Thirst for power
New family SUV swims against the tide with a petrol V6 under the bonnet
Today’s Nissan line-up is barely recognisable from the first half of last year. New Pathfinder, X-trail and Qashqai SUVS should help to turn around a steep sales decline. Here’s a look at the big brother of the trio.
VALUE
The Nissan Pathfinder is a family SUV similar in size to the Toyota Kluger or Hyundai Palisade. The new Pathfinder arrived late last year with a four-strong model line-up that didn’t last long.
Two affordable models were dropped, so the cheapest Pathfinder today starts at about $78,000 driveaway. That’s a lot of money, but you do get a head-up display, 13-speaker Bose stereo and powered tailgate.
Infotainment is displayed on a modest 9-inch screen with wireless Apple Carplay and smartphone mirroring but we were disappointed to spot conventional analog gauges for the speedo and rev counter.
Another $10,000 upgrades you from the Pathfinder Ti to the TI-L that adds a wide-screen dashboard display, panoramic sunroof, 20-inch alloys and more.
COMFORT
Based on a car-like structure, the Pathfinder is built for on-road comfort as opposed to off-road adventure. It doesn’t have the rugged frame of a Ford Everest or Toyota
Prado. Passengers are looked after with three-zone climate control and heated leather seats for the first two rows.
Clever integrated sunshades help little ones stay cool in summer, or take a nap on the road. Middle-row seats slide forward to allow access to the back row, with a one-touch function kids can easily use.
The Pathfinder’s lounge-like seats impressed during a long road trip and we were happy with Nissan’s plush suspension tune, helped by chubby tires mounted to its 18-inch wheels.
SAFETY
Modern cars are loaded with safety features and the Pathfinder is no exception.
It has all the gear you could expect in an $80,000 car: nine airbags augmented by front and rear auto braking, blind-spot monitoring, lanekeeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alerts and a 360-degree camera.
Nissan also rolls the driver aids into a package named “Propilot” that can brake and accelerate in traffic.
DRIVING
The Pathfinder is four-wheel democracy in that its road behaviour is tailored toward the seven passengers who don’t have a steering wheel in their hands.
It rides well and is reasonably quiet on the highway but isn’t particularly rewarding to steer.
There’s a fluffiness to the controls that makes it easy to drive, if somewhat forgettable.
Nissan says the revised Pathfinder is “all-new”, but the model’s big petrol V6 celebrates its 30th birthday next year. It’s a thirsty unit that predates the long-gone Nissan 350Z and Maxima, officially drinking 10.5L/100km (but more in the real world) of unleaded.
The 202KW and 340Nm needs revs to deliver its best and there is no hybrid or diesel option.
Prior customers will be happy to see that Nissan’s troubled continuously variable auto has been deleted in favour of a nine-speed auto.
ALTERNATIVES HYUNDAI PALISADE DIESEL, FROM ABOUT $76,500 DRIVE-AWAY
Matches the Nissan’s eight-seat versatility while delivering superior range and fuel economy.
TOYOTA KLUGER HYBRID, FROM ABOUT $63,000 DRIVE-AWAY
Cheaper to buy and run, the Kluger is an easy SUV to recommend.
KIA CARNIVAL PLATINUM, FROM ABOUT $70,000 DRIVE-AWAY
Though people movers aren’t fashionable, you can’t beat their versatility.