Nissan Pathfinder WX (1996-2004)

Very reliable – Driving experience is amazing with heaps of clearance off the road when going 4x4. Can handle a heap of weight, great for towing, lots of leg room for 5 adults. Although fuel economy isnt the best it makes up with a comfortable driving experience. Has great stereo system, lots of storage space in the boot. Good car  Show details

Excellent practical design – Incredible practically with rear hatch opening options. Very quiet and comfortable. Looks great 14 year old 2003 model. Only negatives are rear drum brakes and thirsty underpowered V6. Low first gear is good for off road and traffic light wins but lacks top end grunt. My perfect version will have a disc brake rear end and turbo diesel. Would… Read more

like to convert this car and keep it for towing van around Australia. Love the interior design too. I can camp in it too. Overall love the Pathfinder R50. But not the later models. I did previously by a new one in 2002 and always missed it once sold . Happy now I have another one.

Best car ive ever owned – I have had my nissan pathfinder 96 R50 for about 5 or so years and has never missed a beat only thing that is known to go on them are the bushings which isnt to much of a problem just get them replaced the engine is a v6 3.3L its just goes on and on i get about 430L to a tank which is a bit on the heavy side but i cant complain  Show details

Nissan Pathfinder ST 2001/02 – Bought new in 2001, used for 5 years occasionally towing 15ft caravan, lovely drive , easy towing. It is so comfortable and nice to drive , now 2017 and 66K later I would not swap it. Its in great condition and the 4WD options are so easy to use. It is a true off-road vehicle. Still in original condition, except for tyres and battery, Serviced… Read more

once per year.No breakdowns ,no faults,so reliable, paintwork good, Always garaged.

I get 7km/L around town, 8/9Km/L country .(not towing) Towing various from 5km/L to 6.5Km/L depending on conditions.

I think I will keep it for the very foreseeable future.

Perfect for long trips, but check the Mass Airflow Sensor is clean – Recently bought a 2001 ST Pathy for a trip around Aus. It's comfortable and roomy and perfect for the trip. But I knew it wasn't running quite right. Black soot on tailpipe indicated rich fuel burning. I read up and cleaned the MAS sensor and what's difference to the power! Little difference to the economy - it's a heavy and thirsty car. I would… Read more

like it to have more power on the hills but otherwise, I love it! If you decide to clean the sensor I recommend pulling in to a Nissan service dept they will do it in 5 mins, I did it myself and did some damage (fortunately not irreversible). Averaging 13.3l/100kms on this trip - fully loaded but not towing.

great 4wd – I have owned my pathfinder 2001 ti or around 4 years now bought when had 95,000 now just hitting 146,000 have not had any major problems but have recently changed out the radiator due to overheating ,it is very thin and an aftermarket one is cheap and twice the thickness ,changed waterpump and timing belt at 115,000 as per books and regular… Read more

maintenance oil and trans changes ,preventative maintenance ii hope will keep this vehicle in good condition very comfortable and good handling on the black top ,have fitted cooper st tyres to standard rims and replaced rear shocks ,i hope to keep this vehicle for a while yet al in all a good alround medium 4wd

Bullet proof, reliable....with a drinking problem – I bought a deceased-estate 2002 Pathfinder Ti with only 135 thou on the clock as a commuter because my sports car was not suited to the daily grind. Having owned some 10 Nissans of various makes and ages before this (as well as a number of German cars, a Mazda and a Lexus) I was well versed in the reliability of a well kept Nissan, so once I… Read more

found a a clean and regularly serviced vehicle I purchased without a second thought. Purchase price was 11k.

Since then I haven't looked back. I enjoyed the Pathfinder so much that I actually sold my 30k sportscar and am quite happy trundling about in the Pathy. It has a good 'salt of the earth' feel to it that makes you feel confident driving it anywhere, and an honesty that assures you that even though it's a 10 year old car, it's not going to bite you with a big maintenance bill. It has not missed a beat. The only thing I have done to it in 6 months is replaced all the fluids and spark plugs as part of preventative maintenance. It is also highly recommended to change out the automatic transmission fluid regularly as they can play up and fail if not attended to. If towing anything above a small trailer, a transmission cooler is also recommended in order to preserve the life of the transmission. This can be done for about $150.

I specifically wanted one on LPG based on the poor fuel economy suggested. This turned out to be a wise move. The low compression 'world motor' that Nissan used in this model is far from fuel efficient. Driven gently around town, it will still chew 18L/100km and much more if you're in a hurry, towing or have a full load of people. On gas, the economy isn't any better, but at leastthe fuel is cheaper! Just be aware that if you have an underfloor LPG tank fitted, your spare wheel goes in the cargo area and takes up probably 30% of the usable space.

For those with ambitions to tackle off road adventures, the Pathfinder is a very capable vehicle with an intelligent 4WD system that will take it places that only the big boys can usually go. With that being said, there is not a lot of aftermarket parts available (eg bullbars etc) and the front suspension does not like being raised much above 50mm over standard height or else you run into issues with CV joints.

In terms of flexibility, the Pathfinder delivers the best of all worlds. It drives like a car and my girlfriend doesn't find it intimidating to drive at all. With the seats down it takes a mountain of stuff on board, and if you're under 6' you can sleep in the back (which I have done!). It can go offroad when needed, or roll around in 2WD with the turn of a dial.

I'm a serial car buyer, and have been averaging a different car every 6 months for the past few years - however I've got a feeling the Pathy might be here to stay. I'd recommend it to anyone who is after something cheap and cheerful, just make sure you hunt out one with LPG! versatility, reliability, great character can be thirsty when run on petrol

A great, tough mid-size 4WD – We have owned the Pathfinder since new in 2003 and it has provided comfortable, reliable and versatile transport. It has been across the Victorian High Country, all over Fraser Island and many short excursions into the forests of SE NSW and never failed to get us to our destination - up and down fire trails, along creeks and beaches. If the… Read more

heart of a great 4WD is the transmission, then the Pathfinder has a great heart. It is extraordinarily sure footed, yet gentle on the environment and if driven sensibly will get to places where you only find "heavy duty" 4WDs. This car is an old friend and would cheerfully replace it with another of the same model and vintage if it was lost. Extraordinary off-road capability for a vehicle this drives like a car on made roads. Excellent auto transmission - I like the 3 speeds plus overdrive with a manual lock out - at least I know what gear I'm in. The auto 4WD in high range engages quickly and without a fuss. The LSD completes a very competent all road capability. It's 10 years old and everything still works, and it has no rattles. The standard sill guards/rock sliders are an excellent idea and there's a neat and logical place to install your CD radio. Rear shockers replaced at around 50k, otherwise no other failures. It would be nice to be able to do 800kms on a tank, but its a stretch to get 500. Normal fuel consumption is around 13l/100km and it gets considerably thirstier on extended heavy off road work. It only took me three services to be completely over the agent's service department - the only thing they did well was charge.

2000 Pathfinder st bit disappointing – I owned a 2000 st And was rather disapointed,it got rusty behind the wing mirrors(major) and around the rear quarter windows,electric 4wd system was stuffed although had'nt done much offroad (fault light) and mechanic couldnt fix it.gearbox was slipping in overdrive at 230000kms and was real thirsty.I did however think it looked really… Read more

nice,especially in saltlake silver with bug black sunraysia mags it had with tinted windows,I did buy the truck second hand but in saying that it had been looked after.Get a prado v6 on lpg of the same year much better truck! Looked cool,comfortable Slow for a v6,rusts easy,weak auto which a mint to fix

1999 nissan patrol – I recently bought a 4.5 litre petrol nissan patrol..I like everything about it ,except the fuel consumtion ,I have a 90 litre gas tank and the reserve is petrol ,between the 2, I am getting around 440klm....so I have to wonder is there a problem with the car or is this normal ?..its 5 speed manuel. drives really well on and off road fuel consumption Show details

A good vehicle, with car like handling on road, but able to tackle some serious offroading as well – This is the 3rd R50 i've owned, and all have been strong, reliable vehicles! This vehicle is easy to drive over all types of road surfaces both in the wet and dry. The auto 4WD is the best in the business. The rear door with the opening glass is a very handy feature for long items. Fuel usage is high (around town 15.8L/100, and on a trip… Read more

12.5L/100.

I would highly recommend this type of vehicle to anyone wanting a good drive on the blacktop, but, with the ability to do some rough off roading as well. Look carefully at vehicles that have travelled past the 220km mark, as the auto gearbox is the weak link beyond this mileage. Its onroad like handling, its fourwheel drive system, particularly in "auto" mode, reliability, build quality, good offroad handling, good brakes, easy to drive and great vision out of the vehicle. It's thirsty!! Not the best auto gearbox I've used, but does the job. The rear shocks only last for 40,000Km before they need replacing. The motor is a bit of a slug, but will never wear out.

Good – Fantastic! We will probably upgrade it with a new one at some stage. We bought a new Pathfinder in 1999 and we love it! It's a nice size for a town car, not too big. It's great to sit up high in the traffic. The dash controlled 4WD allows you to switch to auto when it's raining and the roads are slippery. It's proven to be good as a 4WD in… Read more

sand dunes and in mud, etc. It's quite expensive to run, especially with today's fuel prices.

There isn't really room for three people to sit comfortably in the back seat.

Good – Very nice car. Drives like a car. The dash 2x4, 4x4 High and Low is excellent. Stay in 2WD until rain or loose surface, flick into AWD and if going off road, 4WD. All without stopping. 4WD Low requires a stop. I am looking at a 2003 model as our 2000 model has been written off in an accident. A Nissan Patrol came in the LHS passenger door at just… Read more

under 80 KLM/h. My wife was in the passenger seat and escaped with only had a few bruises. Very strong frame. I had a 2000 Silver TI. Excellent Off road, confortable ride, not too high and not a bulky looking vehicle. Needs more padding in the arm rests for long drives. No cruise control from manufacturer for right hand drive (RHD)models. LHD models, no problem...?

Good – Overall this is a great family FWD at the right height for the kids to climb in and out without getting hurt.Easy to maintain.Looking forward to updating in the future. We own a 99 model st, Its a great family FWD without being too large in size but can still keep up with the rest of the larger FWD out in rough terrain. My husband wishes it came… Read more

out in turbo deisel as it tends to drink a fair bit of fuel.The spark plugs are hard to get to ,to change a very tight space.Have to replace the front bushes and was told you can only do this by replacing the control arms as well.Parts can be imported though through the states for less than what they cost here.Would cost $650.00 for the front and another $150 for the rear.To have the parts imported it would only cost a maximum of $300.00 including freightfor both the front and rear bushes.

Good – Have done around 20000k off road including Simpson Desert , Streslecki, Birdsville & Oodnadata track & has proven very capable considering I towed a camper van most of the time. Great around town & a nice height to slide into. Standard rear suspension is woefull & requires aftermarket springs & shockers especially if any towing required. All Wheel… Read more

Drive gives confidence on bitumen when raining or worse but increases fuel consumption when used. I always use AWD mode on dirt as it keeps the car straight when other part time 4WD cars are going sideways. Eats Big Red for dinner. Can't wait for the 2005 model as the kids are growing up! Good value for money considering automatic is standard. Great town car, performance good enough to keep up with most sedans on the road. Exceptional off road performance for a car of this type. Slight knock in steering Nissan could never sought out. Can be difficult to get out of 4x4 especially when low range used. Thirsty especially towing. Hunts between top & third on inclines. Rear legroom only suitable for young kids. Rear door handles too high & difficult for little kids to use.

Good – I feel very safe in this car. I was involved in a bad accident a couple of years ago, sitting stationary and rear ended by a truck at 60kph. The back of the car crumpled well, no glass broke, even though the car roled and was written off. I was well protected and replaced it with another Pathfinder. Very sturdy on the road, handles well in the… Read more

wet and very easy to switch to 4WD. Excellent value for money as far as 4WD's go, plenty of room inside. Not big and bulky like many other 4WD's, easy to park and easy to drive. I've had 2 Pathfinders and both have had unexplainable diff noises when driving at about 80kms. Even went so far as to have the diff replaced in the first one, with no improvement. Both have had a few rattles around the dash board which are a bit annoying. I'm not a big person, but I've found that the driver's seat is not very wide and the seat belt lock digs in to the side of my thigh!

Good – So far, so good... Haven't had any issues mechanically, and find it a pleasure to drive. We are now considering upgrading our other car in the next 12 months to another pathfinder! just picked up a 2001 pathfinder in immaculate condition and can't fault it so far. It seems bigger than the earlier models we test drove (they were oversized station… Read more

wagons) but not too bulky for general driving around town. Seems a tad thirsty on petrol but we are looking into a gas conversion. The only problem with that is that we'll lose cargo space because the spare wheel has to come in to make way for the gas tank.

Good – This is a great Med size 4x4. We added factory fog lights and nudge bar with spotties. We thought we upgraded from a Subaru Outback but the Pathy feels like a real truck because it's actually a Navara Ute modified into a wagon. It really took me a while to get used to the Pathy and I was initially very disappointed. So disappointed that we went… Read more

and bought another Subaru Outback as the 2nd car (MY03 H6 3.0L). After a while I'm accepting the Pathy for what it is and have done some serious 4x4 driving in it. We are very impressed with its ability as a 4x4 truck. It has reached 100,000km and we replaced the shocks with KYB Gas (as close to stock as possible). No kidney belt required and the handling is extreemly good for this machine. It broke down once and it took an auto elec almost 4 hours to fix. Had to pull apart all the dash for one connector that had lost conection in the main wiring harness. My opinion may sound negative of the Pathy but it really is a great vehicle when compared to others in its range. Nissan manufacture great trucks and Pathy is a top example. Why they place under powered engines in the Ozi Pathfinders is a mistery. The USA get better petrol engines and diesel choice. I shall be unable to buy the R51 Pathfinder as they have a thirsty 4.0L petrol and a poor 2.5L Diesel. Why can the Navara get a 3.0L diesel? A 2009 TD Prado when they depreciate may be a consideration. This is for a 2001 TI R50 Pathfinder.Very caperble as a 4wd. Reasonable size to take the family on a holiday. Very comfortable ride. Excellent handling. Rund on std 91 unleaded. Adequate low down torque. The gear ratios make the most of lack of power and works well when 4x4. Excellent for decent in low range when you lock it in 2, even as an auto. Easy for ladies to drive, light positive feel steering. Very thirsty around town, 16-18L/100. Best I can do is 12L/100 on a trip with premium fuel. Not compatible with E10 fuel. Shocking seat belts, just pull you hard into the seat and rub on you. No cruise control in 2001 on a TI! Rather cruise control than a sun roof. Sun roof limits head room. My head only 20mm off roof. Sats not real comfortable. Very under powered for its weight. This engine is caperble of producing alot more power for a 3.3L. It is highly under tuned but this gives it extra life and durability. Exhaust system is highly restrictive and tends to be rough when it hits the power band over 2800rpm. Very Heavy body. Average quality seats for a touring vehicle.

Good – Great cars, yes I would own another - have baulked at the new (2005) shape but they have grown on me. Was a little diappointed with the fault finding/diagnosis on the 2001 rig and the length of time off the road but after - never missed a beat! 2004 ST bought new, now has 226000 kms on the clock. Second I've owned - first being a 2001 ST (2nd… Read more

hand). Great ride, has been everywhere, not hard 4wd when off road but 4wd nonetheless. Very comfortable drivers seat, no major issues but..... .....interestingly the 2001 I first had came with a 4WD fault straight off the lot -after an expensive transmission valve bank import ($1500 under warranty) the problem ended up being a faulty selector switch on the dash. Sold in 2004 and bought a the new 2004 - still have it and guess what? Today the All Mode 4WD system is doing something similar - won't stay/slect any AWD modes while stationary, jumps in and out and fault light appears....fingers crossed it's only the dash switch again (could I be so lucky?). Only other issues is some back lash in the drive train and faulty speakers (recent)

OK – They are a nice vehicle, but honestly, a V8 grand cherokee will use the same amount of fuel, have a bit more room, be more comfortable, have loads more power and probably be cheaper too. Nissan will have better resale. Nissans of this era had great build quality and reliability. They were also fully featured and are very nice to drive. Engine… Read more

lacks power, lots of rev not much go. Acceleration is steady, fuel consumption on the thirsty side considering engine performance.

Hope you like a Auto V6...that's all that was on offer.

Excellent – Best, most reliable car I've ever owned, not too big, not too small, good around town, even better off road My second hand 2003 Ti is fully loaded with all the fruit & has never missed a beat in four years. Have put 40,000kms on it, half those off-road. Back seats fold down flat for moving very large things, also great to sleep in if weather turns… Read more

foul before setting up camp. Only modifications are cooper ATR tyres, spot lights & tow bar. Very comfortable for those long highway drives getting to & from the bush, much better than any other 4wd's that I've used & that's a major bonus. It feels like your driving a car more that a 4wd. I purchased this 4wd after careful consideration of many applicants & this one has it all (in spades). Much better off-road than I anticipated, that tricky gearbox is a boon when encountering varied surfaces & conditions, just dial up the settings necessary for the task at hand & off you go.I've gone toe to toe with patrols, crusiers, disco's & impressed all who've witness the pathy in action. She climbs, descends & swims with the best of them. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's better than a mainstream 'purpose built' large 4x4 but it's next in line without a doubt.I'd put it on par with the prado except for one thing......coin. Toyota make excellent vehicles but 'man' do they know how to whack on the money when you ask for the fruit basket. Top of the range prado's are tens of thousands more than a pathy.....why would you?If you do go off-roading in your pathy I suggest that you travel as light as possible, anything over 2.5 ton & your'll be 'bottoming out' in the tricky bits. Which is a bit like getting kicked in the butt with a concrete boot. It doesn't take much to get heavy as mine is 2.2 ton empty...add two people, full tank of juice, recovery & camping gear plus "liquid refreshments" & your right on the line for the extreme stuff. If you must travel heavy & do the steep terrain then I'd suggest an upgrade in your suspension package & maybe a small lift. If your looking for a vechicle that will take you off-road with aplomb & zoom around town, pick up the kids & still buff up well in the car park next to the porsche cayenne, then this is the car for you. Because of monocoque body you can only 'lift' it an inch, any more & the ride gets too hard. Six footers & above will not enjoy the back seats & you can't attach a snorkel to this version. Lastly the 3.3L V6 petrol is a little thirsty...a bit like the owner.

Excellent – The pathfinder is a perfect family/outdoor/adventure/city vechile that can go anywhere you want without any problems. My mechanic highly rates as well. I will hate the day i have to upgrade! This is one of the best cars i have ever owned (2001 Ti model). Why....reliable, powerfull, strong motor, capable mild offroad car. Love the sunroof. 4x4 dash dial makes it easy to use. A little thirsty Show details

Excellent – I mainly purchased this car for towing a horse float and it has done an incredible job! I can happily tow two large horses in a float with ease. It's also an incredibly comfortable car and one that I feel safe driving in regardless of weather or traffic conditions. I think this car is suited to anyone in the city who needs a 4WD as it's economical… Read more ·  1

on fuel and not too big to park in your average shopping centre but you can also take it off road and tow heavy objects without feeling vulnerable. This car is a good medium sized 4wd meaning that it won't drain you of as much fuel as some of the heavier 4WDs (like the Patrol or Landcruiser) but it can still tow large loads and get through a tough boggy patch off road. It's hard to come up with a feature on the car that I don't like. It would probably be the way the console has been designed with lots of little bits of plastic that lift up and can be removed. I find it all a bit fiddly. The glove box and storage space around the driver part of the car is really minimal - so if you have a decent sized street directory then it has to go on the floor of the passenger side or in the back somewhere, which is not ideal in my opinion.

Excellent – I brought my 1999 ST Pathfinder second hand in 2005 & apart from replacing the timing belt at 200,000 could not speak highly enough of it. I,ve used it as work vechile for the last two years towing a trailer & its never skipped a beat, I keep it locked in AUTO when towing but otherwise in 2WD. Has done 242,000 kms & still going strong.Tow,s… Read more

anything you like with minimul fuss.Has an attractive sporty look & shape about it. I,d be lieing if I said there was any? maybe a bit thirsty but not to bad on the open road.