Yes this is a 4wd Pathfinder
Ok leg one of the trip is over at just about 400 miles. Route traveled was from near Evansville IN. to Gallipolis OH. Most was done on I-64 at speed limit (plus 5) . The engine had no trouble at the 70-75mph I was driving most of the time the RPMs stayed in the 2200-2500 range, that is a little higher then my 2003 Escape on the same trip as it stayes at about 2000 RPMs most of the time. The Pathfinder does not come out of OD as fast as the Escape on the longer hills, and there are some long hills on I-64. This is in part , I think, do to the Escape being a 3.0 and 2wd, different gearing, and the smaller tires.
After my first post I will say again the view thru the rear view mirror (inside ) sucks. This mirror is huge, yes it's got the compass and temp. shit built into it, but you get to much interior view. While that may be good for Mom hauling the kids around it stinks on the road. The large mirror blocks the view out of a large part of the windshield, It can block the view of a intersection in urban/city driving, NOT GOOD AT ALL. I almost got a Dodge Neon at a gas station outside of Lexinton KY. because of this. The view from the outside mirrors is good and they have Elec. adj. mirrors are not to big, not to small overall good.
The next point is the seat (drivers), while it has good support, it does not have enough adjustment, this SUV haqs the 8 way adj.(so they say) seat. For someone my size it is way to high, for someone of smaller stature this would give them a good view, not for me, I am a former LEO and weight lifter, and now I am a fat ass, my sight picture out of the windshield takes in the shading at the top not good for night driving.
Looking at the insterment panel, the seating height comes into play again. The stearing wheel is thick and generous and has a good feel. But the damn thing blocks part of the gauges. I don't like this.
Next we will come to the ride and the steering.
First the ride is tight as it should be brand freeking new. but the steering takes more effort then my modified Ranger running 33x12.50x15 tires and a PS pump modified to match. I checked the fluid thinking that the factory may have missed the fluid level, no right on the recomended line. At slow speed I should not have to muscle this thing around for 32K.
On the interstate this thing has desire to "track" the groves or crown of the roadway, you must maintain a good grip or the 'wheel. This was not what I expected, as many US marketed vehicles are much more forgiving. Yes they have less road feel but there is less stress while driving not fighting the 'wheel. Overall I did not like the "feel".
On other points of the "ride" Adjusting the seat while riding is not a easy task, the door protrudes into the driver area making it a chore reaching between the edge of the seat and the door to reach the controls. If you are of close to my height you may not like the leg room, a door protusion hits my left knee at the area between the cap and side that in bounching around hurts the knee.
The entry with the attached "running boards" is a pain in the ass, with the height of the seat and the steering wheel it's just not right, I bang a knee every time.
Now for the "comfort"
I have a bad back, screwed in a ambulance rollover a few years back. I started the drive with a flare up so this can be very biased.
Ok the firm seats were not bad, but to reach the controls, maintain the proper grip on the steering wheel did not make for a comfortable ride. The combination of leg room, angle to maintain proper grip, sight pictures of the mirrors (ok view for those less inclined to shooting) and the head room were not as good as I have had in the various Ford and Chevy products that I have driven.
This is not a "slam" on a "NON AMERICAN" vehicle. As I stated if was assembled in TN. no it is more on the engineering that to me points that they are building them as grocery getters for our wife or SO.
Oh I did get to test the 4wd and VXD as they call the power transfer to non spinning wheels, the night before pickup we had about 2" of snow and ice. In a empty parking lot , VXD off it acted like a standard grocery getter 4wd. One wheel in front, one in back spining. VXD on computer takes over the 4wd, wheel spins, brake applied power transfers to non spinning wheel. Works better then the auto lockers I have in the ranger.
Oh and the fuel mileage so far with a new engine on the highway between 21 and 23 mpg at the speeds mentioned.
Pic.s will be added when I get a new cam.
for the spelling Nazi's 30 e-mails in the morning, 400 miles and PIE before I left, bite me
More as I can.