Wagons in Nissan's 2005 collection consist of five different nameplates. There are truck-based SUVs in three sizes with the king-size Armada, mid-size Pathfinder in a new design, plus the compact-class Xterra, also in new format.

Quest takes a fresh approach to that familiar suburbia denizen, the people-hauling minivan, with stylish designs.
Murano, a crossover SUV with car-like ride quality and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), fuses preferred traits of a high-rider SUV and a pavement-hugging sports sedan.

The big idea behind Nissan's full-size SUV is big-time space in a vehicle with overwhelming power. The cabin is configured in three rows of seats with fold-flat benches on tiers two and three or optional captain's chairs in place of a second-row bench. Built alongside Titan at Nissan's Mississippi assembly plant, Armada rides on a boxed-rail frame derived from Titan and uses Titan's dual-cam 5.6-liter V8 engine, which delivers 305 hp and tall torque.

When properly equipped with a tow rig, Armada brings towing capacity to 9,100 pounds. Nissan constructs Armada with either two-wheel-drive (2WD) or four-wheel-drive (4WD) mode for three trim variations -- Armada SE, SE Off-Road and luxurious LE.

Standard equipment for all ranges from a floor-mounted shifter stick for the five-speed automatic transmission, adjustable brake and accelerator pedals and a broad floor console plus an overhead console with map lamps and ventilation ducts. Optional packages are also offered, such as a sunroof package for the SE Off-Road and a leather package for SE with leather upholstery, side air bags and a Bose premium audio system.

With stylish exterior shapes and a comfortable cabin that accommodates five, mid-size Murano is a fun-to-drive wagon that looks like an SUV but behaves more like a sports car. It rides on the front-wheel-drive (FWD) chassis of a car. Pushing wheels to the edges of the chassis brings stability to the stance and enhances Murano's agility when cornering. Murano offers high-tech hardware such as vehicle dynamic control (VDC) with a traction control system (TCS) and Nissan's all-wheel-drive (AWD) equipment for dependable grip on slippery pavement.

The AWD system normally operates in FWD mode, although if front treads begin to slip, this smart rig can divert as much as half of the engine's muscle to run the wheels in back. For locomotion Murano pulls from a juicy dual-cam 3.5-liter V6. Output reaches to 245 hp through an advanced CVT that Nissan calls Xtronic. The cabin layout pitches a pair of bolstered buckets in front flanking a large console with covered recesses to stow gear as large as a purse or laptop computer. On the second row a bench is designed to seat two comfortably but hold three. The seatback splits and reclines or folds down to expand the cargo area.

Consider Nissan's five-door Xterra SUV for the compact class a rugged wagon capable of serious off-road play as well as an affordable pavement cruiser. It comes with 2WD or 4WD traction and provides seats for five in a wagon's boxy format but can also haul lifestyle sports paraphernalia -- such as mountain bikes, camping gear, skis or kayaks. The Xterra for 2005 grows up with a larger cabin and a big 4.0-liter V6 engine as the standard powertrain.

Platform and engine are derived from the compact-class Frontier pickup, as are transmission options -- a five-speed electronically controlled automatic or six-speed manual. Cabin layout shows twin front bucket seats with a second-row bench and seatback split and foldable. In the rear, the cargo floor is flat and has an easy-clean surface plus a channel track system for flexibility in securing large loads. New trim designations apply: Xterra S, Off-Road and deluxe SE.

Nissan's revamped Frontier truck serves as the foundation for a new treatment to Pathfinder, a sport-utility vehicle for the mid-size class constructed at Nissan's manufacturing facility in Tennessee. The new design for the Pathfinder expands the package, particularly for the five-door passenger compartment, which brings additional space to add a standard third-row seat that folds flat. Seatbacks on the second row also fold down, as does the front passenger-side bucket -- adding up to 64 different configurations for seats and cargo space.

Pathfinder's souped-up now; thanks to a new aluminum-block 4.0-liter V6 engine producing 270 hp through a five-speed electronically-controlled automatic shifter. It comes with either rear 2WD traction or Nissan's All-Mode automatic 4WD system adding an electronically-controlled transfer case for 2WD/Auto/4WD-high/4WD-low modes. A new independent double-wishbone suspension system mounts up front and back for precise wheel control and a smooth ride quality.

Read our Review: Nissan Pathfinder

Quest breaks the mold of a typical minivan's crate-on-wheels design due to a format that stretches long but slinks low. It has the longest wheelbase in class to forge a five-door passenger compartment with considerable space inside arranged in an artful manner. Bucket seats on the second tier and the third row bench flip and fold to form a flat floor for hauling a load of cargo. A sliding slab door on either side shows the widest portal in this minivan's segment.

With all seats standing, Quest still has cargo room at the rear, including a well in the floor so you can stack the cargo and access it from a top-hinged back gate. The optional Skyview roof consists of four glass roof panels above second and third row seats. Add the sunroof over front seats and you end up with a roof that's more clear windows than solid ceiling. Power stems from a dual-cam 3.5-liter V6 worth 240 hp through a four-speed or five-speed automatic transaxle, the latter reserved for Quest's top two trims. Gear increases up the Quest model ladder with three well-equipped versions -- Quest 3.5 S, 3.5 SL and 3.5 SE.