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STEPHEN WILLIAMSThe West Australian Big improvements in engine grunt and infotainment technologies are the headline changes to the Nissan Pathfinder. For off-roaders and towers, great news

would be the increased outputs from the 2.5-litre turbodiesel powerplant - by 14kW to 140kW and by 47Nm of torque to 450Nm. At the same time, fuel use has dropped markedly, by 1.3L/100km to

8.5L/100km in the manual and by 1.2L/100km to 9.0L/100km in the auto. Nissan claims the new engine makes off-roading more enjoyable and 3000kg towing effortless. The range gets a new face,

including revised bonnet, grille, headlights and bumper, the latter adding 80mm to the vehicle's length. Changes to the cabin include a new central dash cluster and chrome highlights.

The entry ST model's gains include a Bluetooth hands-free phone system, six-CD audio with iPod and iPhone functionality and illuminated controls on the steering wheel for the phone and

audio functions. A significant improvement is the provision of dual-zone air-conditioning, which allows the driver and front passenger to select their own climate cocoons. The other addition

is indicator lights in the external door mirrors. While all Pathfinders have electronic stability control and at least four airbags, a continuing glaring omission from the ST is the lack of

curtain airbags. These protect the heads of front and rear occupants in the event of a side impact or rollover, the latter a higher risk in SUVs than passenger cars. The mid-range ST-L

model gets an impressive package of additions, many of them giving the cabin a luxury feel. For example, the seats are leather, with the front ones heated and electrically adjustable, while

there is a convenience feature which memorises the favoured seat and exterior mirror positions of regular drivers. An "intelligent" key can stay in the pocket, with the doors

locked or unlocked via a finger touch. Also added are curtain airbags, reversing sensors and electric folding door mirrors. The Ti gains some features which are expensive options in some

luxury-brand cars, including xenon headlights with auto levelling and headlight washers. Also added is the latest Nissan navigation and music system, which has a hard drive and seven-inch

colour touchscreen. The 9.3gb "Music Box" hard drive allows drivers to rip their CD collection on to the system. There is an auxiliary MP3 player input jack as well as full iPod

connectivity via a USB connection. When an iPod is connected to the system, it may then be controlled via the screen, allowing easy selection of songs, playlists and artists. The Ti

model's entertainment system capabilities mean only a single CD slot is required. The player is able to read DVDs and plays vision through the centrally mounted screen though, for

safety reasons, only when the handbrake is applied. Added also is a reversing camera. The price of the Pathfinder ST remains unchanged, starting from $48,490. The ST-L models rise by $3500

to start from $56,490 while the Ti starts at $65,990, a rise of $2750. Metallic paint adds $495. GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM THEWEST.COM.AU IN YOUR INBOX. Sign up for our emails