Though not quite up to Rolls-Royce legendary quietness standards--neither are Rolls-Royces, for that matter--the Pathfinder is a quiet operator on paved roads. Wind noise is exceptionally low, and the engine is well-muted. The tires generate some sound (unavoidable with all-season rubber) but even that is minimal. On pavement, the Pathfinder's suspension delivers a comfortable ride. Soft springs and generous wheel travel smooth out all but the worst bumps; the sole negative in this area is body roll during cornering, a common trait for sport-utility vehicles. Steering is good as well, striking a nice balance between precision and low effort.
Performance is still another Pathfinder plus. Even with a load of passengers and/or cargo, acceleration is brisk and there's enough torque to pull a 5000-pound trailer.
Good as the five-speed manual transmission is, the four-speed automatic (standard with the LE) struck us as a better all-around match to our tester's luxo character. It shifts crisply yet unobtrusively, and subtracts less from straight-ahead performance than many automatic-equipped sport-utes. We put this down to the power traits of the V6 engine. Its peak horsepower output isn't extraordinary, but its robust torque comes on early and peaks at a relatively low 3000 rpm.
Like virtually all sport-utility vehicles, the Pathfinder's fuel economy is just so-so, even with a manual transmission. But that doesn't seem to matter much to most SUV buyers.
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