Nissan Pathfinder 2.5 DCi

	Nissan's newcomer is a surprisingly good long-distance companion

As the Volkswagen Tiguan proves, SUVs are still big business, with sales continuing to climb.

In an effort to maintain its slice of the action, Nissan has tweaked its entry-level Pathfinder. The firm claims that this base Trek version offers Land Rover Discovery space, refinement and versatility at Defender prices.

Styling-wise, the imposing 4x4 has been pretty much left alone. The only additions are new six-spoke alloy wheels and two paint colours – Emotion Red and Flint Grey.

You have to climb into the spacious cabin to spot the main changes, where there’s thicker carpet and new soft-touch plastics on the dash. Blue-tooth connectivity for mobile phones and Uphill Start Support are now standard, while the rest of the interior is solidly built from decent quality materials, and much more luxurious than the utilitarian Defender.

On the road, the Nissan is also very competent. The 168bhp 2.5-litre unit is gruff yet offers decent performance, although this is marred by a slightly notchy gearchange. Aim the Pathfinder at a bend and there’s lots of roll, but the steering is well weighted. In fact, the newcomer is much more happy when cruising on the motorway. With a soft ride, low noise levels and supportive seats, it’s a surprisingly good long-distance companion. But it’s in the rough that the Nissan really excels, thanks to its ALL MODE 4x4 electronic transmission. Flick a switch on the centre console and you’re ready to go mud-plugging. Combined with traction control and automatically locking differentials, it makes for un-stoppable off-roading. Best of all is the price. At only £23,395, it is more than £3,000 cheaper than the equivalent Discovery or Mitsubishi Shogun.