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If we are seeing the death throes of the big SUV, then the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder represents the Camille of SUVs. Elegant and beautiful, it's hard to believe that anything this lovely could be on its way out -- until you notice that “V8” badge on the tailgate. The 2008 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4x4 V8 carries a base price of $32,850 ($38,260 as tested) with a 3 year/36,000 mile basic warranty, a 5 year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty and EPA fuel economy estimates of 12 mpg city/18 mpg highway (ouch!). Let's drive.
First Glance
Larger Exterior Photos: Front Rear
I've filled up a lot of space on these pages extolling the boldness and talent of the design team at Nissan and Infiniti. Rather than playing the “me, too” game of anonymous vehicle design, they strike out in a different direction. The Murano, the Xterra and the Rogue all stand out from the crowd, and I like that.
Pathfinder started out in 1986 as a compact two-door, and has evolved through three generations into the mid-size four-door SUV that it is now. After a major redesign for the 2005 model year, the 2008 model has received a mild cosmetic refreshing and some mechanical upgrades.
Cosmetically, Pathfinder displays new front and rear styling. You are forgiven if you don't immediately notice the difference between a 2007 and 2008 Pathfinder -- the changes are subtle, and seem aimed at making the SUV look tougher and more truckish. It worked, and I think it also made Pathfinder more attractive.
A few Pathfinder styling cues remained intact. The high-mounted handle that opens the rear side doors is as awkward as ever. I wish they had changed that, because I was forced to put down my packages every time I wanted to put something in the back seat.
Continued below. . .
In the Driver's Seat
Inside, the tweaks were similarly subtle. Pathfinder sports a new center stack and instrument panel design. I had to go back and look at photos of the previous generation to ferret out the differences, and the good news is that the changes didn't ruin a good thing. The redesign amounts to an evolutionary improvement, rather than a revolutionary upgrade.
You should try on Pathfinder for size, but I find its interior proportions remarkably comfortable and natural. The high roof and sculpted headliner makes the interior feel markedly spacious and airy. Tall drivers with big hair take notice.
Pathfinder's second row is similarly roomy, with even more hip and shoulder room than the front row. The third row compromise leaves little room for legs or hips, and should be reserved for short trips for short people. At least access is simple and not too much of a game of Twister.
If you take stuff with you in your SUV, you'll appreciate the genuinely useful cargo space: 32 cubic feet behind the third row; 88 cubic feet behind the second row; and a positively airplane hangar-like 145 cubic feet behind the first row. The relatively low 30” cargo liftover height makes Pathfinder a champ at the “U” part of “SUV.”
On the Road
Try as I may, I simply can't resist a nicely tuned V8, especially when it displaces a healthy 5.6 liters and produces 310 hp and 388 lb-ft of torque. Be still, my heart. Even with Pathfinder's two-and-a-half ton curb weight, that's a healthy amount of power. Put your foot in it, and you're not exactly rocketing from stop light to stop light, but you sure feel the power and hear the engine at work, in a good way. A five-speed automatic transmission is your only choice, and it's a good one. My test vehicle was equipped with All-Mode four-wheel drive. Traditional off-roaders will balk at the four-wheel independent suspension with a double-wishbone design at each corner -- conventional wisdom says that a solid rear axle is necessary for serious dirt work. But if you're like me, your Pathfinder will probably get more dirt on its paint than under its wheels. The suspension proved supple and composed enough for on-road driving, and in fact makes the big SUV feel nicely balanced and even nimble.
Don't get overconfident though -- tossing Pathfinder through the twisties requires a liberal application of common sense. Four-wheel active brake limited slip, electronic brake force distribution, vehicle dynamic control and vented anti-lock disc brakes all around do everything they can to keep the rubber side down; A full complement of airbags, front and rear crumple zones, an energy-absorbing steering column and LATCH child seat restraint system help keep your family safer when things go haywire.
Journey's End
I wish that Pathfinder got better gas mileage, but 5,000 lbs and a 5.6 liter V8 sort of demolish that dream. 12 mpg city/18 mpg highway seems like a steep price to pay for the performance gain that the V8 brings. You can choose a less potent 4.0 liter V6 engine (266 hp and 288 lb feet of torque) and get 15 mpg city/21 mpg highway with four-wheel drive, but I promise that it will be much less fun to drive. Still, a base (S) model Pathfinder with a V6 and four-wheel drive starts at just $28,300, a $4,550 lower base price than the mid-line SE that I drove. Or, you can go the other direction, and pick the loaded LE V8, with a $39,300 base price, and start adding options from there. You'll have no problem reaching $50,000 if you check all the boxes.
There are plenty of other worthy choices out there if you really want a mid-sized SUV. I'm very partial to the Toyota 4Runner -- my daily driver, Moose, is a 1994 model. The Ford Explorer also has its fans, and the new Honda Pilot is a unique addition to the field (though you can't get a V8). Don't overlook the Chevrolet Trailblazer, either, or the Jeep Grand Cherokee. If those gas mileage figures frighten you, you might want to consider one of the new crossover vehicles. You might be surprised by how much useful space they have, and short of towing capacity, they might do everything you need in a more efficient manner.
The 2008 Pathfinder is better than ever, and that's saying something. Catch that V8 while you can, before regulation and gas prices make it a thing of the past.
