First unveiled in 1986, the Pathfinder is a mid size sports utility vehicle that is manufactured specifically for the North American market. The first generation of the Nissan Pathfinder was produced from 1986 until 1995 and the second generation started in 1996 and had a much more rounded and contemporary look. There was a ½ model year in 1999 when the Pathfinder was given a facelift and given a fresher look than it had had previously. In 2001 Nissan opted to leave the exterior of the Pathfinder much the same as it had been the previous years, but introduced a new 240 horsepower V6 engine.
In 2004 Nissan pulled out all the stops at the North American International Auto Show when they introduced a completely new and updated Pathfinder for the 2005 year that consumers and critics were quite excited about. The new Pathfinder was equipped with a 4.0 liter V6 engine that provided a respectable 270 horsepower and was based on the Nissan F-Alpha platform.
The Pathfinder was always built in Japan until the 2003 model when it began being produced in Smyrna, Tennessee. In 2005 the Pathfinder was no longer considered just a North American production as it began to be sold worldwide, which was a statement of success for the Pathfinder as well as for Nissan.
