Nissan Pathfinder News

The recall is to fix a defect in the powered driver’s seat that could contribute to an accident.The notification applies to 2643 of the Nissan Pathfinder R51 sold since 2005 -- VIN range: VSKJLWR51A0007646 to VSKJVWR51A0364879.Incorrect installation of the power sat harness in the drivers’ seat in those vehicles may lead to the harness being damaged. This risks the seat ceasing to operate, or unexpected self-operation that could contribute to an accident, the notice says. Nissan is notifying owners of affected Pathfinders by mail, and advises them to contact a Nissan dealer for inspection and rectification of the defect. 

The Koreans starred, the Japanese mounted a comeback, and One Ford hit the headlines with an extended family of Focus-based newcomers that it is certain to make a big hit in Australia. But it was one car and the commitment of its company chief that made the most impact as America fought back on the opening day of the 2011 North American International Motor Show.The SUV's family friendly focus will be expected to deliver around 10,000 sales a year when it arrives mid 2013 to take on the Ford Territory and Toyota Kluger.That's almost a fourfold increase on the existing sales but one Nissan Australia head Dan Thompson says from week's Detroit Motor Show is a realistic target.Thompson says the seven-seat Pathfinder won't compete with the five-seat Nissan Murano simply because they appeal to different types of buyers."They are quite different product propositions. One is very much is a family vehicle; Murano is either post-family or pre-family ... we see in Australia Murano remaining to be a brand car or a niche product, whereas we see Pathfinder being a very significant product for us."When we launch Pathfinder in Australia clearly we will go up against Kluger and Territory. Both unibody, both monocoque both doing about 10,000-plus sales a year, so that's the space we want to be in with Pathfinder.The next-gen will have multiple drivetrains, we will also introduce two-wheel drive to get more breadth in the line-up and we want to compete right at the top of the medium SUV segment."The new car will boast more interior features and entertainment options to satisfy families who rely on the vehicle as a people-mover happy but Nissan product chief Andy Palmer is adamant the refinements and monocoque chassis won't be at the expense of the Pathfinder's off-road or towing ability."The big news is 227kg of weight reduction means something in the vicinity of 25 per cent better fuel consumption," Palmer says of the move away from the ladder-chassis design."The off-road capability won't be diminished ... as will be completely apparent when you drive the car."Nissan has yet to officially announce which powertrains will drive the next-gen Pathfinder beyond the 3.5-litre V6 and continuously variable transmission fitted to the concept car shown at this week's Detroit Motor Show.The engine will be the same VQ series mill already fitted to the Infiniti JX, though with a different tune - expect around 195kW.The upmarket exterior look is dominated at the front by the flat horizontal headlight clusters framing a tapered chrome grille. The look is partly dictated by the desire to improve aerodaynamics - Nissan says the Pathfinder will cut through the air as well as anything in its class.Locked doors and blacked-out windows on the concept car shows Nissan is still working on the interior details but the company says the new three-row seating configuration will have more options with increased room for passengers and cargo.

The Koreans starred, the Japanese mounted a comeback, and One Ford hit the headlines with an extended family of Focus-based newcomers that it is certain to make a big hit in Australia. But it was one car and the commitment of its company chief that made the most impact as America fought back on the opening day of the 2011 North American International Motor Show.A concept preview of the fourth-generation off-roader, which is due to go on sale in the US late this year, shows the big SUV has moved on from its workhorse image.The upmarket look is dominated at the front by the flat horizontal headlight clusters framing a tapered chrome grille. The look is partly dictated by the desire to improve aerodaynamics - Nissan says the Pathfinder will cut through the air as well as anything in its class.A continuously variable transmission matched to a smaller V6 petrol engine and aerodynamic styling will trim the new Pathfinder's fuel use by up to 25 per cent.Given the existing model's 4.0-litre V6 officially uses 13.5 litres/100km, that should fall into the low 10s.Nissan spokesman Al Castignetti says the return to a unitary body (the current model uses a body-on-frame design) has cut weight and given the designers more scope to shape the exterior without compromising cargo capacity or interior room for the seven occupants.In a tacit acknowledgement that many Pathfinder owners use the vehicle as a sturdy people-mover rather than a full-on bush-basher, he adds talks of premium comfort and notes the latest vehicle has evolved to "help owners accomplish more in the real world, not just off-road"Nissan won't stray too far from the formula, though, given it has sold more than 1.2 million vehicles since it launched the first Pathfinder in 1986."If there is one constant among the first quarter century-plus of Pathfinders existence, it has been its ability to innovate, with each generation evolving to meet the changing needs of the customer," Castignetti says."With the upcoming fourth-generation model, were about to re-invent Pathfinder again. We've created a vehicle with an extraordinary balance of SUV capability, thoughtful technology and premium comfort to lead the segment once again  and help owners accomplish more in the real world, not just off-road."Locked doors and blacked-out windows on the concept car shows Nissan is still working on the interior details but the company says the new three-row seating configuration will have more options, along with improved comfort and entertainment features.

Nissan Pathfinder is back again this year thanks to a significant upgrade via a new, more powerful and fuel-efficient turbo diesel that is now standard in all the model grades. With a new generation common-rail fuel-injection system and a bigger, now electronically controlled turbo among other changes, the peak power has jumped from a claimed 126kW to 140kW while the claimed torque figure is up from 403Nm to 450Nm. With its fully independent suspension and road-oriented Goodyear Wrangler HP tyres we expect the Pathfinder to really struggle on the muddy set-piece but that's not the case. While it works harder than the Challenger, it's as good as the HiLux and better than the Navara and considerably more at ease than the Jeep with which its shares fully independent suspension. The Pathfinder works harder on the set-piece 4WD loop as the fully independent suspension struggles to keep all four wheels on the ground. As a consequence the traction control is very busy and, in the meantime, both the rear mudflaps and the sidesteps touch down on more than few occasions. Yet for all that the Pathfinder still makes it around comfortably enough with none of the low-speed throttle surging that sometimes trouble the Navara. Like the Navara, the low-range reduction is also good for an automatic. More wheel-up action on the trails but again the Pathfinder does what is asked of it in a capable and comfortable enough manner. More over-bonnet visibility would be nice and the auto 'box can get confused in 'Drive' which means resorting to the manual tip-shift. Regardless, this is a far better automatic off-road than that of the Challenger. Performance aside, one of the big advancements of this updated Pathfinder is that the new engine and the five-speed auto are far happier companions than in the pre-update models. With the previous model, the six-speed manual was really the only way to go as the automatic was almost always unhappy in more demanding touring environments. Now buyers, most of whom prefer automatics to manuals anyway, don't have to suffer that compromise by opting for the auto. The only 'sin' the auto now commits is that sometimes wants to hold onto the taller gears longer than it should on long, steep climbs. For its part, the new engine is strong in the mid-range and top-end but could be stronger off the bottom. It's also reasonably quiet and refined and goes about the business of getting from A to B with little fuss. And, while the Pathfinder's fully independent suspension isn't the ideal set-up off-road, it certainly comes into its own on the road. Here the Pathfinder rides a little on the firm side but is generally poised and composed with only some understeer to detract from its tidy and sporty dynamic ability. The Pathfinder's boxy shape works well in terms of interior space efficiency. The front is roomy and comfortable and the rear seat has good space and the advantage of adjustable backrest. The second-row seat also folds individually in three sections for enhanced load/people carrying flexibility while the third-row folds into the floor of what is a generous luggage space. For an automatic the Pathfinder turns in decent economy while its 80-litre tank further enhances the touring range. A handy 3000kg towing capacity is also a bonus while, under the bonnet, intake air is sensibly drawn from the inner guard. No room for an additional battery however and single recovery points front and rear. To read the full report, see this month's edition of Overlander, on sale now ...

Though virtually identical to the outgoing model, the 2010 pair will retain the same petrol V6 and a more muscular four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine range.  ESC becomes standard, taking the ute into safer territory.That’s bad news for Australian performance-seekers, as the European-spec Navara and Pathfinder comes with an optional 170kW/550Nm 3-litre V6 turbodiesel sourced from Renault.  Nissan Australia corporate communications boss Jeff Fisher says that engine won’t be in the new line-up when the refreshed wagon and ute arrive in May."It's not for our market - at least, not yet," he says. "There may be a trickle down through the markets in the future.  "It's an expensive engine and we have to be careful that it doesn't push the Navara and Pathfinder into price segments where it won't be justified."I understand that the V6 is more for a sports-oriented vehicle in Europe.”  Nissan's Navara is Europe's best-selling ute and its covered twin, the Pathfinder, is also up their on the sales charts. It's not the same story in Australia where Pathfinder has a 1.9 per cent segment share compared with Holden Captiva at 21.7 per cent and Toyota Prado at 17.5 per cent.  The Navara 4WD models, however, are second only to the Toyota Hilux.EnginesAustralia gets the new models in May with the 2.5 turbodiesel and 4-litre petrol V6.  For 2010, the 2.5-litre turbodiesel four gets an 11 per cent rise in both power and torque to 140kW and 450Nm respectively.Nissan claims the engine tweaks have better fuel economy, now 8.5 litres/100kms - an improvement of 1.3 l/100kms - for the manual transmission model. Emissions have slipped 40g/km CO2 to 224g/km CO2.  The Euro-option is a new direct-injection V6 turbodiesel from the Renault Nissan Alliance.This narrow-vee engine - its angle is a mere 65-degrees - has a 16:1 compression ratio that has been lowered to improve fuel economy, emissions and noise, vibration and harshness.  It has a large single turbocharger, mounted within the vee of the engine, an intercooler, and the latest generation Bosch 1800-bar common-rail fuel injection with piezo injectors.Power is 170kW and torque is 550Nm, the latter from 1700rpm and flat through to 2500rpm. It has 500Nm from 1500rpm.  Nissan says the engine in the Pathfinder will pull a 3500kg load, while the Navara is good for 3000kg.AppearanceExternally the Aussie-bound ute and wagon get a touch up with a new bonnet, grille and bumper - the latter adding 80mm to the length - with xenon headlights for the Pathfinder and optional 18-inch alloys. New equipment includes the Nissan Connect Premium touch-screen satellite navigation system, a premium Bose sound system and a rear view camera. There is also a speed limiter incorporated into the existing cruise control system.  Electronic stability control, already standard on the Pathfinder, gets added to the Navara specifications.

There is more to towing than just hitching the trailer or caravan and pulling into traffic for a trip.Anyone who has lost control of a loaded trailer or caravan can tell you that getting it wrong can have serious consequences.Even taking a load of junk to the tip or picking up a box-trailer load of garden supplies can get ugly — or worse — if you are not adequately prepared.And learning to back and park with a trailer on the tail takes skill.The potential for disaster is everywhere: from choosing the right tow vehicle and preparing it for the job, to carrying too much weight, incorrectly distributing the weight of the load, or failing to maintain a trailer or caravan.STARTING POINTThe first step into tow land is to decide what you want to tow.More importantly, you need to calculate how much it weighs when fully loaded and ready for the road.This will help you work out if you can keep your existing car or whether you need to buy something new, perhaps a four-wheel-drive if you have horses or a big boat, to handle the tow work.TOWING CAPACITIESAll modern vehicles have a rated towing capacity.For example, a big 4WD such as a Nissan Patrol has a maximum towing capacity of 3500kg, but a small car such as a Toyota Corolla has a towing capacity of only 1300kg.The towing capacity includes the trailer or caravan, as well as all its contents, so people intending to tow a caravan should include everything they plan to take with them, including full water tanks.If you already have the caravan/trailer and can borrow a friend's tow car for a while, then it is easy to work out the weight of what you are towing.Just go down to a public weighbridge and roll the trailer on to the scales.Most new caravans have a rating that tells you how much the van is able to safely weigh, then you can compare this figure with the car's towing capacity.If your vehicle doesn't have a specified towing capacity (this often happens with older cars), you are allowed to tow up to 1 1/2 times the unladen mass of the tow vehicle, as long as the trailer and braking system complies with the relevant Australian Design Rule.If the trailer is not fitted with brakes, the mass of the caravan/trailer must not exceed the unladen weight of the tow vehicle, or 750kg.BRAKESThere are two common types of trailer brakes.The older type is mechanical, which triggers a hydraulic system that reacts when the tow vehicle decelerates.New trailers and caravans have an electric braking system that is much easier to control.Apart from being adjustable, electric brakes can be operated separately from the tow vehicle's brakes. If a trailer or van starts to sway, the driver can apply its brakes separately and have a much better chance of bringing it under control.WEIGHT-DISTRIBUTION HITCHA tow vehicle running with its nose in the air and rear almost rubbing on the ground is dangerous.Apart from all the wear and tear it causes, it also affects steering and braking.So a weight-distribution hitch is an important part of safe towing.OTHER GEARIt is a legal requirement for drivers to have a clear view of the road at all times, so you should consider fitting larger mirrors or mirror extenders, especially if towing a caravan.SPREADING THE LOADThe way a trailer or caravan is loaded is important.Put too much weight at the front or too much at the back of the caravan/trailer and it will negatively affect the handling, perhaps leading to a crash.MAINTENANCEMost trailers are stored in the back yard and are not used often, so it is important that they be regularly check and maintained.Wiring can easily corrode, causing lights to stop working, tyres can crack from old age, wheel bearings can dry up and braking systems can seize.The same goes for caravans.They may also be fitted with gas cylinders for cooking, which need to be regularly checked.GETTING IT RIGHTTow-Ed driving instructor John Eggenhuizen, who runs a national towing course, says towing accidents happen far too often.He tells of a just-retired couple who bought a $70,000 Toyota LandCruiser and a $65,000 caravan to set off on holiday, only to lose control and write them off in a crash.Eggenhuizen says such accidents are often caused by poor caravan/trailer set-up and a lack of experience.He says proper training prepares drivers for such situations, but also helps drivers with the sometimes difficult task of backing a trailer or caravan.BUYING A TOW CARBigger is usually better when it comes to tow cars.You don't need to have a giant 4WD, but they are often the best machines for the job.Vehicles designed for carrying heavy loads, including 4WDs such as the Nissan Patrol, Toyota LandCruiser and Land Rover Discovery, are the best if you have a heavy caravan/trailer.Mid-sized 4WDs such as the Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Prado are also excellent, and family machines such as the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore are good.Ford Falcon wagons and utes make better tow cars than Holden Commodores and regular Falcons because they have leaf-spring suspensions, and the Ford Territory's extra weight and reduced rear overhang makes it a good tow vehicle.Small 4WDs such as the Subaru Outback or Nissan X-Trail are OK for towing relatively light loads.Turbo diesels are the prime engine choice for many tow cars because they have lots of torque and don't use as much fuel as a petrol engine.Six or eight-cylinder petrol engines are good because towing requires maximum pulling force. The more torque an engine has the better it will be for the job.Four-cylinder petrol engines can pull lighter loads, but often struggle with heavier cargo.TOW DRIVING TIPSAllow extra distance in traffic.Apply throttle and brakes more gently.If the caravan/trailer starts to sway do not apply the tow vehicle's brakes. If the trailer/caravan is fitted with independent electronic brakes, apply them slowly. If not, continue at a steady speed or accelerate slowly.Engage a lower gear for better control downhill.If possible, pull off the road to allow faster traffic to pass and stop more often to rest.