Stronger Than Dirt

Nissan's Pathfinder is one of the first vehicles to bear the 2001 model designation. While its size and shape are basically the same as last year, the Pathfinder's been beefed up considerably.

The main story is its much more powerful engine, 240-horsepower if you have an automatic, 250 with the manual. That's almost a 50% increase in power, and it transforms the Pathfinder's personality. A more muscular body carries the theme to the outside. Yet the ride and handling are far from brutish. And extra sound insulation and upgraded trim make a friendly driving environment.

While the Pathfinder's interior says uptown, that power and a manual transfer case make it one SUV that feels at home off-road. It's not too big for your favorite trail - or for your favorite mall parking lot.





Keeping the Cousins at a Distance

It's no secret that manufacturers share platforms between their high-end and less prestigious brands. In recent years, they've gone to greater lengths to keep them separate.

Although identical underneath and very similar outside, the Nissan Pathfinder and pricier Infiniti QX4 have always differed in some details. For 2001, though, Nissan took pains to increase the gap. They recast the Pathfinder as a burly, he-man truck with a new body to match, while the QX4 retained last year's sleeker styling with a relatively mild update.

The goal is to appeal to an audience willing to pay an extra $4000 or so to get the Infiniti nameplate. To its credit, Nissan chose not to deny the Pathfinder engine or dynamic improvements just to keep the QX4 king. Not every carmaker has been so fair to its whole family.