2008 Nissan Pathfinder - Quality Review

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For Nissan, 2008 brings an updated interior on the Nissan Pathfinder with nicer materials and a more stylish overall look. Occupant comfort, however, could still use some attention from Nissan designers.

The 2008 Nissan Pathfinder is a "seven-passenger midsize SUV," but its dimensions tend toward the large side of its class. Fortunately, this allows for "ample legroom and headroom for most occupants" up front, according to ConsumerGuide, but "step-in is lofty." Edmunds also finds that "the front seats are very comfortable" on the upper trim levels, but on all Nissan Pathfinders, "the rear falls short on room for both feet and shoulders." Furthermore, "only kids will fit in the third row, and younger ones might have trouble entering the cabin to begin with," thanks to the aforementioned high step-in on the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder. In the middle seats, ConsumerGuide says to expect "good 2nd-row headroom, even beneath the sunroof housing, but legroom is tight for tall riders."

While the dimensions of the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder don't afford a tremendous amount of passenger room in the rear seats, it does allow for exceptional cargo room. Cars.com finds that cabin storage consists of "two glove boxes, one above the other beneath the passenger side frontal airbag module," along with "the obligatory bottle and cup holders" that appear "in sufficient quantity." In the rear, many reviews read by TheCarConnection.com, including the one at Kelley Blue Book, mention that "the Pathfinder's third-row folds completely into the floor, and center and third-row seats fold flat without requiring removal of the head restraints." With both seats folded, the Pathfinder offers "a 79-cubic-foot cargo hold--about average for the class," says Edmunds. There's a rather large storage area hidden away under the second-row seats and a handy small storage area inside the back door. A 200-pound-capacity roof rack is standard on the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder, including a handle to help in step-up and loading.

Materials and assembly quality have plagued a number of Nissan's larger vehicles of late, and some reviewers feel that the Nissan 2008 Pathfinder faces similar problems. Cars.com writes that the interior "isn't the prettiest around," while ConsumerGuide contends that the "mostly hard plastic" found throughout much of the cabin "imparts a low-budget ambiance." However, ConsumerGuide also says that the "LE's wood-tone trim lends a classier look."

When it comes to a quiet ride, the Nissan Pathfinder is probably not the first place you should look, especially in SE Off-Road trim. ConsumerGuide testers find that while the Nissan Pathfinder is "quiet for a truck in gentle cruising," the "wind rush rises markedly with speed." Furthermore, they say that the "V6 sounds coarse and strained at full throttle," and the "SE Off-Road's all-terrain tires are quite noisy, much more so than the regular treads."