Review by Tony Glencross

Can you determine the true worth of a vehicle or really evaluate it’s performance in the space of 5 hours and a total of 19 km’s? I doubt it!
However, I was given a Nissan pathfinder by MOTORCARE UGANDA to test drive and write an evaluation.
I will start with the basics and then get to the details and perceived (or actual) performance of the car.
Two models are available in UG, the SE (Medium Spec model) and the LE (high Spec model). I say Medium spec model, as many of the extra’s available on other similar priced competitor models, have these features as optional extras (For a full list of all specs see Motorcare Rwanda)

The vehicle I drove was the higher spec, LE model, YD25DDTi. This is a two and half litre powerhouse with a very nippy and peaky engine. The test model had leather throughout and all the extras, including a blue tooth hands free mobile phone car kit, cruise control, electric seat adjustments (Two settings). As standard, the vehicle has all the safety features one could ever need or require (Excluding decent roads, but that’s why we buy SUV’s). The test car also had some killer front end bull bars, which are not standard and fitted as an aftermarket feature. Still on the matter of features, fairly unique, is the folding of the rear seats. All the rear seats can fold completely flat and the car can be turned into a station wagon type, thereby massively increasing the load capacity. This is quick, easy and very convenient.

Now onto the driving side - The engine is a 2500 turbo diesel engine and like all turbo’s needs some revs to generate the right amount of power. This can be quite disconcerting initially as you get used to the power kick in. I stalled the vehicle at least 5 times in the short driving time however, once you get the hang of it the power is something else. It pulls like a petrol turbo and when you put your foot down you can feel the power. Acceleration is smooth and shifting up through the gears is no problem at all. Braking is also very good and jumping on the brakes at around 80 kms per hour brought the vehicle to a fast stop, the ABS kicks in which keeps the vehicle straight.

In all honesty I did not have enough time to drive the car long enough to do a really thorough test. I did however take the vehicle off road to a certain extent. I took the vehicle to the top of Mutungo hill. This is a fairly steep murram road in varying conditions and was a fair test. The idea of 4x4 driving is to let the torque of the car power its own way up the hill. This stops the human intervention of spinning the wheels, driving too fast or basically getting it wrong as most of us do. This is where another feature comes in handy, but it’s one that takes some getting used to. It is a feature that locks the brakes even when the handbrake is released to prevent the car running back. The brakes are released when the power is applied automatically. I stalled the car once or twice, not remembering this handy feature.

Back to Mutungo Hill - The vehicle pulled nicely up the hill with no acceleration or riding of the clutch – just the torque of the vehicle pulling it up the hill. My only role was the odd intervention to keep the engine kicking over. When the hill got to its steepest, the vehicle faltered. It could have climbed the hill if I had accelerated but that was not the point – the point was to determine if the torque could pull it up the hill. You could perhaps set the revs higher, but then the speed would also be higher, making control that much harder.
When you buy this car you will need to learn to handle the peaky engine and turbo. The low and high range 4x4 is engaged by the flick of a switch and several options are available, from 2 Wheel Drive through to low range 4x4.

On the whole, this is a great car – It drives and handles like a car. The suspension is like a car which makes the Kampala roads seems smoother than usual. The suspension is independent, making the vehicle drive much smoother and more comfortable.
I liked the Nissan Pathfinder – however, my opinion is based on one hour’s drive, in easy conditions within Kampala. I am sure that it would perform every well in tough conditions, but I am not in a position to comment!

The Nissan PATHFINDER is available from MotorCare Rwanda, in two models, the SE and LE – both with 2.5 turbo diesel engine. List prices are SE 69,000 US$ and the LE 71,000 US$.

Specs
COMFORT DR Seat height Adjustment – Automatic, DR Lumber Support – Automatic, 2 memory seat setting, Integrated Blue Tooth System
SAFETY ABS Yes Electronic Brake Distribution
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS)
Dual Front Airbags, Curtain Airbags, Thorax Airbags, Side Impact Bars
SECURITY Remote Central Locking, Immobiliser,
INTERIOR Cupholders, Electrochromatic Rear View Mirror, Power windows, Power mirrors, Cruise control.