it is to ever venture off the pavement, a sport-utility axiom that's reflected

in the QX4's ride quality and handling. While there's enough muscle in

the springs and shocks to handle the possibility of off-road use, the tuning

is skewed in favor of keeping all the occupants comfy on paved roads, be

they smooth or be they gnarly.

We were impressed with the QX4's ability to smooth out small bumps and

potholes. It's very close to the kind of ride quality you'd associate with,

say, Infiniti's Q45 luxury sedan--firm, controlled and quiet. There's hardly

a trace of road noise filtering up through the suspension, and engine sounds

are generally subdued, at least until you put the pedal right to the floor.

Considering its imposing mass, the QX4 is surprisingly handy in quick

maneuvers, a function, perhaps, of its relatively low roofline and ride

height, which helps to keep the center of gravity low, at least by sport-utility

standards.

We liked the precise response of the power rack and pinion steering

system--another car-like attribute--while braking performance is better

than average for a vehicle in this size and weight class.

However, car-like acceleration isn't part of the deal here. The Pathfinder/

QX4 V6 is willing enough, but it's hitched up to too much mass to produce

zippy getaways. Yes, that's true of most sport-utilities, but even in this

deliberate world the QX4's straight ahead performance stacks up as only

average.

On the other hand, the sturdy V6 has decent low-end grunt, which is

what you want if you're trundling around out in the woods somewhere. And

even though the QX4 isn't really cut out for really tough terrain, it has

enough ground clearance--8.3 inches--to handle Forest Service trails and

the like. A skidplate under the rear differential--part of the QX4's standard

equipment--helps out for this kind of work, too.

It's also capable of towing a good-sized trailer, although we think

testing the 5000-pound upper limit would require patience.