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2009 Nissan Pathfinder Safety Review

July 13, 2009

SAFETY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Good," frontal offset impact; "good," side impact with side airbags; "marginal," side impact without side airbags
IIHS

Four stars, front impact protection; five stars, side impact protection; three stars, rollover rating
NHTSA

Side-curtain airbags and power-adjustable pedals are optional
Cars.com

The Nissan Pathfinder rates as a pretty safe vehicle overall, and for 2009, all the expected safety features finally come standard.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awards the Nissan Pathfinder a "good" rating, the Institute's highest, for frontal offset impacts. They also bestow upon the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder a "good" rating for side impact protection, provided it is equipped with side-impact airbags. However, if the Nissan 2009 Pathfinder does not have those optional airbags, the IIHS rating drops to "marginal," due to what the IIHS describes as "inadequate" head protection.

After subjecting the Nissan 2009 Pathfinder to its full battery of crash tests, the federal government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awards the Nissan Pathfinder four out of a possible five stars for front impact protection and a full five stars for side impact protection. Less appealing is the Nissan Pathfinder's three-star rollover rating, but a weak rollover score is not uncommon among SUVs.

In addition to generally good crash-test ratings, the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder also comes equipped with a generous list of safety features. Kelley Blue Book adds that a "tire pressure monitoring system" is standard on all Pathfinders, along with "hill descent control and hill start assist" on the SE Off-Road model. In reference to those SE Off-Road features, The Auto Channel says the "enhanced technology in itself" makes for "a safe off-road system." Edmunds reviewers report that "every 2009 Nissan Pathfinder comes with antilock brakes and stability control." Side and side curtain airbags are newly standard for 2009.

ConsumerGuide claims that visibility over the shoulder is "impeded by thick roof pillars, rear windshield wiper, and rear stop lamp." In parking lots and other tight spaces, the poor visibility is mitigated somewhat by the backup camera that comes standard on all but the base S trims, according to Edmunds.

Conclusion

With this year's addition of standard side airbags, the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder is a good bet for safety.

SAFETY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Good," frontal offset impact; "good," side impact with side airbags; "marginal," side impact without side airbagsIIHSFour stars, front impact protection; five stars, side impact protection; three stars, rollover ratingNHTSASide-curtain airbags and power-adjustable pedals are optionalCars.com The Nissan Pathfinder rates as a pretty safe vehicle overall, and for 2009, all the expected safety features finally come standard. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awards the Nissan Pathfinder a "good" rating, the Institute's highest, for frontal offset impacts. They also bestow upon the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder a "good" rating for side impact protection, provided it is equipped with side-impact airbags. However, if the Nissan 2009 Pathfinder does not have those optional airbags, the IIHS rating drops to "marginal," due to what the IIHS describes as "inadequate" head protection. After subjecting the Nissan 2009 Pathfinder to its full battery of crash tests, the federal government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awards the Nissan Pathfinder four out of a possible five stars for front impact protection and a full five stars for side impact protection. Less appealing is the Nissan Pathfinder's three-star rollover rating, but a weak rollover score is not uncommon among SUVs. In addition to generally good crash-test ratings, the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder also comes equipped with a generous list of safety features. Kelley Blue Book adds that a "tire pressure monitoring system" is standard on all Pathfinders, along with "hill descent control and hill start assist" on the SE Off-Road model. In reference to those SE Off-Road features, The Auto Channel says the "enhanced technology in itself" makes for "a safe off-road system." Edmunds reviewers report that "every 2009 Nissan Pathfinder comes with antilock brakes and stability control." Side and side curtain airbags are newly standard for 2009. ConsumerGuide claims that visibility over the shoulder is "impeded by thick roof pillars, rear windshield wiper, and rear stop lamp." In parking lots and other tight spaces, the poor visibility is mitigated somewhat by the backup camera that comes standard on all but the base S trims, according to Edmunds. ConclusionWith this year's addition of standard side airbags, the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder is a good bet for safety. 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER STYLING | [7 out of 10] Kelley Blue Book: "progressive design that is both stylish and rugged" Cars.com: "the most unusual feature of the side view—the rear door handles mounted vertically and higher than the front door handles—hasn't changed" Edmunds: "dash and ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

First of all, if you plan to haul people and don't anticipate towing much or regularly off-roading, you should look into more carlike choices like the Ford Edge, Honda Pilot, Chevrolet Traverse, or Nissan's own Murano. The Pathfinder's design is already several years old, but it feels thoroughly modern next to the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, which mates dated styling with a cramped interior and subpar performance and will soon be discontinued. The Toyota 4Runner is another possibility, with plenty of off-road ability, though it has a noisier interior and a harder ride and can get quite expensive at the top of the line. The Ford Explorer has a nicely updated, comfortable interior with more standard safety features across the line, but it doesn't possess the sturdy off-road ability of the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder. An alternative might be the Dodge Durango, which offers a slightly larger package overall, though it doesn't handle the road especially well. Each of these vehicles has poor fuel economy and a less-than-ideal ride, and most shoppers would be better suited with a modern crossover design from these automakers.

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See the Nissan Pathfinder in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

Comments (1 total)

  1. By fakhir #1, Posted: 7/25/2009

    hello

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