Nissan Pathfinder 2014 review: snapshot

Nissan Pathfinder has been on sale in Australia since 1987 and has established a well-earned reputation as a reasonably tough 4WD off-roader. Not quite in the same class as vehicles like its Nissan Patrol sibling or Toyota’s LandCruiser but rugged enough to attract plenty of rural sales.

With the arrival of its fourth-generation model in late 2013, Pathfinder has been caught up in the SUV surge and now not only comes with the option of two- or four-wheel drive but also loses the extra grunt of diesel power.

Now that the switch to SUV has been made the need for a body-on-frame chassis has gone and new Pathfinder has returned to the monocoque construction used in the middle period of the vehicle’s life. Likewise a manual gearbox has been dropped and the previous five- and seven-speed automatics replaced by continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Such has been the significant changes to Pathfinder and its long history as a serious off-roader we wonder if Nissan was ever tempted to adopt a totally new name to attack its very different new market. Perhaps the Australian Pulsar / Tiida experience was still fresh in their minds...

Styling

In line with the structural and powertrain changes Pathfinder has now taken on a softer, smoother appearance aimed clearly at urban buyers. The square, boxy look of the previous model has been replaced with a much more fashionable contemporary look with a flowing roofline, new headlights and small rear spoiler.

New Pathfinder is larger in all dimensions including 195 mm extra length which enables all models to now seat seven in a two-three-two format. The third row is relatively easy to access through large side doors although as usual children are the preferred occupants. Nissan quoted boot space with all seats in place at 453 litres, there’s also an underfloor segmented area.

Engine / Transmission

Explore the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder range

• Nissan Pathfinder auto 2014 review
• Nissan Pathfinder 4WD 2014 review
• Nissan Pathfinder 2014 review: snapshot
• Nissan Pathfinder 2014 review
• Nissan Pathfinder ST-L 2014 review
• Nissan Pathfinder Ti 4WD 2014 review

There is just one drivetrain offered, a 3.5-litre 190kW petrol V6 and CVT. The engine is the well-established unit that we’ve driven in vehicles ranging from the Nissan 350Z sports car to the new Altima sedan. In the Pathfinder peak torque of 325Nm is reached at 4400rpm and although that’s well down on the 450 and 550Nm from the outgoing diesels it will cater for most of its new breed of users.

Not surprisingly towing capacity is also down from the 3500kg of the previous Ti 550 to an acceptable 2700kg enhanced with Nissan’s switchable Tow Mode, to assist smooth out acceleration when towing.

While no diesel is planned a supercharged-petrol / electric hybrid model will be added to the range around mid-2014.

Fuel consumption on the combined cycle is rated at 9.9 litres per 100 km with 2WD and 10.2L/100 km with the extra weight in the 4WD. We recorded in the low to middle elevens during our recent week-long test which comprised an even mix of city and expressway conditions.

Models

New Pathfinder comes in three equipment levels, ST, ST-L and Ti, each with the choice of two or four-wheel drive. The 4WD system can be set between 2WD, 4WD Auto (varies torque distribution between the four wheels) and 4WD (permanent 50:50 split between front and rear wheels for rougher terrain).

Features

Push-button engine start/stop is standard on all three variants as are tri-zone climate-control air conditioning; leather trimmed steering wheel and gear shift knob; roof rails; and tilt-telescopic steering wheel adjustment.

Pathfinder ST-L adds electronic steering wheel adjustment; heated front seats; front fog lamps; twin sun roofs; and leather-accented door and seat trim. Extras on the Ti include driver seat and side mirror adjustment memory.

Safety

Safety equipment in all three variants includes six airbags with front to rear curtain ‘bags; ABS brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution; stability and traction control ; hill hold; Isofix child seat locks (centre row only); reverse parking sensors; rear view camera; and tyre pressure monitoring. A multi-camera Around View park assist system is optional on the ST-L and standard on the Ti models.

Infotainment

All models get Bluetooth phone and audio streaming; USB and Auxiliary sockets; steering wheel mounted control; single CD player; and music server hard drive. The display on the ST and ST-L uses a 7-inch QVGA colour monitor while the Ti gets an 8-inch VGA LCD unit as well as a premium Bose audio system; and satellite navigation. Around View is available as part of a $2300 Option Pack with the ST-L that also includes the Bose audio andSatNav.

Driving

The switch from 4WD to SUV has made the fourth-generation Nissan Pathfinder a very different vehicle to its predecessors. As is demanded by its new target buying group it’s much more refined and significantly quieter than before. It’s a big seller in the United States – indeed it’s built in Tennessee – so the ride may be softer than some Australians like. But if a big, quiet comfortable cruiser is what you want the big Nissan provides it in spades.

Conscious of ground clearance of just 165 mm we treaded carefully along our off-road test route but were quite impressed with how the suspension absorbed the frequent bumps and pot holes. While some will mourn the demise of yet another serious off-roader, the high proportion of Australians that live in urban areas means that car companies will continue to target these areas.

Verdict

With demand for SUVs, especially those with two-wheel drive, growing dramatically the new Pathfinder now ticks plenty of boxes and is well worth adding to the check list of potential buyers.