The Car Connection Nissan Pathfinder Overview
Rankings
- #8 in Large SUVs
- #21 in Crossover SUVs
The Nissan Pathfinder is a large crossover SUV with seating for up to seven.
The Pathfinder has been part of Nissan's utility vehicle lineup since the 1980s and older and tougher Pathfinders competed against off-roaders. That's no longer the case, however, as today the Pathfinder squares off against crossovers with three rows like the Honda Pilot, the Toyota Highlander, the Ford Explorer, and the GMC Acadia.
After a slight refresh in 2017 that added more power, reshaped bumpers and a new infotainment system, Nissan made standard in 2018 safety features such as a rear seat reminder and forward automatic emergency braking. For 2019, Nissan added USB Type C outlets and shuffled some options around. The 2020 model stayed identical to the year before it.
The Infiniti QX60 is related to the Nissan Pathfinder under its skin. The Infiniti skews toward luxury, but the Pathfinder relishes in family duty. Nissan once fitted a hybrid powertrain to both crossovers, but it's been discontinued in recent model years.
MORE: Read our 2020 Nissan Pathfinder review
The new Nissan Pathfinder
The new Pathfinder that arrived for the 2013 model year was a more car-like crossover vehicle than it had been in the past. It is distantly related to the Nissan Murano, including the 3.5-liter V-6 engine and continuously variable transmission (CVT). It's offered with standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. The latest Pathfinder handles and responds well on streets and highways, and trades the earlier models' towing and off-roading abilities for on-road ride and comfort, versatility, and seating space for seven.
Changes for 2017 improve several elements of the Pathfinder. The addition of direct injection and electronic variable valve timing, among other changes, improve horsepower from 260 to 284 and raise torque from 240 to 259 pound-feet. The suspension settings are stiffer, bringing a bit more control as well as a firmer ride. A new NissanConnect infotainment system comes with a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen, pinch and swipe controls, tile icons, and several connective services. Finally, new safety features are added, including adaptive cruise control, moving object detection for the surround-view camera system, and forward collision warnings with automatic emergency braking.
A Pathfinder Hybrid crossover was added to Nissan's lineup for the 2014 model year, though it lasted only one year. The V-6 found in other versions was replaced in the Hybrid by a supercharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and an 15-kilowatt (22 hp) electric motor. The motor was located between a modified CVT and the engine, and the two power sources combined for a net of 250 hp. Unlike some other hybrids, the gas-electric Pathfinder couldn't run on electric power alone, but the motor assist helped to improve gas-mileage ratings by about 20 percent. That said, the Pathfinder Hybrid felt noticeably slower than the V-6 model, so the economy improvement was certainly a trade-off.
The current Pathfinder scores fairly well in crash testing, with a five-star overall rating (though four stars in front and rollover tests) from the NHTSA. It includes many safety features as standard or optional equipment, including blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning. The addition of the forward collision warning system helped it earn the IIHS honor.
For the 2015 model year, Nissan made only a few minor changes to the Pathfinder, dropping the Hybrid model, updating the CVT with stepped gear ratios, and shuffling equipment.
For 2016, it also received very minor changes, including a standard heated steering wheel on the SL model and a revised Almond interior color with black and beige contrasting materials.
Pathfinder history
When that first Pathfinder was launched back in the 1980s, it was a hardscrabble truck model with seating for five in a very basic interior, crude appointments, and a rough ride. It wasn't until 1996 that it began to take on trappings of passenger friendliness. The previous-generation Pathfinder had been closely related to Nissan's Hardbody compact pickup, but only up until the mid-1990s Pathfinder traded the truck-based body-on-frame design for a new unibody that helped provide better ride and handling—though it still shared a 168-hp, 3.3-liter V-6 with the pickups.
Things changed significantly in 2001 when the Pathfinder got a more modern engine. A 3.5-liter V-6 making 240 hp arrived to solve the power problem. While the Pathfinder was still capable off-road, the Xterra joined it in the Nissan lineup, offering a more rugged alternative to the more-civilized Pathfinder. The Pathfinder retained its ability to tow and its somewhat stiff suspension, however, as well as its tight rear seat.
Before the current model, the Pathfinder was last completely redesigned for 2005, returning to body-on-frame construction that was once again closely related to that of the Frontier pickup as well as the Xterra. A 270-hp, 4.0-liter V-6 was standard, providing plenty of power for most needs, but a 310-hp, 5.6-liter V-8 was optional beginning in 2008. Those tempted by the V-8 in used examples should be forewarned that fuel economy is acutely atrocious with that engine.
That newly optional V-8 was accompanied by a design overhaul for the 2008 model year. Nissan gave the Pathfinder's front end a slight visual adjustment and made upgrades to the interior that year. The crossover saw few big changes through the 2012 model year, though the lineup did include SE Off-Road models in 2008 and 2009 with features aimed at trail enthusiasts, including a skid-plate package, off-road tires, and longer-travel Bilstein dampers.
