Nissan???s Pathfinder 4x4 certainly has the ability to access remote locations with a family of catalogue models and their camping gear safely stowed inside but it???s also adept on the school run, on the motorway and in the supermarket car park - the places where real people are most likely to use it. For the latest model year, the automatic version of the car than most people opt for has been improved with hill descent control and hill start assist, so there???s no excuse now for not at least attempting to use the thing off road. All models get Euro 4-compatible engines and an upgrading of trim materials. Prices start from ??22,995. The Pathfinder slots neatly into the comprehensive line-up of 4x4 vehicles currently being offered by Nissan. The range includes authentic offroaders like the Patrol and the Navara pick-up as well as Plush crossover models like the Murano. The Pathfinder is positioned somewhere in-between, forming a Sports Utility Vehicle double act with the smaller X-Trail and going up against large 4x4 rivals, the most notable of which being the Land Rover Discovery. To be a success, the Pathfinder needs to do it all, be capable offroad but comfortable on it, have a spacious, practical interior and a competitive sticker price. The Pathfinder range is split into three trim levels named Trek, Sport and Aventura. The entry-level Trek models do without the rearmost row of seats and so offer a five-person capacity but all other Pathfinders have the ability to seat seven. Externally, the Nissan family face, as seen on 4x4 models across the manufacturer???s range, is very much in evidence. The V-shaped grille with central Nissan badge gives a suitably imposing frontal view, one which is accentuated by a wide air intake in the underbumper and bulging wheelarches. As you ascend the range, more styling features are added to spruce-up the vehicle???s appearance, ???Pathfinder???-branded roof rails help, as do front fog lamps and side steps. Overall, it???s a cohesive and modern, if somewhat unremarkable, design which lacks the impact you get with a Discovery but certainly isn???t going to offend many people.

Only one engine is on offer - a 2.5-litre dCi diesel unit (the short-lived 4.0-litre V6 petrol option no longer being offered). The 174PS common-rail diesel unit offers up its maximum power at 4,000rpm and a hefty maximum torque output of 403Nm is available as low as 2,000rpm. The Pathfinder is a big vehicle but the dCi engine seems up to the task of shifting it around, just don???t expect anything too exhilarating. There???s a decent slug of acceleration available from low speeds and if you keep your foot planted, 60mph is a none too shabby 11.7s away. The Pathfinder will return an average of 31mpg and tow up to 3 tonnes, although, obviously, not at the same time. The 6-speed manual gearbox is user-friendly enough and highly preferable over the slow-witted 5-speed automatic option, which seems to increase engine noise substantially at motorway speeds. The Pathfinder is a comfortable cruiser, even if overtaking manoeuvres do put a strain on that engine, but it also takes to winding country roads with a level of composure not normally associated with big 4x4 vehicles. Pick up the pace and the body rolls in corners and pitches under braking but not unnervingly so. The steering is reassuringly accurate and the braking feels secure. All Pathfinders feature the Nissan ALL MODE four-wheel-drive system which includes a low ratio mode for proper offroading. Traction is governed by a special ESP+ system that marshals the ABS brakes, the traction control and the active yaw control for optimum performance both on and off the tarmac. As we???ve said, the latest automatic Pathfinders are also equipped with Hill Decent control and Hill Start Assist, the former to ease you down precipitous offroad obstacles, the second to aid smooth getaways up inclines. If the Pathfinder is to fulfil all of the varied roles that family buyers are likely to require of it, the interior will have to be practical and Nissan have obviously put considerable effort in on this score. We???re told that the 7-seat Pathfinder has no fewer than 64 different seating configurations, a total that eclipses many full-size MPVs never mind large 4x4s. What???s more impressive and likely to be more appealing to potential buyers is that none of the seats need to be removed for the different load/passenger carrying options to be accessed. When additional space is required, the rearmost seats simply fold into the floor with the release of just one catch and the middle three are almost as easy to pack down, giving a flat load floor behind the driver and front passenger. With all the seats folded, the Pathfinder offers a massive 2,091-litre capacity with a 2.8m load length. The interior decor is tidy and largely functional, although there???s little by way of design flair in evidence. The air-conditioning is controlled by dials that rock from side to side: these are unusual but they seem highly counterintuitive and don???t really represent an improvement over traditional twisting dials. Leather upholstery is standard on Aventura models but the cloth trim on lower spec derivatives has a netting-like texture and may prove difficult to clean once your kids have melted a chocolate bar to it. The Pathfinder is available with a variety of nice technological features including Nissan???s market-leading Birdview satellite navigation system, a colour reversing camera and keyless entry but even the base models feature dual-zone climate control, electric heated mirrors, electric windows, ESP and traction control. At prices starting from ??22,995 for a five-seat version or ??25,595 for a seven-seater, the Nissan Pathfinder looks a very capable and cost-effective family vehicle. Only the absence of a more powerful diesel engine really stands in its way. The composed driving experience in particular is likely to impress prospective buyers and the simple versatility of the interior is another strongpoint. If they???re honest, most Pathfinder owners probably won???t need a vehicle that can carry a family of seven and their luggage through rivers and up mountainsides but the Pathfinder can and it???ll cope admirably with more mundane duties as well.