| A long-distance haul means different
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| | to get the job done, and that didn't do
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| things to different drivers. For me on
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| | much for the one major downfall of most
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| one recent journey, it was a 400-plus
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| | SUVs -- lousy gas mileage.The Pathfinder
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| mile trek from Redondo Beach, Calif.
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| | is rated at 16 mpg (city) and 23 mpg
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| (South of Los Angeles) to Sacramento.It
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| | (highway), but I averaged just under 20
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| was a seven-hour day in the car. The trip
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| | mpg on my trip. Nissan recommends premium
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| included the long climb over the infamous
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| | fuel, further adding to the
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| Grapevine in Southern California and
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| | not-so-thrifty costs.The Pathfinder was
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| plenty of flat and high-speed miles along
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| | redesigned in 2005, and both the interior
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| Interstate 5.The 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
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| | and exterior changes were nicely
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| was my transportation and the mid-sized
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| | accomplished, including added width,
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| SUV, now on the market for two decades,
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| | height and length. The interior has
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| performed well. My test vehicle was the
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| | well-placed, cleanly designed gauges and
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| four-wheel drive LE model (with
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| | the console and instrument panel are
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| navigation system), the most expensive of
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| | handsome and smartly positioned.Unlike
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| the four available models.Several top
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| | other SUVs, the Pathfinder has a standard
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| manufacturers' current SUV models are
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| | third-row seat. Without removing
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| seemingly interchangeable, and that
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| | headrests, the rear row folds level, and
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| includes Pathfinder and its top
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| | the folding front-passenger seatback
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| competitors, the Ford Explorer, Toyota
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| | further builds the cargo room to 79.2
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| Highlander and Honda Pilot.I drove my
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| | cubic feet. That's among the best in the
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| test vehicle nearly 700 miles, including
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| | class.The Pathfinder LE model has
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| the climb on the steady grade that
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| | standard 17-inch wheels; other models
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| connects Southern California to the
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| | have 16-inch wheels. The LE also features
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| mid-state agricultural valley. And
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| | standard front-side and side curtain
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| although I never engaged the four-wheel
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| | airbags (they're optional on other
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| drive feature or carried a heavy load,
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| | models).Regardless of model, the
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| those are two attributes that distinguish
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| | Pathfinder's standard equipment list is
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| the Pathfinder from rivals.In addition to
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| | impressive. It ranges from illuminated
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| mega-interstate miles, I nimbly
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| | visor mirrors to the AM/FM radio with
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| maneuvered the vehicle through city
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| | in-dash, six-disc CD/MP3 changer and
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| streets. Parking lots, narrow driveways
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| | heated power mirrors and sunroof to a
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| and U-turns in tight quarters were all
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| | memory system for the driver seat, mirror
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| handled easily. The vehicle never felt
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| | and pedals.My test vehicle also included
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| cumbersome. The LE is the only member of
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| | five option packages ranging from the
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| the fleet with full-time all-wheel drive,
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| | navigation and rear-seat entertainment
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| and it can be left engaged on dry
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| | system to leather and heated front seats.
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| pavement. The Pathfinder also has a
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| | The various options added nearly $8,000
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| 6,000-pound towing capacity.Each of the
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| | to the vehicle's base price.The result is
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| four Pathfinder models includes a
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| | a finely equipped SUV that can certainly
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| 4.0-liter, 270-horsepower V6. During my
| |
| | ease the ordeal of a 400-mile drive and
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| trek, the vehicle advanced adequately
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| | also provide an equally enjoyable ride
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| even while ascending the most difficult
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| | around town.
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| climbs. But it did take a heavy throttle
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| |
|
