Are you 100% sure, Wayne ? This is weird for a vehicle
which is advertized as go-anywhere-mobile.

Oleg

Let's see if Locomigo (Keith) chimes in here. I know that he thinks highly of his Kia Sorrento, and although it might not have all the features you seek, it's got as many, if not a few more, than some of the rides you have tested so far.

May be worth a peek.

Positive. I was there last night picking up clarifying info for both it, and new info on the Pathfinder (Still nice, but only runs on premium now...ouch.) I reached down and touched/knocked on it myself. Sticks out in front, painted silver plastic, plastic skid plate. I didn't look under the nose; there might be a metal one underneath it; making it just cover.

Clicky here for Picture. That silver between the fog lights? All plastic.

As I said in the review, they're going to "upscale" the XTerra more and more in the next few years. The pathfinder will go away. They haven't announced it, but they will probably either keep a cheap version of the XTerra, or introduce a new "low end" non-luxury model to fill the current XTerra niche. This is normal. Remember the orignal 4Runner...a pickup truck with a cab over the rear, and bench seat bolted down to the enclosed bed. They've come a long way, and spun off a LandCruiser and Lexus along the way.

Darwin's Law of SUVelution: All SUV's will get larger and more luxurious.
Isuzu's Coralary: Except the Rodeo.

My fellow has a new KIA Sorrento, this is a decent truck,
but:

1. Michelin CrossCountry (or CrossTerrain ?)
standard tires are awful offroad,
they are strictly on-pavement tires.

2. My fellow reports that the best milege he have had so
far is 17MPG of freeway driving.

3. He mentioned that something is weird in rear seats
construction, I do not remember exactly what it is. May be,
they do not form a flat surfice, like in Rodeo.

4. Standard suspension is way too soft, with lot of body
roll.

5. He has the luxury package with TOD. Unfortunately,
there is no 4WD-Hi-locked regime: only 4WD-Hi-TOD
or 4WD-Low-locked, according to his explanations.

But the truck looks nice, very roomy, honest truck
frame and suspension, torquey engine, not bad standard
ground clearence, decent interier.

Where's the Axiom in this? Don't like it, or is it above the range you're looking in? I didn't think they were all that expensive now, being brought down substantially with incentives like the rest of the line has.

--Dan

We did get in/look at the Axiom. Maybe next trip we'll test drive it. I believe the prices are just a little more than Rodeo, but about the same when you factor in what you get. I like the way the Rodeo looks better, too, which was the main factor. Also, for future 4x4 expansion there are more options with the Rodeo (how often do you hear that?). I'd like the Axiom interior on the Rodeo...I was actually eyeballing the center console and thinking Junkyards.

Might be time to take a break from the truck and concentrate on the wife for a few days....... you're reading a little.... uh.... 'frustrated' <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />

great review you should get a job at motor trend or car & driver

Professional reviewers are not allowed to do real-world reviews. And the only car company you can write a bad review about is Isuzu. See the problem? I saw dozens of reviews on XTerras and Liberties, all mentioned the "cavernous" room inside, no one ever mentioned the protruding hooks or seats you have to pull out. And when the same reviews looked at the Rodeo, with 20 sqft more room and no obstructions and seats that fold flat...it was "adequate."

And you always have to point out that SUV's don't handle well.....(compared to that Porshe Bockster I drive yesterday).

It's the Siskel vs Ebert method. Siskel would see the college-student produced, beer-can-recycling funded "Texas Chainsaw Bloodbat IV" and say it wasn't as good as the multi-million dollar epic, star-studded, stunt-man staffed Ben-Hur. Ebert would say "On the scale of cheese b-movies, I give this a thumbs up."

So thanks for the compliments....but I don't see it happening.

Wayne,

After reading your impressively thorough vehicular review, I bow to your attention to detailà and if there actually IS such a thing as a æLongest Post AwardÆ, you have now indisputably exceeded the requisite measure necessary in being its recipient!

With all above references to the clamorous hurling of Medieval metalwork asideà For the record, if ever I do find myself submitting a post with a greater word-count, I can only hope that it will possess a scintilla as much true worth and legitimate significance.


Excellent work! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />


Cheers! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
Smiley