Room for seven
Nissan Pathfinder offers off-road abilities while transporting passengers
I Fyou’re in the market for a midsize SUV with three rows of seating, the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder should be on your shopping list. Dedicated to driving comfort more so than previous generations, the Pathfinder still offers off-road abilities while transporting passengers in a more comfortable manner.
Pathfinder is a four-door, threerow, seven-passenger SUV that comes in five models, starting with an entry front-wheel-drive “S” at $30,290 up to the top-line Platinum 4x4, which starts at $43,560 A Platinum Midnight Edition 4x4 with black style cues from wheels to spoiler goes for $44,955. (All Pathfinder models are available in either front drive or 4x4.)
This “more comfortable” new generation Pathfinder arrived in 2013 with a major change in chassis design. Specifically, 2012 and previous Pathfinders relied on Nissan’s truck chassis, which afforded 8.7 inches of ground clearance. These Pathfinders made for great off-road and towing performers but lacked in the creature comfort and smooth ride categories.
As consumer demands changed and SUVS became the norm rather than the exception, Nissan revamped the Pathfinder chassis setup in 2013 and integrated a car-like unibody frame. Although it offered less ground clearance (now 7 inches), the unibody chassis immediately delivered a more comfortable ride and made purchasing a Pathfinder more enticing.
The ride is greatly improved, and there’s also more interior room to utilize for family and cargo. Towing capacity, meanwhile, drops from 7,000 pounds to a still respectable 6,000 pounds. If you need more towing ability, check out the full-size Nissan Armada and its 9,000 lb. tow rating. All Pathfinders come with the same engine under the hood, which means regardless of model choice you are receiving the exact same underpinnings and mechanical attributes. Powered by a fine running 3.5-liter V-6 that produces a stout
284 horses and 259 pound-feet of torque, the Pathfinder also delivers excellent fuel mileage at 20 city and 26 highway in two-wheel-drive layout or 19 city and 26 highway with the 4x4. An Xtronic CVT overdrive automatic transmission transfers the power, which is noteworthy as the V-6 pulls with authority.
Nissan’s intuitive and switchable 4x4 system allows two-wheel-drive, automatic and four-wheel-drive lock modes. The two-wheel drive is front-drive only, while in auto mode the Pathfinder is fully automatic and applies power between the front and rear axles as needed. The four-wheel-drive lock is utilized for off-road duty or when weather turns nasty by delivering full-time 4x4 traction.
Inside, the top-line Platinum is luxurious and as close to sibling Infiniti in opulence as Nissan allows. The seating is firm yet very comfortable, and the EZ Flex reclining seat feature for both the front and second row is an added attribute.
Also notable is the ease of entry for third-row passengers — something that usually isn’t the case on most tri-tier seat SUVS and crossovers. It might be easier to access, but the third row is still pretty tight.
We utilized the Pathfinder’s second-row Latch and Glide feature, a slide-and-tilt feature, when we picked up some items at the area home center. The 50-50 fold-down third-row function also came in handy and allowed more cargo space choices.
Standard equipment on all Pathfinders includes air conditioning, 18-inch tires on alloy wheels, keyless entry, cruise, the aforementioned 60/40-split second-row Latch and Glide (slides, reclines and folds), tilt-and-telescopic steering and a nice six-speaker stereo with CD player, to mention a few features.
When you arrive at the top-line Platinum, however, everything imaginable is standard. Included are leather interior, power heated/ cooled front seats, 8-inch color display, rearview safety camera, trizone climate control, Siriusxm with Traffic and Travel Link, Bluetooth/ two Usbs/ipod, fog lamps, rear park sensors, roof rack, second row console, heated second row seats, power liftgate, 20-inch machined alloys on Bridgestone Dueler HP Sport tires, tow package, tow hook, sunroof, parking assist camera, heated steering wheel, navigation and a 13-speaker Bose stereo audio system.
This is a ton of standard equipment, and there’s even more your Nissan dealer is waiting to explain when you visit the showroom. Our tester had just one option, a $225 carpet floor mat package.
On the safety side, all Pathfinders come with antilock four-wheel disc brakes, stability and traction controls, electric brake force, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic and Nissan’s advanced safety airbag system. Our tester also featured intelligent cruise, forward collision and a host of high-tech safety additions.
I recommend first driving one of the entry-level Pathfinders and then moving up as your needs dictate. Keep in mind that, regardless of choice, it’s the same vehicle mechanically and worthy of your consideration. Still, the Platinum edition is well worth the price, especially with year-end incentives and discounts now in play.