The UK's 4x4 magazine has voted the Nissan Pathfinder its "Best Middleweight 4x4" in the 2006 4x4 Of The Year awards beating rivals from Land Rover, Toyota, BMW and Jeep.
4x4 magazine' said of the Pathfinder: "The balance between off-road ability and on-road refinement is always a difficult one to achieve. With the Pathfinder, Nissan has taken a completely different point of view, which is to look at what the public wants and create a car that fulfils that need even if it means shrugging off some traditional off-roader values. It's an estate with a functional seven-seat interior, a lively turbodiesel, and good on-road ride and handling. Off-road, it has enough ability to tackle tricky trails and muddy fields. The Pathfinder is big on value, too."
Launched in South Africa in June this year, the Pathfinder has been enthusiastically received by motoring journalists and buyers alike. In July and August it firmly established itself as a top seller in the medium SUV market and CAR magazine commented in its road test: "All (our) road testers were impressed with the all-round character and refinement of this Nissan. A serious competitor to rival established market leaders".
SA 4x4 magazine said: "With its distinctive looks, contemporary cabin and sparkling performance, we suspect the new Nissan is going to become something of a heartache for a number of the established players".
# # #
