One of the big changes for the Pathfinder at that time was that it moved away from the 2 door only model to adopt a 4 door frame, and it has remained strictly 4 door since 1989. The passenger space made room for the entire crew, and outdoorsy families who were active and likely to spring for an off-road excursion began to choose the Nissan Pathfinder more often due to its truck like capabilities. It had a reputation for comfort and style with its new, more balanced 4-door look. Its new look and modern accouterments gave it a name amongst other such family friendly adventure vehicles on the market at that time. In 1990, the Pathfinder received a major redesign for the first time ever. It kept improving, but remained true to its pickup truck roots In an effort to compete with competition from the likes of Jeep’s Cherokee, the Ford Bronco II, the Toyota 4Runner, and the Chevrolet Blazer, the Nissan Pathfinder was a burly body-on-frame, backcountry-ready family car. An old school Nissan Pathfinder in its natural habitat. This sturdy first generation remained though 1989. Ready to take on a mountain, the Pathfinder forged a name for itself as a capable hardbody SUV. Its first year of production in 1986, the first-gen Nissan Pathfinder emerged as a 2-door utility vehicle ready for adventure.
The original design of this body on frame SUV set the tone for the Pathfinder to head down the trail and rumble off the beaten path.
The Nissan Pathfinder began based on the 1985 Nissan hardbody pickup truck. Still, the new Nissan Pathfinder converted to the unibody dark side some years ago. Its modern body harkens its origin as a body on frame beast made for off-road adventure.