Nissan has overhauled nearly its total SUV vary over the previous few years, after letting some fashions wither on the vine.
The Nissan Pathfinder was probably the most uncared for. The earlier technology was launched in Australia in 2013, however the present mannequin didn’t arrive right here till late in 2022.
It rides on a revised model of the outdated automotive’s platform, and continues to be constructed within the US. It’s been developed primarily for the North American market, and goes up towards different North America-focused crossovers just like the Toyota Kluger and Hyundai Palisade.
The Qashqai and X-Path are Nissan’s volume-selling crossovers in Australia, with the entry and flagship fashions of the model’s SUV lineup being significantly much less widespread.
The poor Pathfinder has been hamstrung by provide points, which led to Nissan eradicating greater than half of its lineup and leaving solely the 2 most costly – and, apparently, hottest – variants: the all-wheel drive Ti and Ti-L.
Nissan’s flagship SUV subsequently has one hand tied behind its again, with solely a single V6 engine, no optionally available hybrid or diesel powertrains, and no price-leader front-wheel drive mannequin.
That helps clarify why its gross sales are properly beneath these of rivals just like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Palisade, Kia Sorento and Toyota Kluger – ought to it’s in your consideration checklist?
How does the Nissan Pathfinder examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the Nissan Pathfinder towards equally sized automobiles.
Nissan
Pathfinder
How a lot does the Nissan Pathfinder price?
The 2024 Nissan Pathfinder lineup consists of two variants, each with customary all-wheel drive.
| Mannequin Variant | $RRP |
|---|---|
| 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Ti 4WD | $71,490 |
| 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Ti-L 4WD | $81,490 |
Costs exclude on-road prices
To see how the Pathfinder compares with its rivals, use our comparability software.
What’s the Nissan Pathfinder like on the within?
The Pathfinder’s inside shall be acquainted if you happen to’ve sat in an X-Path, with a lot of frequent switchgear and a robust household resemblance.
The X-Path has one of many extra spectacular interiors in its section, however the Pathfinder’s – at this a lot larger value level – doesn’t impress as a lot.
It’s not helped by the black colourway that’s the one one on provide in Australia. Whereas there’s some engaging metal-look trim for distinction at both finish of the dashboard, it’s used sparingly whereas gloss black trim is slathered throughout the centre stack – it doesn’t actually make for a lot distinction, and it simply attracts mud and smudges.
Materials high quality is tough to fault. There are many soft-touch surfaces, together with the door tops entrance and rear, in addition to the edges of the centre console.
Talking of the doorways, they open good and vast however a few of my passengers noticed they really feel just a little mild. The method locking and unlocking system nonetheless, works excellently.
The tech is nice. A 9.0-inch touchscreen isn’t all that giant in 2024, however the infotainment system is simple to navigate and the interface is passable in presentation, if not as fashionable as rivals just like the Kluger.
The surround-view digicam has first rate if unexceptional decision.
There’s a 7.0-inch display screen within the instrument cluster, as seen in decrease variations of the X-Path, permitting you to view journey info and alter settings. It’s bracketed by a pair of straightforward, legible analogue gauges. You don’t really want to take a look at these although, because of the helpful head-up show.
A 13-speaker Bose sound system presents good sound high quality, however the air-conditioning behaved unusually at instances with diminished airflow out of 1 vent and further air popping out of one other.
The structure of the cabin is user-friendly.
The local weather controls are a easy array of buttons and knobs, positioned good and excessive; the touchscreen juts out of the dashboard with out wanting like a tacked-on iPad; and there are helpful bodily shortcut buttons beneath the display screen.
However total, the inside doesn’t really feel significantly nicer than an X-Path’s, nor does it look dramatically completely different. The yellowish inside lighting additionally feels low-rent.
Up entrance, there’s a deep centre console bin; giant, simply accessible cupholders; a storage slot and wi-fi charging tray on the console itself; a rubberised shelf in entrance of the entrance passenger good for a cell phone; and a helpful shelf beneath the place you possibly can put a smaller purse. There are additionally giant bottle holders within the doorways.
Step into the again by way of the wide-opening doorways, and there’s a flat ground, plus giant cupholders within the doorways and one other pair in a fold-down armrest. There are separate local weather controls again right here, in addition to a USB-C and a USB-A outlet and heated seats.
There are top-tether anchor factors for baby seats throughout all three seating positions too, in addition to ISOFIX factors for the outboard seats.
There’s ample room right here, and the second-row seats helpfully slide to provide third-row occupants extra room. To get again there, press a button on both facet of the cut up second-row bench and every part will tilt and slide ahead.
I’m 180cm tall, and in contrast to in a Hyundai Palisade I’m unable to sit down within the third row with out my legs firmly up towards the second-row seatbacks.
However all it’s essential do is slide the second-row seats ahead barely, and you will get a cushty seating place for many adults throughout each rows.
That’s proper, the third row can really match adults with the second row adjusted thusly. Headroom is surprisingly ample again right here because of the Pathfinder’s boxy physique.
There are fewer facilities again right here, although you continue to get air vents (within the roof), extra cupholders, and a single USB outlet. Most significantly, there’s curtain airbag protection.
You’ll be able to match a baby seat again right here utilizing both a top-tether or ISOFIX anchor level, however just for the left seat.
Open the ability tailgate and also you’ll discover 205L of boot area behind the third row, sufficient to suit a big suitcase. There’s additionally a large cupboard space beneath the boot ground, which was helpful after I was transporting some vegetation I didn’t need to tip over.
Drop the third row and the area expands to 554L, and we had been capable of simply accommodate three giant suitcases for an airport run. The third row seats fold flat, too. Drop the second row, and there’s 782L of area, and a 12V outlet could be discovered within the boot space.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
The Nissan Pathfinder is on the market with only one powertrain in Australia
| Mannequin | Nissan Pathfinder 4WD |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3.5-litre V6 petrol |
| Transmission | 9-speed auto |
| Energy | 202kW @ 6400rpm |
| Torque | 340Nm @ 4800rpm |
| Drive sort | All-wheel drive |
| Gas sort | 91 RON |
| Gas tank capability | 71L |
| Gas economic system (claimed) | 10.5L/100km |
| Gas economic system (as examined) | 11.7L/100km (combined loop) 13.1L/100km (week of combined driving) |
| Kerb weight | 2044kg |
| Towing capability | 750kg (unbraked) 2700kg (braked) |
| Floor clearance | 179mm |
How does the Nissan Pathfinder drive?
It’s unusual that Nissan dropped the Pathfinder hybrid proper as hybrid gross sales surged, and we will solely hope the corporate finally drops one in every of its wonderful e-Energy setups in its flagship crossover.
We’d additionally guess Nissan is taking a look at popping a turbocharged four-cylinder engine on this, given the Chinese language-market Pathfinder presents simply that and this section is shifting away from V6s.
The Toyota Kluger swapped its V6 for a turbo 4, whereas the brand new Hyundai Santa Fe is launching right here as a hybrid however could properly acquire a turbo 4 down the road to exchange the present V6 – one thing we anticipate the Palisade to finally provide, too.
Even the Jeep Grand Cherokee is rumoured to be ditching its V6 for a turbo 4. That’s making the Pathfinder look just a little old school, even when the V6 isn’t a nasty mill – although it’s thirsty.
We averaged 13.1L/100km over the course of every week of principally city driving, although on a loop comprising inner-city, suburban and freeway driving we managed 11.7L/100km.
Many of the automobiles I’ve owned have had naturally aspirated six-cylinder engines mated with torque-converter automated transmissions, so the Pathfinder feels comfortably acquainted to me, making the noises and sensations I’m well-accustomed to.
In previous testing, we’ve managed a 0-100km/h time of 8.1 seconds within the top-spec Ti-L. It positively looks like an 8.0-second automotive – the V6 is of course perkier than a turbo 4, so you must rev it extra with peak torque obtainable at 4800rpm.
It doesn’t really feel gradual, thoughts you, however neither is it as easy as some turbocharged rivals. All of the whereas, it makes the sort of raspy sounds you’d anticipate of an atmo V6. Once more, comfortably acquainted, however not innovative.
The Pathfinder’s cabin stays fairly hushed even at freeway speeds or on coarse-chip roads. Engine noise isn’t too loud, both, and it’s not a nasty soundtrack to take heed to.
Repeatedly variable transmissions (CVTs) have their place, although I’d argue a big V6 engine isn’t the precise one. So I used to be happy to be taught when this Pathfinder was revealed that Nissan had swapped the outdated automotive’s CVT for a nine-speed auto.
The nine-speed does have a behavior of holding gears for a contact too lengthy, even in the usual drive mode, lending a barely slurring sensation to the automotive – nearly like Nissan didn’t need to alienate house owners of CVT-equipped Pathfinders.
General, it’s not the slickest shifting unit, however it will get the job accomplished.
Trip high quality is common. Rivals just like the Santa Fe really feel tighter and extra pliant, with the Pathfinder transmitting enlargement joints and patchwork surfaces into the cabin.
It’s uncommon, because the experience doesn’t really feel all that stiff, it simply can’t appear to iron out these features of the street floor all that properly and finally ends up feeling fairly busy on plenty of roads. The tyres had been on the placarded pressures, too.
I used to be shocked by how a lot wheelspin the Pathfinder has, significantly for an all-wheel drive automobile. It’s fairly simple to chirp the tyres with a heavier throttle enter, whereas a drive by way of the mountains had the tyres howling in some corners.
We marvel how a lot these points may very well be addressed by merely altering the tyres – the Kumho rubber on that is disappointing, significantly for a big household SUV.
Grip is poor, and on a few moist corners we felt the Pathfinder lose traction. The digital stability management was a bit slower to intervene than we wish, as properly.
It’s not as if we had been driving this prefer it was on a race observe, both. Thoughts you, rubber apart, the Pathfinder’s dynamics are aggressive if not segment-leading.
The steering lacks the progressive really feel of rivals just like the Santa Fe and dearly departed Mazda CX-9, although the weighting strikes steadiness for the section and the Pathfinder is simple to park.
Physique roll is well-controlled, with the Pathfinder staying pretty flat in corners. General physique management is first rate, with the Nissan not bobbing an excessive amount of on undulating roads.
The motive force assists are well-calibrated. Lane-centring, for instance, does a commendable job of protecting you inside your lane with out continually feeling prefer it’s making an attempt to countermand your steering inputs.
If you’re heading off the crushed, err… path… you possibly can select between a collection of terrain modes for snow, mud and sand.
What do you get?
With no ST or ST-L at the moment obtainable, the Ti is the bottom mannequin within the native Pathfinder vary. Regardless of its price ticket, nonetheless, it misses out on rain-sensing wipers.
Commonplace gear contains:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Area-saver spare
- Tyre strain monitoring
- Computerized LED headlights
- Computerized excessive beam
- LED entrance fog lights
- Energy-folding exterior mirrors
- Energy tailgate
- Distant begin
- Proximity entry with push-button begin
- Rear privateness glass
- Constructed-in rear door sunshades
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- 10.8-inch head-up show
- 7.0-inch instrument cluster display screen
- Wi-fi cellphone charger
- 13-speaker Bose sound system
- Tri-zone local weather management
- Leather-based-accented steering wheel
- Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
- 8-seat configuration, incl. second-row three-seat bench
- 10-way energy driver’s seat
- Black leather-accented upholstery (leatherette in third row)
- Heated entrance seats
- Heated outboard second-row seats
For an additional $10,000, the Ti-L provides:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Panoramic sunroof
- Rain-sensing wipers
- 7-seat structure incl. second-row captain’s chairs
- Quilted leather-accented upholstery (leatherette for third row)
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 4-way energy passenger seat
- Ventilated entrance seats
- Digital rear-view mirror
Is the Nissan Pathfinder protected?
The Nissan Pathfinder has a five-star ANCAP security score, based mostly on testing carried out in 2022.
It obtained an grownup occupant safety score of 86 per cent, a baby occupant safety score of 93 per cent, a weak street person safety score of 78 per cent, and a security help score of 85 per cent.
Commonplace security gear contains:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Junction help
- Pedestrian and bicycle owner detection
- Reverse AEB
- Adaptive cruise management
- ProPilot (adaptive cruise + lane centring)
- Blind-spot help
- Lane-keep help
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Visitors signal recognition
- Encompass-view digicam
- Twin entrance airbags
- Entrance centre airbag
- First- and second-row facet airbags
- Curtain airbags for all three rows
How a lot does the Nissan Pathfinder price to run?
The Nissan Pathfinder is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
Servicing is required each 12 months or 15,000km – whichever comes first.
2024 Nissan Pathfinder service pricing:
| Service Interval | Value |
|---|---|
| 12 months or 15,000km | $352 |
| 24 months or 30,000km | $714 |
| 36 months or 45,000km | $373 |
| 48 months or 60,000km | $757 |
| 60 months or 75,000km | $396 |
| 72 months or 90,000km | $1635 |
2024 Nissan Pathfinder service plans:
| Plan | Value |
|---|---|
| 2 years | $959 |
| 3 years | $1295 |
| 4 years | $1976 |
| 5 years | $2333 |
Even with the low cost in pre-paying for providers, the Toyota Kluger remains to be cheaper to keep up than the Pathfinder, as it’s with all the pieces else on this section. The Kluger’s first 5 providers are capped at $265 every.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder isn’t probably the most economical automobile in its section; nor does it have probably the most upscale or spacious inside, the best efficiency, or probably the most snug experience.
That makes its circa-$70,000 base value a troublesome tablet to swallow.
Not solely are you able to get a mid-range, all-wheel drive Kluger GXL for round $3000 much less, even the hybrid model undercuts the Pathfinder Ti.
You get a bigger touchscreen however miss out on a head-up show, although in any other case the gear lists of those two Japanese-branded rivals look fairly comparable.
The mid-range Elite model of the new-generation Hyundai Santa Fe additionally undercuts the Pathfinder, whereas providing a thrifty hybrid powertrain and a spacious third row.
If you need a big, all-wheel drive crossover with a extra conventional really feel, nonetheless, the Pathfinder will enchantment.
Not everyone desires a turbo or a hybrid, and the Pathfinder is likely one of the final automobiles in its section to mix a naturally aspirated V6 with all-wheel drive. We additionally respect Nissan dropping the CVT for a standard auto.
It mightn’t have the biggest third row, however you possibly can nonetheless get an entire complement of adults comfortably on board and the quiet cabin has loads of storage – and a plethora of cupholders.
Throw in good-looking styling and first rate dealing with and the Pathfinder nonetheless makes a case for itself. We’d advise you to take a look at rivals just like the Hyundai Santa Fe, Palisade and Toyota Kluger although, earlier than signing on the dotted line.
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