Consider Nissan's five-door Xterra SUV for the compact class a rugged wagon capable of serious off-road play as well as an affordable pavement cruiser. It comes with 2WD or 4WD traction and provides seats for five in a wagon's boxy format but can also haul lifestyle sports paraphernalia -- such as mountain bikes, camping gear, skis or kayaks. The Xterra for 2005 grows up with a larger cabin and a big 4.0-liter V6 engine as the standard powertrain.

Platform and engine are derived from the compact-class Frontier pickup, as are transmission options -- a five-speed electronically controlled automatic or six-speed manual. Cabin layout shows twin front bucket seats with a second-row bench and seatback split and foldable. In the rear, the cargo floor is flat and has an easy-clean surface plus a channel track system for flexibility in securing large loads. New trim designations apply: Xterra S, Off-Road and deluxe SE.

Nissan's revamped Frontier truck serves as the foundation for a new treatment to Pathfinder, a sport-utility vehicle for the mid-size class constructed at Nissan's manufacturing facility in Tennessee. The new design for the Pathfinder expands the package, particularly for the five-door passenger compartment, which brings additional space to add a standard third-row seat that folds flat. Seatbacks on the second row also fold down, as does the front passenger-side bucket -- adding up to 64 different configurations for seats and cargo space.

Pathfinder's souped-up now; thanks to a new aluminum-block 4.0-liter V6 engine producing 270 hp through a five-speed electronically-controlled automatic shifter. It comes with either rear 2WD traction or Nissan's All-Mode automatic 4WD system adding an electronically-controlled transfer case for 2WD/Auto/4WD-high/4WD-low modes. A new independent double-wishbone suspension system mounts up front and back for precise wheel control and a smooth ride quality.

Read our Review: Nissan Pathfinder

Quest breaks the mold of a typical minivan's crate-on-wheels design due to a format that stretches long but slinks low. It has the longest wheelbase in class to forge a five-door passenger compartment with considerable space inside arranged in an artful manner. Bucket seats on the second tier and the third row bench flip and fold to form a flat floor for hauling a load of cargo. A sliding slab door on either side shows the widest portal in this minivan's segment.

With all seats standing, Quest still has cargo room at the rear, including a well in the floor so you can stack the cargo and access it from a top-hinged back gate. The optional Skyview roof consists of four glass roof panels above second and third row seats. Add the sunroof over front seats and you end up with a roof that's more clear windows than solid ceiling. Power stems from a dual-cam 3.5-liter V6 worth 240 hp through a four-speed or five-speed automatic transaxle, the latter reserved for Quest's top two trims. Gear increases up the Quest model ladder with three well-equipped versions -- Quest 3.5 S, 3.5 SL and 3.5 SE. (...BACK)