extra ground clearance. With no shared sheet metal between Pathfinder and

Nissan pickups, the family resemblance is gone. Though the new entry retains

the distinctive triple slots above the grille, it has a more rounded nose

with faired-in headlights and a wagon body with the hard edges smoothed

out.

Automotive resemblances don't stop with the sheet metal. The Pathfinder

eschews the body-on-frame construction common to most sport-utes, using

instead a unit structure that Nissan claims is more than twice as rigid

as its predecessor, as well as considerably lighter. That should keep squeaks

and rattles to a minimum, as it did during our test.

There are three models--XE, SE and LE, in ascending order--and the fancier

versions carry more bright trim than most passenger cars; their grilles,

bumper tops and running boards are plated or polished. Equivalent pieces

on XE models are black (though, curiously, the XE rides on chrome wheels),

creating an immediately apparent distinction between the models.

Both XE (from $23,919, including destination) and LE (from $33,339)

versions are available with rear- or four-wheel drive. The latter is a

part-time system with shift-on-the-fly capability, and we recommend the

optional limited slip rear differential if you're planning to challenge

mucky forest trails.

The sporty SE (from $28,369) is a 4WD-only model that essentially splits

the difference between XE and LE and offers extra ground clearance--8.3

inches, versus 7.5.

As the wide range of listed prices suggests, the various Pathfinders

run the gamut from relatively basic to fully loaded, though there's not

a "stripper" in the bunch. All have a V6 engine, ABS, AM/FM/CD

audio system and rear wash/wipe as standard, but to get air conditioning,

power windows, mirrors and locks, plus leather seats and automatic transmission

without exhaustive option-shopping requires purchase of an LE version.

Our tester was a top-of-the-line LE, with 4WD.