to find without the need to remove my hands from the steering wheel, while made of premium materials.