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Just the way minivans evolved, becoming more sophisticated and carlike during the past decade, the popular sports-utility vehicles are gradually shedding their tough-truck personalities to become more family-friendly and roadworthy.

The Nissan Pathfinder is a case in point. Originally derived from the “hardbody” pickup truck, a stylistic coup of the ’80s, the Pathfinder was a body-on-frame design that looked good, performed well, and sold in decent numbers.

But it suffered from a cramped interior and a serious weight problem that compromised handling and gas mileage.

At the time, it was state of the art. But now, with such advanced designs as the Jeep Grand Cherokee setting the tone, the Pathfinder was quickly becoming long in the tooth.

The ’96 version remedies that nicely, and brings the beast further along the evolutionary trail from truck to automobile.

Starting with a carlike unibody structure, the Pathfinder has lost some of its hard edges without sacrificing its rugged appeal. Since four-wheel-drive vehicles typically spend most of their lives as station wagons rather than backwoods rock-hoppers, the trend has been to improve their capabilities on the pavement.

The Pathfinder is now (in terms of ’50s car ads) longer, lower and wider. There’s considerably more elbow room inside, and a lower floor height makes entering and exiting a bit less of a strain.

It has a stiffer body structure and lighter overall weight for better handling and performance, enhanced by stabilizer bars front and rear, and a heavy-duty front-strut design.

Smaller, less-aggressive wheels and tires help, too. And while Pathfinder’s on-road prowess has improved, its trail-riding abilities seemed just fine during a steep and difficult climb to an Indian ruin on the road to Seven Springs.

The look of the new Pathfinder, though sporty and well-proportioned, is fairly generic, losing some of its broad-shouldered appeal. The designers added in some character lines to distinguish it from its brethren, but overall, the look is not terribly distinctive.

The interior is another story. Comfort is one of the strongest points of the new Pathfinder, with supportive seats, handy features and attractive design. The dashboard is especially nice, with rounded forms and a look that would fit in with a sports sedan. Gauges are easy to read, and switches and controls are simple and straight forward.

Cargo space behind the rear seat is decent, with room for camping gear or yard-sale finds.

Horsepower from the 3.3-liter V6 engine is up from 155 to 168, with lots of muscle coming on at lower revs, a priority in off-road control, especially with the automatic transmission fitted to our test vehicle.

Highway cruising is smooth and relaxed, feeling more like a nicely turned out automobile than a sports-utility vehicle, and acceleration is brisk. Gas mileage is not too bad for this thirsty class of vehicle.

The Pathfinder finds i tself in a highly competitive field of quality-laden sports-utility vehicles. Toyota has updated its 4Runner in a similar vein, and new models from Chevrolet and Isuzu are pulling in customers. And a new smaller breed of sports-utilities, led by Toyota’s RAV4 and Honda’s hotly awaited CR-V, are putting more pressure on the group.

The fully loaded, top-line SE model tested here hit a list price of $33,000, putting it out of reach for most families, though a nicely turned-out Pathfinder can be had for thousands less.

The updated Pathfinder now can hold its own with the best of its breed, although it has a lot to live up to. An advertising campaign shows Pathfinders sprinting through African grasslands and being labeled “the ultimate outdoor adventure vehicle.”

1996 Nissan Pathfinder

Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door sports-utility vehicle, rear/four-wheel-drive. Base price: $28,549. Price as tested: $32,965. Engine: 3.3-liter V6, 1 68 horsepower at 4,800 rpm, 196 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm. Transmission: Four-speed automatic. Curb weight: 4,005 pounds. Length: 178.3 inches. Wheelbase: 106.3 inches. Safety features: Dual air bags, anti-lock brakes. EPA fuel economy: 15 mpg city, 19 mpg highway.