Pavement not needed for Pathfinder

Many SUVs out there can’t quite make up their mind: are they trucks or cars?

The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder doesn’t waste time being wishy-washy – its roots are firmly planted in the truck world.

Built on the same frame that the Nissan Titan is derived from, the Pathfinder doesn’t try to smooth out the road or be something it’s not. The Pathfinder is a big, brawny SUV/truck that can do just fine without the pavement, thank you very much.

You can get a Pathfinder with a V6 engine (like the one in my test vehicle) or a beefier V8.

The V6 engine I got to try out offers 266 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 288 ft-lbs@4,000 rpm. You can tow up to 6,000 pounds with the V6 engine models.

Just as the Pathfinder’s V6 engine, the Nissan’s V8 edges out the eight-cylinder power plants from Ford and Toyota, but falls short of Dodge and Jeep’s Hemis.

With all this truck-power comes a truck-like ride.

The Pathfinder is somewhat smoother than a real full-size truck, but not much. But I didn’t mind.

The Pathfinder oozes utilitarian charm and the unrefined ride just seemed right. It wasn’t uncomfortable and the engine power was properly matched to the weight and cumbersome build of the Pathfinder.

I like driving the Pathfinder.

Gas mileage was about as expected, I got 16 mpg the week I drove it, with mostly city miles on the tank of gas I drove on. EPA estimates are 14/20 for the V6 model with four-wheel drive.

The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder is offered in four trim levels: S, SE, SE Off-Road and LE.

The base S trim level includes 16-inch alloy wheels, full power accessories, cruise control, air-conditioning and a six-speaker CD stereo.

The SE trim level (this is what my test model was) adds 17-inch alloy wheels, running boards, foglamps, a power driver seat, a fold-flat passenger seat, a 7-inch information display, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air-conditioning and a six-CD/MP3 changer with an auxiliary audio jack. Opting for the SE Off-Road model adds 16-inch off-road alloy wheels with rugged trail tires, Bilstein shocks, skid plates, Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist, a rearview camera, satellite radio and a sunroof.

The range-topping LE is the only Pathfinder offered with the V8 and comes with a slew of luxury extras.

The base price for the SE 4WD model I had was $32,510 and with four option packages added on, the price was boosted to $39,310.