Off-roading is something I normally don’t engage in. It’s not that I don’t enjoy being in the forest or enjoy the great outdoors. It’s just that I’m chicken, plain and simple.

That reason should have kept me from crawling into a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder that was destined for a rough and tough off-road track on Bainbridge Island, Wash.

Although I proved to be a capable driver, there were times when I questioned my sanity. When I came to a steep, treacherous gully that had the Pathfinder in front of me showing its underside as it tipped down into the precipitous trail, I turned to my driving partner and said, “This is where I call a cab.”

With no way out but down, I eased the SUV into the crevice that was once a narrow road. During the route, the sturdy little Pathfinder was taken over rocks and jutting tree roots that had it teetering on two wheels. At the bottom of the challenging hill, I squealed with delight as adrenalin replaced fear of dying.

I was glad I was the passenger during the next harrowing experience. We were instructed to drive down a very steep hill without touching the brakes. To make the test even more interesting, the descent was dotted with large rocks and deep ruts. When the Pathfinder rolled forward, the Hill Descent Control took over. This advanced off-road traction system reacted brilliantly. When the tire rolled over a large rock, it stopped the Pathfinder instead of allowing it to slide.

It isn’t easy to turn control over to a vehicle in such a situation. If you hit the brakes, the HDC is cancelled and you’re on your own. Personally, I’d trust the system.

The Pathfinder is more than a rock jumping, hill climbing machine. It has a soft side. With a combination of luxury, stamina and smooth ride, this seven-seater can be anything you want it to be.

One of the features makes it your new best friend: the navigation system that gives you directions to wherever you need to go. It’s one of the easiest I’ve used, mainly because it doesn’t take a technology degree and endless patience to operate.

Other features include a fold-down front passenger seat, split second-row seats with hidden under-seat storage compartments, and a split third-row seat. To keep the kids quiet on long trips, there’s an optional DVD-based video entertainment system.

The 2005 Pathfinder is available in either a 4x2 or 4x4. Under the hood is a 4.0-liter V-6 that produces 270 horsepower and 291 pounds-feet of torque. It also has a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds.

The Pathfinder is a trustworthy vehicle that drives great and looks like a million bucks. Buy one and your neighbors will be so jealous.

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