Igor GUBAR, photo by Victoria ILYINSKAYA
Love nature, traveling, kayaking, biking and other snowboarding? You need an SUV! Or a pickup truck ... Or better off-road vehicle - it's somehow calmer for luggage. No, still a pickup truck - more will come in. Wait a minute, let's figure it out!
In the last couple of years, pickup trucks have become incredibly popular on the Russian market. Moreover, unlike the same America, in our country it is not so much a utilitarian vehicle as a more affordable alternative to the classic SUV. However, it should be noted that before the advent of the Nissan Navara pickups in our country, the most working ones were sold: Mitsubishi L200, Ford Ranger / Mazda B-Series, not to mention the Great Wall Deer G3. And then the famous Japanese SUV manufacturer brought a light truck onto the stage, which is not only equipped as a decent SUV, but also rides no worse, and its body will take half a ton for a sweet soul. The question is, half a ton of what exactly - Navara is positioned not as a utility truck, but as a car for people who lead an active lifestyle, who do not shy away from sports, who love picnics, outings, fishing / hunting, picking mushrooms / berries. In addition, they are very original, who do not want to have a boring car, like everyone else. Although what can not be called boring or dull is Pathfinder, which is considered basic for Navara. Moreover, it provides the owner with exactly the same set of options as a pickup truck. Or is it not straight? In fact, what to prefer to a person who, with friends, tents, kayaks and bicycles, goes to the lake a couple of times a year for a week, and almost every weekend just to the forest or fishing. At the same time, he does not necessarily force categorical rivers or storm mountain ranges on a mountain bike at the cost of half a pickup truck. This is an ordinary person, not an extreme athlete, although you can think about them. In short, we packed our gear, took a Nissan Navara pickup truck and a Nissan Pathfinder SUV and set off for the autumn forest for the final picnic of this season.
AND FRIEND MY TRUCK
A few words about our machines. Introduced a couple of years ago, the Nissan Navara is a classic mid-size SUV from the early 21st century. Our particular example is armed with a 4.0-liter gasoline V-shaped "six" with a capacity of 270 hp. with., 5-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, a seven-seater saloon and an excellent Infinity audio system. We immediately agreed that, according to legend, four people should ride in each car, that is, we don’t install the third row, and we don’t remove the second, except only partially. By the way, at Pathfinder it develops in a proportion of approximately 40:20:40, and lowering the central part, we get two separate chairs placed on the sides of the sofa. On Navara, the proportions are different - 40:60, while the backs do not recline, but the seat cushions rise, opening up access to the lockers covered with a net. This action makes sense only if you need to shove something not very neat into the cabin that you would not want to put on the sofa, and at the same time not so rude as to throw it into the body. I used to put two kayaks in there when I went to the BBQ meat store. And that's only because our pickup was not equipped with a roof over the cargo compartment. Otherwise, our Navara can be called a typical representative of a young kind of comfortable pickups. An excellent 2.5-liter turbodiesel is mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission and fair part time. The selected package includes air conditioning and a rear cross-axle differential lock. Comfort, dynamics and good handling are standard equipment. Moreover, the dynamic characteristics of the cars differed not strikingly, which cannot be said about fuel consumption. The petrol Pathfinder ate more than half a tank in more than 300 kilometers - about 17 liters per 100 km, and the diesel Navara, without losing a second, - only a quarter, with an indicator of 11 liters per hundred. The commendable lag in performance was aggravated by the fact that the 95th costs significantly more than diesel fuel: on the day of the test, 20.2 and 18.7 rubles per liter, respectively.
MAIN! VIRA!
Let's move on to equipment and loading and unloading. According to legend, we go to the suburbs, about a hundred kilometers from the city, for the whole weekend, to relax in comfort, not forgetting about certain active pastimes. Therefore, the list of necessary items was supplemented with several desired positions. In short, we took two three-person tents, a set of camping furniture with three chairs and a table, a full set of dishes, various kinds of bedding, including voluminous self-inflating mats and winter sleeping bags, two Vyun-K kayaks, fishing rods with spinning rods, a grill, coal, an axe, a machete, a chainsaw, warm and light clothes, a blanket, a bunch of little things and, after some hesitation, a bicycle. And what, maybe someone wants to drive to the village for kefir? When everything collected was thrown out in front of the cars, a decent mountain turned out, the dimensions of which did not promise easy loading and a fair wind. Moreover, according to the idea of the test, the equipment was supposed to be loaded in full first into one car, then into another and calculate the dry residue of what did not fit, rendering a verdict.
In the Pathfinder, moderately long items can be loaded with only the center back of the second row of seats folded down.
BEHIND THE FOG
The road to the camping site passed along a typical route for such a case, adjusted for Moscow. First, in short runs through the whole city, then trampling in suburban traffic jams, fifty kilometers of a narrow highway with road trains and endless villages, a kilometer of a country road, the same number of forest roads, a few directions - and we are in place. The city, the highway and the smooth rolled country road did not reveal a clear leader among our heroes. The off-road car is a little easier to “uphill”, more confidently overtaking outside the city and ahead of the Moscow Ring Road. In a traffic jam, it loses all the advantages in power and dynamism, which is understandable. In the woods, the longer Navara - and its dimensions differ from the SUV only in length - is more difficult to squeeze through the trees. And it also turns out that when driving dynamically over bumps, the front suspension of our loaded heroes no longer holds the blow so confidently. On the Navara less often, but on the Pathfinder it was much more often heard how the levers rudely fall on the bumpers and, without meeting reciprocity, indignantly thump on the travel limiters on the other side. The rear suspensions, especially the spring one of the pickup, look at this fuss silently and haughtily, and yet it is better to move slowly on the roads. The ground clearance of cars within the base is almost the same - 238 and 236 mm for an SUV and a pickup truck, respectively. Both have 254 mm under the front suspension, Pathfinder 235 under the rear, and Navara 230. The differences are insignificant, it is only important to remember that the rear clearance of an SUV will decrease from the load, but not a pickup truck. But the truck has a longer rear overhang! And the tongue turned to call such magnificence a truck ...
TEA WITH BARANKI
Without adventures and without a reduced one, which, by the way, is not childish for both, namely 1: 2.596, we get to the bank of a well-known river near Moscow, and, quickly setting up camp and drinking coffee / tea with bagels, we start kayaking. If you need to pass a couple of hours before the arrival of guests or a plumber, buy a kayak and try to assemble it. Do not forget to take out the patch and read the instructions three times. They say that experienced people - even girls - cope with the assembly in 20 minutes. But it's fascinating in the first place...
We carried most of the equipment to the place in a pickup truck. The body included kayaks, and camping furniture, and two 75-liter backpacks, and a 100-liter trunk, small things like an awning and a hammock, something else, and a bicycle with the front wheel removed. As it turned out later, the wheel could not be removed, but I was afraid to scratch the body and beat the bike on the sides. The dimensions of the Navara loading platform are, according to our measurements, 1510 mm wide and 1560 mm long along the floor, 1488 and 1496 mm, respectively, along the inner edge of the side. Board height 475 mm. The width between the wheel arches is 1130 mm, and the width of the tailgate opening is 1430 mm. This side, by the way, turns into the most convenient table and at the same time easily withstands a load of 200 kg, verified. A package with a kayak fits into the back of a pickup truck both lengthwise and across. The bike is diagonal, and the wheels have to be pushed under the flanging of the body. The pile is closed on top with a mesh that clings to standard fasteners. These mounts give the Navara a big plus in any evaluation, not just in comparison to SUVs, but also to other pickups. The cargo fixation system is called C-Channel and is a kind of rails to which double hooks are attached, moving along the guides laid along the bottom, along the side and front sides.
When trying to transfer equipment to the Pathfinder, it turned out that kayaks can only be put across, the cargo heap blocks the view, rising to the ceiling, and the bike is completely left on the street and asks for a roof. We didn’t have a special attachment to the rails - in a word, the bike didn’t fit ... However, having thrown out everything that we stuffed there with such difficulty, we folded the central part of the back of the second row of seats and put our miserable bike between the backs of the sofa. The wheel had to be removed, because the height of the bike also did not fit. Some of the light, but not small things had to be simply thrown onto the top of the mountain of equipment. There was nothing to attach the net to, since the eyelets located below the line of windows hid backpacks and sleeping bags.
DON'T WANT TO HOME
The autumn day ended quickly. The kebab was as delicious as ever. The flask with smuggled Georgian cognac was empty in three steps, the tea was cold - it's time to go home. But how you don’t want to leave ... Well, okay, let's shake things up! Our little test showed a certain superiority of the pickup truck over the classic SUV in terms of the ability to take on more. Who doubted, you say ... Nevertheless, I will continue, if you are not going to carry three kayaks or similar things at once, and you have special roof racks for bicycles and light bulky things, then the pickup will not have advantages. Especially when you consider that a pickup truck with a roof over the body and a pickup truck without it are two big differences. And without a roof, you can’t leave it for a minute, especially in the outback. But here it smacks of long-distance expeditions, where you should not meddle without special preparation of the car. However, this is a topic for another study, but our picnic was a success, and we attached the bike, didn’t leave it, put it in a pickup truck!
Recently, any modernization of the car has turned into one big nuisance for the buyer - prices have increased in 90% of cases. And, for a very decent amount. However, something incredible happened to the large SUV Nissan Pathfinder - the updated car turned out to be cheaper! Has the car become worse, and its equipment is poorer? Or maybe he got some modest three-cylinder engine? To understand what was the matter, Denis Smolyanov waited until the dust of the volcano with the easily remembered name Eyyafyatlayokudl dissipated, and flew to Barcelona. It was there that the first test of the restyled Pathfinder and the Navara pickup took place.
It must be said right away that the main point of upgrading Pathfinder and Navara is new diesel engines. Previously, the situation was as follows: Pathfinder was equipped with a 4.0-liter gasoline “six”, which produced 269 hp, and a 174-horsepower 2.5-liter diesel engine (Navara had only the latter unit). However, now the models will offer the buyer only diesel engines, and it was decided to abandon the gasoline “beast” - even in Russia, owners of large SUVs are tired of stopping by for a gas station every 2-3 days. The same 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which has undergone a major upgrade, will become the base one: a new block head has appeared, an electric drive is used in the turbocharger nozzle control system (there used to be a hydraulic drive), pressure in the injection system increased from 1800 to 2000 bar. But the above information is only relevant for specialists. And for 99% of drivers, something else is more important - now the diesel engine will produce 190 “horses” (+16 hp), and the torque will reach 450 N m (+ 47 N m). The figures are already quite decent, especially if you remember that the engine not only added power, but also became more economical.
This engine will be accompanied by the latest 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine. Its peculiarity is that it has a cylinder block cast from the so-called CGI (Compected Graphite Iron). This made it possible to make the engine only slightly heavier than similar units of competitors that have an aluminum alloy block. The characteristics of the motor are very serious: 238 hp. and as much as 550 N m. The maximum torque is achieved in the range from 1700 to 2500 "revolutions", and already from 1500 rpm 500 "newtons" are available!
But the appearance of restyled cars has not changed much. Unless the radiator grille has become different, the shape of the hood and headlights have slightly changed, larger rear-view mirrors have appeared, in the body of which there are now “turn signals”. It should also be noted the appearance of nozzles for cleaning the headlights. Let's not forget about the new bumpers - thanks to the front, the length of the car increased immediately by 80 mm and now is 4820 mm.
Count on the emergence of a new salon is also not worth it. If we consider the basic configurations, then the changes are generally minimal: a new seat trim fabric, chrome trim elements appeared, instrument scales were changed, the shape of the door panels became slightly different, there is a new all-wheel drive system mode switch. But in expensive versions, the changes are more noticeable, because there is already a navigation system that has a 40 GB hard drive. There is also another 9.3 GB drive, which is designed for music (records from more than 300 CDs are placed there). Moreover, it became possible to watch video as well - the DVD-player displays the image on the screen only when the car is standing still and the handbrake is on.
Here are the inputs. And now let's see how the updated cars behave on the road. Let's start with the Pathfinder, because this SUV is sold in Russia much better than the Navara pickup. But when I got into the car, I was a little disappointed. It turns out that the Pathfinders we tested had a 2.5-liter engine and a manual transmission. The combination for our market is not the most successful - in Russia they rarely buy such large SUVs with “mechanics”. And, to be honest, they are right. The "handle" on the Pathfinder does not differ in the clarity of switching, the "rear" one was far from always possible to turn on the first time. Moreover, the hands felt that the transmission was "cut", but sometimes it turned out that this was the sixth, and not the back at all! And in such cases, it was possible to understand whether the car would go back or not only by the image that appeared on the screen from the rear view camera.
As for the diesel, he made a good impression. Yes, it is clear that this is a motor of an old design, there are noises and vibrations, but they fit within the bounds of decency. The motor screams only when the driver pushes the tachometer needle above 3000 rpm. And with a calm driving style, the rattling of a diesel engine does not interfere at all.
The Pathfinder's suspension is completely independent. This made it possible to achieve decent handling for a car of this class, which is also combined with a smooth ride. When cornering at a moderate speed, the Pathfinder is no different from a passenger car. If you increase the speed, then rolls, of course, appear. However, they are not critical, and only make it clear to the driver that the next time you can take your foot off the gas pedal earlier.
It was not possible to fully test the off-road capabilities of the Pathfinder in Spain. The route proposed by the organizers of the "off-road" was not bad, but there were no places where one would have to crawl on a lowered one with the risk of putting the car on its belly. And yet, a trip through the Spanish off-road made it possible to understand that the Pathfinder has a good preparation: a powerful frame, an All Mode 4x4 all-wheel drive system, which itself connects the front wheels if necessary (you can also drive with a hard-locked differential, but only on off-road), lowering the row in the "razdatka", ground clearance of 210 mm. Nice set! For complete happiness, only mechanical interwheel locks are missing, however, the Nissan people assure that the electronics replace them perfectly, since All Mode 4x4 starts working already when a wheel turns only a few degrees (not revolutions, but just degrees). Moreover, this distribution is very soft and intelligent.
Updated Pathfinder and Navara received a new feature - a speed limiter built into the cruise control system. The speed limiter can be especially useful in the city and on roads with speed radars. The driver can independently set the speed limit that the car will not exceed. However, if you press the accelerator pedal suddenly, for example, to avoid an unexpected obstacle, the speed limiter will automatically stop.
The Navara pickup has a simpler transmission. There are no electronic "brains" that manage the transfer of torque. But there is still the same function of hard connection of all-wheel drive, “razdatka” (the first “lower” one allows you to generally crawl at a snail’s speed, which is very useful on difficult off-road conditions or when you need to drag a heavy trailer uphill on a muddy road). Moreover, Navara with a manual transmission also has a rear cross-axle differential lock!
The luggage compartment of the Pathfinder with the third row of seats raised is 190 liters. If you fold it, then the volume will increase to 515 liters. The maximum luggage capacity is 2091 liters. It is also worth noting that the interior of the SUV has up to six holders for glasses and bottles.
But Navara was interesting for completely different reasons - this car was equipped with the latest 3.0-liter diesel engine, which was paired with a 7-speed "automatic" (cars with a 2.5-liter engine are equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission). Let's just say - I liked this combination. And not only liked it, but damn it. The modern “automatic” works very correctly, it shifts gears smoothly, and besides, there is a manual mode (this is if you suddenly want to drive a little). And the new 3.0-liter diesel is generally a song. Everything is here. And power (238 hp), and a huge torque of 550 N m. And at the same time, the engine turned out to be very quiet, vibrations are minimal, and traction is excellent. In general - offset, the diesel theme of Nissan in this case turned out to be disclosed. And if the difference in the cost of a 2.5-liter engine and a new diesel engine is not too big, then I would not hesitate to take the last option. Believe me, the 3.0-liter engine is better, much better! And it is completely understandable why the Japanese decided to abandon the petrol 4.0-liter monster. It's just not needed. You can recall, however, that the 2.5-liter unit is slightly more economical. Formally, this is so. But the difference in consumption is on average only about 0.5 liters. And in this case, this half liter can be safely sacrificed for the sake of being able to accelerate from 0-100 in 8.9 s.
I also liked the Navara for its comfort. No wonder this car is the most expensive pickup on our market. By and large, if you do not look back, then you will not feel much difference in behavior on the road between the Pathfinder with a fully independent suspension and the Navara (it has a solid rear axle and springs) you will not feel. Especially if you load the luggage compartment a little ... In fact, the organizers of the test drive did just that - there was a large box with stones weighing as much as 200 kg in the back. Here's a little trick. Although there is another explanation - the Navara's wheelbase turned out to be immediately 347 mm longer than that of the Pathfinder, and reached 3200 mm. And this is a lot - for comparison, such giants as the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 or Infiniti QX56 have a smaller base!
At the very beginning of the article, it was already said that the updated Pathfinder has become cheaper than the old model. If at the beginning of the year an SUV with a 2.5-liter diesel engine cost from 1,603,000 rubles, now you can buy this car with 1,493,500 rubles in your pocket. Moreover, the equipment of the model will be very worthy: six airbags, an anti-skid system and a lift assistance system, separate climate control, heated seats, “music”, 17-inch alloy wheels. True, such a car will be equipped with a manual transmission, and there will be only five seats in the cabin. A car with an “automatic” in a better configuration with a seven-seater saloon costs exactly 1.6 million rubles. (previously it was about 1,705,000 rubles). Well, the most luxurious version of the Pathfinder with a large screen, navigation system, leather interior, sunroof, “music” with 9 speakers, air conditioning for rear passengers, xenon headlights, 18-inch wheels and other costs 1,809,500 rubles.
What do competitors offer? Let's see.
The most popular in this segment is now the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (the “two hundredth” Kruzak is still larger and noticeably more expensive). Last year, 5517 Prados were sold in Russia. The Japanese SUV is equipped with a 4.0-liter petrol engine (282 hp) and a 3.0-liter diesel engine (183 hp). A car with the latest power unit can be bought for 1,805,000 rubles. And a car with “skin”, navigation and other bells and whistles already costs 2,336,500 rubles. True, the equipment of such a Prado will be better than that of the Pathfinder, because the SUV from Toyota in the Prestige Plus version is equipped with a JBL music system with 14 speakers, an advanced off-road assistance system CRAWL CONTROL, a forced rear differential lock, four cameras around the perimeter car
Mitsubishi Pajero also sells well in Russia, which can also be equipped not only with a gasoline engine (3.8 l, 250 hp), but also with a diesel engine. The volume of the latter supplies 3.2 liters, but its power is the same as that of the Pathfinder diesel - 190 hp. And the torque of the "Nissan" motor is even higher - 450 N.m versus 441 N.m for Pajero. The most affordable diesel Mitsubishi Pajero with a manual gearbox costs 1,484,000 rubles, and with an “automatic” - 1,545,000 rubles. True, the Pajero base has only two pillows, but there is xenon and a rear air conditioner. A car with a leather interior, a sunroof, a DVD player and a navigation system costs 1,883,000 rubles
Land Rover Discovery is sold in Russia with three engines at once. The 2.7-liter diesel produces 188 hp. and 440 N.m., and the new 3.0-liter - 241 hp. and 600 N.m. (for lovers of fast driving, there is also a Discovery with a 5.0-liter gasoline V8: 370 hp, 510 Nm). The simplest "Disco" with a manual transmission and a 2.7-liter diesel engine costs from 1,895,000 rubles. Moreover, the basic equipment here is not amazing. It is about the same as competitors. A car in a rich HSE configuration costs 2,363,000 rubles, a Discovery HSE with a 3.0-liter diesel engine costs 2,519,000 rubles
Once in the Pathfinder salon, you find yourself in the realm of absolute utility and simplicity. The polished plastic of the console decorated with a structural pattern and a pair of nickel-plated elements of the gear lever and aluminum inserts stand out from the general range of “mood”, and the trim of the door panels with genuine leather tends to show some belonging to the upper class. At the same time, there are no extraneous plastic noises - this is an indicator of the quality of materials and assembly.
The first row seats are molded for a person of average height, with my 192 centimeters it is clearly felt. It saves the lumbar support, which slightly aligns the back and makes the landing more comfortable. The electronic settings have two memory banks - for yourself and for that guy, or for switching the seat from "drive" to "sleep".
The wheel is good! No, not Range Rover kid leather - that would be bad manners in this case, but the finish is pleasant, and the steering wheel itself, which has thumb rests, is quite comfortable.
The steering wheel, which has stops for the thumbs, is quite comfortable.
My heart began to beat faster when I reached for the steering lock ... I knew! I knew that Nissan had not betrayed itself and there was still no adjustment for reach. I will not make a comment that in a top-end car worth more than 2.2 million rubles there is no steering wheel heating, but the fact that the auto giant did not bother to make this necessary adjustment in its older models causes me noble indignation.
We start the engine, since for this you do not need to get the key out of your pocket. Start-stop buttons are not provided here and everything is done in the usual way, with the only difference being that there is no need to get the key into the “keyhole”. The dashboard comes to life, everything reads perfectly, nice moonlight and red-tinted pointer arrows.
The dashboard comes to life, everything reads perfectly, nice moonlight and red-tinted pointer arrows.
On the tidy, the indicator of the connected all-wheel drive with the unlocked center differential is on! Do I really not know something and Nissan Pathfinder got permanent four-wheel drive? I shift my gaze to the mode selector and find the complete absence of the 2WD mode, in place of which the inscription AUTO flaunts. Then everything is as usual: 4H and 4Lo. We'll deal with this later.
There is an ESP disable button as standard. Next to it are buttons for dual-band heating of the front seats and a button for central locking of door locks. And if turning off the ESP is required “once a year by promise”, then closing the doors and turning on the heating of the “fifth point” is required quite often, and reaching the buttons through the gearshift lever is not so easy.
There is an ESP disable button as standard. Next to it are buttons for dual-band heating of the front seats and a button for central locking of door locks.
There was a feeling that the location of these buttons was developed according to the residual principle: “What else should be put there?”.
We rise above the regulators of the climate and audio systems. By the way, the climate here is dual-zone, and if you look closely, you can also find temperature and airflow control knobs for the rear passengers, located on the console, behind the gear knob, and duplicated behind the armrest. This is a clear plus in the piggy bank of the model, otherwise I started to find fault with something. The climate and audio controls themselves are located on the same level and close to each other.
In the course of the piece, I repeatedly changed completely the wrong adjustments that I needed. Then I got used to it. I don't like this term. In thoughtful ergonomics of management, it should be completely absent. Although, visually, this pile of knobs and buttons looks quite harmonious and balanced.
Climate and audio controls are located on the same level and close to each other.
Navigation frankly pleased. The previous acquaintance with Nissan Connect was in the Juke model, but the quality of the picture and the possibility of dividing it into two windows left the Beetle far behind. But moving the map with the usual “drag and drop” will not work, for this the arrows on the screen light up or you can use the multifunctional joystick. A couple of times I tried to find something on the map visually - it didn’t work the first time. Again this need to get used to ...
I knew a man who drove with a personal driver in the back seat of a Defender 110. Why not, if you periodically have to get out to construction sites, and you just like to feel involved in the legend. Probably Pathfinder can be used for the same purposes if its owner is satisfied with sitting on the second row of seats, which is more like the rear seats of a pickup truck - completely devoid of any molding, having only an armrest, the mentioned climate controls and a couple of boxes for small things in the arsenal of comfort . At the same time, the headrests are small and uncomfortable.
Incredible possibilities of transformation of the seven-seater saloon. From a small bus for a large family, to a two-seater SUV with the same berth in the back.
The features of the second row of seats are due to the incredible transformation possibilities of the seven-seater saloon. From a small bus for a large family, to a two-seater SUV with the same berth in the back. At the same time, all seats can be folded both completely and partially. Those sitting in the gallery of the third row have access only to their own air ducts, a pair of cup holders and large windows.
materiel
I was given a Pathfinder in "full stuffing" for the test. All these options for comfort, interior and exterior, wheels, sunroof, etc. not important. The main thing here is hidden under the hood - a three-liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 231 hp. and a maximum torque of 550N * m at 1750 rpm. An integral "dessert" to this engine is a 7-band automatic transmission.
A weaker unit is also available for the Russian buyer, with a volume of 2.5 liters and a power of 190 hp, with a maximum torque of 440N * m at 2000 rpm. Such an engine can be equipped with a 6-speed manual or a 5-band automatic, to choose from.
Until 2010, you could also buy a petrol version of the Pathfinder (that's how the name of the model is translated), but Nissan engineers and marketers decided that our market and our fuel quality, which causes a number of problems with engines, were not yet ready for it. A strange fact, if you take into account the gasoline units of the closest competitors Toyota and Mitsubishi, or other Nissan models, whose gasoline engines did not cause headaches.
The Pathfinder is equipped with a second-generation All-mode 4x4 all-wheel drive system. Under normal conditions, 100% of the torque is transmitted to the rear wheels, redistributing it between the axles in a 50x50 ratio if necessary. Changes in driving conditions are tracked by a variety of electronic systems. ESP+ interfaces ABS, steering angle and acceleration sensors, as well as AWD and engine control modules, allowing the vehicle to respond to any changes and, if necessary, change engine speed or brake a spinning wheel.
The Pathfinder is equipped with a second-generation All-mode 4x4 all-wheel drive system.
The body of the Pathfinder is mounted on a frame of the same type as the Navara model and is completely independent. Its dimensions are 4813 mm long, 1848 mm wide and 1846 mm high with roof rails (1858 mm for the version with a 2.5-liter engine). This is the last frame version of the Pathfinder, as the fourth-generation Pathfinder introduced at the Detroit Auto Show lost it.
The ability to open the trunk glass separately from the door itself also speaks of American origin. This is an indispensable attribute of the North American market, where it is fashionable to load the trunk with packages from the supermarket through an open cracker without lifting the door itself. Not the best solution, but the fact remains and manufacturers have not yet abandoned it. In the conditions of the Russian climate and the "cleanliness" of the roads, I vaguely imagine loading something into the trunk through the window, unless the car has just left the car wash.
In terms of ground clearance, the version with a 3-liter engine loses to its 2.5-liter counterpart - 216 mm versus 228 mm.
In terms of ground clearance, the version with a 3-liter engine loses to its 2.5-liter counterpart - 216 mm versus 228 mm. The weight of the unit itself affects. At the same time, the depth of the ford to be overcome is in standard parameters and is 450 mm for both versions.
I can’t help but note a couple of little things that I still didn’t like - the headlight washer works every time you pour water on the glass, and there is also no automatic folding mirror mode, which is on the same Nissan Juke.
On road
Diesel "treshka" is a delight. There is no doubt about this issue. I love big engines from North America or those designed for it from the East, but when common sense and calculation take over, you start to look for a compromise. Nissan found this compromise - 231 hp. and 550N * m is enough for confident maneuvering in city traffic and safe overtaking of slow-moving vehicles on a country road. It is enough to sink the gas pedal and this black designer brick pleasantly shoots forward. The predictable torque converter lag does not affect the overall score.
Diesel "treshka" is a delight. There is no doubt about this issue.
The automatic transmission, which is equipped with a three-liter engine, also has a sport mode, unlike the younger one. A longer delay in lower gears during acceleration and engine braking is noticeable. The engine has to work a little to keep up the aggressive driving style, but that's the trade-off between volume, power and maintenance costs. For the entire test period, the computer showed an average fuel consumption of 11.5 to 13.5 liters per hundred, taking into account Moscow traffic jams and empty country roads.
A drive from the center of Moscow to an area with a faster and lighter crossover of another brand showed that the three-liter Nissan engine is the golden mean. Maybe there was a little lack of freedom and in some places I had to spin it in order to stay “on the tail” of the escort, but all this happened in an adequate mode. Reseeding at 2.5 liters, I would not have been able to repeat my route with the same confidence.
A longer delay in lower gears during acceleration and engine braking is noticeable.
But the steering made me remember again that the Pathfinder takes some getting used to. Here I'm not picking at all, but based on personal feelings from the car. The first 90-degree turn and I realize that the response to the steering angle is completely different from what I expected. My trajectory went exactly to the area of a lawn slightly covered with snow, and in order to rectify the situation, I had to turn quite strongly.
Of course, I didn’t break out in a cold perspiration, but other drivers who saw my face at that moment most likely thought of something bad. I tried to refresh my feelings by switching to a classmate, which only convinced me that Pathfinder really behaves a little differently than expected and this is not a whim. Naturally, the second or third turn put everything in its place and I no longer remembered the first reaction.
The first 90-degree turn and I realize that the response to the steering angle is completely different from what I expected.
By itself, the behavior of the Pathfinder on the road gives off a strong American accent. This is manifested in a leisurely response to steering movements, distinct rolls in the turn and transmission work.
But “in some places” broken and uneven asphalt, as well as various small dirty tricks in the form of “speed bumps”, are passed with a bang, with a degree of comfort due to the class and price of the car. I can say with confidence that Pathfinder is among the leading group in this discipline and has confidently settled there. At the same time, the suspension does not give much "peck" on the nose during heavy braking. Everything is going on as normal and as usual.
By itself, the behavior of the Pathfinder on the road gives off a strong American accent.
Nothing to say about the brakes. They just do their job in the right way, which is the best estimate. In addition to the tests, I had the opportunity to test the brakes in a real situation, when another fan of driving to the lane for my own pleasure left me no choice - either have time to slow down, or turn his sedan into a hatch, giving this “tuning” from a well-known Japanese manufacturer. I don’t know how he felt, but I managed not only to slow down, but also to calmly maneuver further, changing lanes into the next lane.
Algorithm of all-wheel drive All-mode 4x4 II - a confident offset! For all the time I was driving on the snow not removed from the asphalt and the icy surface of the village roads, I never “remembered” that I was driving a rear-wheel drive car, the front wheels of which receive torque only when necessary.
Nothing to say about the brakes. They just do their job in the right way, which is the best estimate.
Electronics clearly worked out its purpose and did not make you think again. At the same time, even with a sharp acceleration, the car behaved confidently, did not start to scour the stern or go into a skid. All manipulations of the system occurred almost instantly. I did not turn on the forced all-wheel drive mode even once until it became necessary to move off the road.
Off-road
We figured out how the Pathfinder all-wheel drive works on the road, it remains to check what it is capable of where electronics do not always help - off-road. To do this, I had to go to a snowy field and it was a big mistake. Walking with your feet does not always mean understanding what the snow hides, and it happened this time.
I had to go to a snowy field and it was a big mistake.
While waiting for the UAZ Hunter, who was coming to my rescue, prepared by Autoventuri, I had the opportunity to assess the situation. Everything turned out to be quite simple - while I went out to take a few photos, the car pushed through the snow and slowly began to bog down in the muddy ground. A small hole, which turned out to be just under the front wheels, completed the menu for this evening. Several attempts to get out under their own power were unsuccessful, Pathfinder alternately paddling with wheels shod in winter tires, which blurred in an instant.
An ambush is not an ambush, but it took Hunter four dashes to free the stuck Pathfinder, although he tried with all his electronic essence to make this task easier for him. The eye of such a large car made me doubt its off-road qualities or look reproachfully at the designers, who considered it not a very necessary thing - it is not an easy task to thread a shackle or cable into it.
A small hole, which turned out to be just under the front wheels, completed the menu for this evening.
I did not understand this “performance” of Pathfinder on the field and decided to try again, driving to a swampy clearing with puddles covered with ice and snow-covered bumps. Metal and flexible sand-trucks were taken with them - just in case. But this time, everything worked out and Pathfinder confidently passed where I could pass without forcing myself to drown in the snow or, worse, in the swamp. We figured out the issues of the light version of the off-road, but there was no desire to put the car in a serious rut or go to the forest, and not only because of the price - I really don’t want to scratch the varnish with branches and spoil its attractive appearance.
Options and prices
Three configurations are available to the Russian buyer - two with a 2.5-liter engine, with a manual or automatic transmission, as well as a 3-liter version with a gun. The cheapest car will cost 1,534 thousand rubles. The price of a Pathfinder with a V6 engine starts at 2,275 thousand rubles.
Nissan Pathfinder has been on the Russian market for a long time and there is a wide selection of used cars. Sellers ask for a three-year period from 900 to 1,600 thousand rubles, depending on the configuration and mileage.
Three configurations are available to the Russian buyer - two with a 2.5-liter engine, with a manual or automatic transmission, as well as a 3-liter version with a gun.
conclusions
The priority of a prestigious and comfortable “limousine” salon makes Pathfinder an outsider, but everything changes dramatically when you need a practical car in which you can drive up to an office of any level, and load your mother-in-law, children, a dog with a cat and a hamster on weekends and go to the country. Let's not forget that Pathfinder has an outstanding design from the outside and looks great.
The Nissan Pathfinder isn’t a sports car, it won’t be very comfortable playing checkerboard on the road or trying to race at traffic lights, but it’s quite capable of speeding up quickly or slowing down adequately to its own weight if traffic conditions require it.
Off-road, the Pathfinder has good enough potential - all-wheel drive, low gearing and great-working electronics go well with good ground clearance and acceptable body overhangs. But it is the electronics that are good for light off-road adventures that do not allow us to talk about it as a good contender for conquering serious off-road. Yes, and it is not intended for these purposes.
Let's not forget that Pathfinder has an outstanding design from the outside and looks great.
With proper preparation, you can make a good expeditionary from Pathfinder, which will allow you to go on any road trip, while not being afraid to face a choice - to move off the asphalt and see something interesting or go back. In the standard version, it will be a good option for the only car in the family that will look decent in an official setting, and will also accommodate everyone and everything you need for a trip to the river or cottage, while allowing you to get to the place on any dirt roads, and most importantly, get back after heavy rain or snow.
The best choice, in my opinion, would be the option with a 3-liter diesel engine and a 7-band automatic. The price tag on it is a bit immodest compared to the youngest engine in the line, but believe me, this engine is worth the money invested in it. The only thing that upsets this configuration is the lower ground clearance, although, with the help of
Pickup "Nissan Navara"
Exactly one cubic meter of a body open to all winds is the main, conspicuous, difference between the new Nissan Navara pickup truck and its closest relative, the Pathfinder SUV. But in fact, these cars differ not only in this. Although their purpose, as it turned out, is very similar. Many modern pickups are no longer perceived as a utilitarian vehicle, a sort of compact truck. Among them is the "Navara" - a stylish and relatively expensive car for fans of outdoor activities and those who consider ordinary jeeps to be too banal and ordinary cars.
BUYING a pickup for private use in Russia still looks a bit eccentric. Nevertheless, this segment of the market is actively developing. Progress is evident. If a couple of years ago such cars were still considered exotic, only last year official Russian dealers sold 1,200 pickups. Approximately the same, if not more (statistics is silent about this), - "unofficial". We are talking about new cars. And how many other second-hand copies were imported into the country by private individuals? Only the Customs Committee of the Russian Federation knows about this ...
A more serious growth in sales seems to be hindered only by the problem with the motivation for such an acquisition. But, according to the marketers of the company "Nissan", it has already become better with her. Who said that a pickup truck is only for transporting household goods? Bags of hypothetical potatoes may well give way to a much less prosaic luggage: a "standing" jetski, a pair of mountain bikes or motocross bikes, a kayak, hunting equipment ... Transporting all this on an SUV is sometimes simply impossible. From this point of view, a pickup really becomes a good alternative to a jeep: from Monday to Friday it serves as an ordinary personal car, and on weekends it turns into an attribute of an active pastime - a professional tool for a vacationer.
Salon is no worse than in a mid-range SUV.
One and a half to two
How many doors can a car have on one side? In most cases, one or two. How about one and a half? Among pickups ("Navara" is one of them), such a scheme is also possible. The so-called "one-and-a-half" cabs (the official name is "King Cab"), for example, in America, are the most common. The rear seats in such cars are purely nominal. They can only accommodate a child or a not particularly pretentious fellow traveler who simply has no other choice. Among Americans, there is even a hard-to-translate joke about a special "place for mother-in-law."
On a pickup truck with a one-and-a-half cab, there are indeed "one and a half" doors: the second sash is "half", it swings open against the direction of travel and only when the "main" front door is open. There is no B-pillar, so sitting back is quite comfortable.
When I confidently walked towards the King Cab line, one of the organizers stopped me:
You are from Russia? Then we recommend taking not "King Cab", but "Double Cab". Only such machines will be sold in your country.
In the back of a pickup truck with a "one and a half" cab, a four-wheeler fits without problems, and on the "Double Cab" version, the tailgate will no longer close.
"Double Cab" with four doors looks more advantageous than "one and a half". In any case, closer to the image of an SUV. Marketers of "Nissan", having analyzed the sales statistics of pickups in Russia, decided to offer our customers "Double Cab" with two rows of seats. They decided not to take risks with body types that are unusual for Russian motorists. After all, the pioneer of the domestic market of pickups "Mitsubishi L200", and "Ford Ranger", as well as its clone "Mazda B2500" are offered here exclusively in the four-door "Double Cab" version.
"Nissan Navara" with "Double Cab" cab has four normal doors and an almost normal rear sofa. Why "almost"? The pillow is short. Of course, you can sit, but on a long trip for an adult it will be uncomfortable there.
Due to the long "double" cab, the Nissan team had to shorten the length of the body - it is 35 cm shorter than on the "King Cab". And if you roll into it, for example, a cross-country motorcycle or ATV, then it will no longer be possible to close the tailgate. True, there is nothing wrong with this - it is designed in such a way that, if necessary, serve as a continuation of the body and withstand serious loads.
Brothers but not twins
SITTING in the Nissan Navara, it is quite possible to forget that you are driving a pickup truck, and not its older brother, the Pathfin-der SUV. The front panel, seats, interior trim on these cars are the same. In terms of equipment, the pickup truck is not inferior to the Pathfinder: power accessories, high-quality audio system, cruise control, leather trim ... But that's not all! For example, I have never met a navigation system and separate climate control on pickup trucks. Apparently, these are the laws of the new genre. After all, the owner of such a car - a wealthy person - will not limit himself in comfort on vacation. What is considered an unaffordable luxury for a "workhorse" is a matter of prime necessity for a "weekend car".
Navara and Pathfinder not only have the same interior. Outwardly, they are also close to each other. However, behind a fair external similarity, there is also a significant difference in design. The fact that a pickup truck and an SUV are built on a common platform does not mean technical identity at all. Firstly, there is a simple rear-wheel drive version of the Navara (however, it is planned to sell only the 4x4 modification in Russia). Secondly, if the Pathfinder SUV has a fully independent spring chassis, the Navara rear suspension is an archaic spring bridge. You can't imagine anything more reliable and stronger. It is almost impossible to damage such a mechanism even on difficult off-road conditions. However, from the point of view of handling on asphalt, this is far from the best solution.
vertical kilometer
The ISLAND of Crete is famous, in particular, for the fact that during the Second World War the Germans could not take it under control. They kept several military bases on the coast - and nothing more. Guerrillas and British raiding parties easily hid among the abundance of mountains, which are still famous for their snowy peaks and bottomless gorges.
Our path also ran among the rocks - a primer stretched under the hood, leading somewhere up. The pickup truck climbed it slowly and steadily. At the pass, the GPS-navigator showed a height of 1.180 meters above sea level. A kilometer with a little is very close, but only if measured horizontally. And when the path passes almost vertically, it becomes difficult and long, a real test for the car ...
Style is above all: even the plastic top is not a practical "box", but a spectacular "superstructure".
Climbing higher and higher along the rocky serpentine, we, as it should be according to the rules of the event, from time to time exchanged cars. It suddenly turned out that no one is particularly eager to ride a pickup truck with an "automatic". Colleagues unanimously preferred the basic 6-speed "mechanics". It allows you to "sneak" in tension, while the automatic transmission, even in position "1", strives to raise the engine speed to the maximum. And on a pickup truck with an empty body - that is, with an underloaded rear axle - this is fraught with a breakdown in slipping. In sharp turns, when the rear outer wheel tends to "hang out", a slight skid is also possible. And when the pebbles from the slipping wheels fall into the abyss, the sensations from these easy slips are much sharper than from driving a sports car with deep skids along the government Rublevsky highway.
If you use all-wheel drive (and for this you just need to flip a switch on the front panel - the automation will do the rest), the tendency to skid practically disappears. Alas, due to the deterioration of the maneuverability of the machine. "Navara" with a rigidly connected front axle (the center differential is not provided) is much less willing to "dives" into turns. You can use the "4x4" mode only on off-road or slippery surfaces.
The difference in the behavior of a pickup truck and an SUV with a fully independent suspension is undoubtedly present. The mountain roads of Crete have shown that on asphalt roads, the Navara is inferior to the Pathfinder in terms of handling. In corners with broken asphalt, which an SUV is able to prescribe without problems, a spring pickup truck can break into a skid quite sharply. This is a consequence of the archaic rear dependent suspension. The real benefit of this design lies only in the "indestructibility" and increased carrying capacity. Under load, the spring suspension works even better and is significantly more comfortable. It is no coincidence that on the test vehicles with one-and-a-half cabs "King Cab" special boxes with ballast were fixed in the body.
The Navara shared a platform with the Pathfinder Jeep, but that doesn't mean the two models are technically identical.
The additional load really favorably affects the character of the pickup truck and, thanks to the solid traction reserve of the powerful diesel engine, it practically does not affect the dynamics. "Navara" is equipped with a turbodiesel that produces 174 hp. and an impressive 403 Nm of torque. By the way, this is one of the best indicators in the class. Another engine (also diesel) is more economical: with a similar displacement, its power due to lower boost pressure is 144 hp. Gasoline modification is not provided, which is not at all surprising, given the European orientation of the novelty.
New segment
ALL the way, even high in the mountains, we often came across local peasants in their pretty battered pickup trucks. Such cars, despite their venerable age, are loved and appreciated here. Greece, as well as Spain, are the main consumers of pickup trucks in Europe. It is not surprising that all the natives we met saw off the column of brand new "Navara" with interested and envious glances. No, gentlemen, the new "Nissan", of course, will cope with the tasks facing you. But for agricultural needs, it is still better to find another car.
Our pickup trucks are not suitable for the role of "workhorses". Yes, and they are only a little cheaper SUVs "Pathfinder". Perhaps, by positioning "Navara" as a car for outdoor activities, marketers of "Nissan" laid the foundation for a new fashion trend? And following the well-established term "beach SUV" the concept of "beach pickup" will also enter our everyday life?
Ivan VLADIMIROV,
author's photo
Heraklion - Moscow
Automobile newspaper "Klaxon"
