New ride quality is pretty firm, and nicely solid, but it seems to have softened up some around 2,000 miles. I like Nissan's powerful V6 in my base model. Only dislike about the engine itself is that it starts up its 24 valves noisily until the oil gets up onto the cams at a very fast 2,000 RPM start (normal among others on the lot as well, me and the salesman checked) before it finally drops back to normal idle 600-750 rpm. Engine runs very smooth though after a quick warm up. I do like the soft touch surfaces, except the top of the door panels are showing a little texture wear already if you have a habit of putting your arm on the top of the door panel rather than the arm rest. Be careful of placing your knees on the lift panel in the back floor storage area. Its waffled web like plastic design underneath does not hold up to knees while trying to climb in the back for cargo, etc. Little disappointed that I cracked it on the back side already while vacuuming it out for the first time. The base, non-Bose option stereo sounds pretty good if you boost the treble and set the bass flat. This Pathfinder is compact and solid with a fully boxed frame and a lot of steel crammed closely together underneath, so the density is high giving it a very solid and quality feel. It does not feel like a big, airy, boxy, plastic-like, future rattle box like the domestic types. You can clearly see that it is not a car chassis underneath. No exhaust hanging down, and wall to wall steel not sheet metal from one component to another densely packed. If you’re going to tow, or do much real off-road driving this true SUV has to be about the best bang for the buck you can buy, unless you need to save a couple bucks and go with a little choppier ride quality, less the 3rd row seating for an X-terra. I traded a 2005 Silverado, Ext Cab with 5.3L V-8, and I like the Pathfinder better! It has a more sporty drive, and the V-6 power and acceleration feels just as strong for its class and size if not better. The V-8 option, I’d imagine would make this thing feel hyperactive like driving an “SUV sports car”. A suggestion for Nissan would be to use an electric radiator fan rather than keeping old-school with the classic mechanical fan. I think it would save an mpg and only add even more to the already smooth engine and driving experience. I can get 20 mpg if I stay around 65-70 mph and baby the throttle. If your foot heavy and exceeding 70 mpg on the highway, mileage drops to around 18-18.5 mpg on 87 octane. She can be a little hard on gas, somewhat typical from prior experience with a Nissan or two, but this Pathfinder is a tight, quality package with strong power, even with the V-6 so it’s worth it. The Ethanol in the gas doesn’t help mileage either because the more alcohol, the lower the mpg. Good time to buy now at the end of the 2009 year with Cash for Clunkers dead. MSRP on mine was $30K, and I negotiated to $25K on the road.

excellent road handling even in high speeds and turns. Very comfortable and many"'gadgets". Off Road with 50/50 tires (not original) and higher suspensions (not original) can take 95% of challenges that bigger and much more expensive off roaders face.

I love how the seats fold completely flat in both back rows. The car has lots of space and awesome standard equipment!! Pay a little extra and get air control throughout... I love it and your passengers will thank you!!!

The new 2009 drives even better than our '06. Onboard Computer is very nice although I think we need to take it in already for a freon charge since the AC is not getting cold fast. Other than that it has been great.