I was there when Nissan held the launch for the current Pathfinder in the mid-1990s. We were billeted at a resort in Northern Canada, and paddled canoes to a lunch spot overlooking a waterfall. Before lunch, time was spent driving on an off-road course where the truck climbed a sheer rock face – it sure looked like one from the driver’s seat – with little problem, crashing down on the plateau above. And on-road work after lunch proved the vehicle to be comfortable despite its off-road capability. After all these years, I wondered how the Pathfinder would hold up.

There’s no doubt the Pathfinder is still a stout vehicle, or that Nissan has added the equipment necessary to be competitive in this evolving segment. Our tester’s as-driven price of $34,284 includes $699 for the Bose audio system with 6-disc in-dash CD player, $1,099 for a sunroof package that includes a compass and temperature gauge pack among its extras, a further $1,999 for the leather package which adds non-leather side impact airbags, and $1,299 for the rear seat VCR/entertainment system. All-in-all, a competitive package in a very competitive market.

The specifications and prices don’t tell the whole story, however. Even at its launch, the Pathfinder was an unadventurous looking adventure vehicle. Skinny, tall, and possessed of a rear hatch that looked like it carried its structural supports on the outside, this vehicle was never going to win any beauty contests, especially in its base trim. The interior is the same, nicely appointed but lacking in character and spark. There can be no doubt the Pathfinder is a product of the old Nissan, not the revitalized corporation we know today.

That company would take this “monoframe” structure – a unibody upper with stamped steel frame rails that are welded in place to become part of the structure – clothe it with clean, exciting styling, and fit an interior that has some life in it. The powertrain (Nissan’s silky but ubiquitous DOHC 3.5-liter V6 mated to a 4-speed automatic) would need little, if any, upgrading, and the fuel tank skid plate would become an integrated design element. Plus, there would probably be some whiz-bang storage/seating arrangement as part of the package. And maybe all those things will happen with the next Pathfinder.

Until then, the current Pathfinder must battle newer competitors, including one from within its own ranks. That Altima-based SUV – the Murano – is a high-style “SSUV” (Suburban Sport Utility Vehicle) that will appeal to buyers who want more style, more comfort, and don’t need a vehicle capable of following Lassie across hill and dale to save Timmy after he falls in a well. And for those who deem this capability a must – whether they use it or not – there are other, more stylish options available, both foreign and domestic. Which leaves the Pathfinder in search of its own trail, somewhere off, and slightly behind, the beaten path.