Nissan's Pathfinder was one of the earliest SUVs in this bunch to hit the market (some 13 years ago), and over the course of its life, it has been primped and preened into quite a nice truck. In spite of its forgettable styling, the Pathfinder retains a distinct identity in this group in that it takes itself somewhat less seriously than the others.

Certainly, it's loaded with features and has a terrific powertrain, but there's just nothing graven or brazen about it in look or feel. It's just a good, competent SUV, no frills if you don't want them, lots of frills if you do.

In this day and age, such casualness is an appreciable quality, especially to the outdoorsy types that were loyal to SUVs before they were cool; those buyers don't want Lexus cush and sass, they'd rather something they're not afraid to get a little dirty. Accordingly, interior materials are decent and the ergonomic layout is straightforward, although there's going to be no mistaking this interior for that of a Range Rover.

Another bone thrown to the alpha dogs is the availability of a five-speed manual transmission mated to the standard V-6 (which makes 250 hp mated to the stick shift, 240 when coupled with the four-speed automatic). Rear-wheel drive is standard, and a part-time four-wheel-drive system is optional on the SE, a full-time automatic four-wheel-drive system is available with the leather-lined LE. Ride quality isn't exactly magic-carpet smooth, but this is a truck-based SUV, after all, not a car-based crossover, and the ruggedness has to come through somewhere.

All said, the Pathfinder is a thoroughly enjoyable, no-nonsense SUV for people who, if they had their choice of any kind of car, would still choose an SUV.