And once the test car settled into a steady speed, I was pleased with the interior quiet. I heard the engine during acceleration, but it quieted quickly for a more refined ride sense. The engine is re-engineered. Besides its larger displacement, it weighs less than its predecessor and includes the automaker's Variable Intake System that helps boost torque at low engine speeds for power when you need it in the city. Acceleration is measurably improved.
Fuel economy is about the same, even though power is improved.
But it's nothing to brag about. My tester was rated at just 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. The Pathfinder retains its unibody construction. Front suspension is an independent strut design, while the rear has a five-link solid axle with coil springs. It bounces now and then on big bumps, but the suspension is satisfactorily supple on many city and highway pavements.