Nissan Pathfinder hybrid announced

The hybrid SUV market is becoming a war ground as Nissan today announces a hybrid version of its forthcoming Pathfinder. The seven-seat wagon, based on the Murano and Maxima, comes up against the long-standing Lexus RX450h and near-future players including the Mitsubishi Outlander and Volvo XC60.

Nissan's announcement coincides with the end of a diesel-engine option in the Pathfinder that, in its 2014 guise, also dispenses with a full-frame ladder frame and becomes a monocoque body. The hybrid, shown at the New York motor show earlier this year, has a supercharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a single electric motor. It uses a lithium-ion battery pack that is beneath the third-row seat and has a regenerative braking system.

The motor is relatively low in power at just 15kW but is enough to boost overall power to 187kW/329Nm - close to the 195kW/336Nm of the 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine that becomes standard in the new Pathfinder. Nissan claims the hybrid is about 25 per cent more economical than the V6, indicating an average of about 8.5 litres/100km.

In the US the Hybrid is available in front or all-wheel drive and uses a CVT transmission. Nissan Australia hasn't revealed if one or both drivetrains are coming here. Like the Patrol and X-Trail, the Pathfinder all-wheel drive version has selectable front-drive, automatic "on demand" AWD or 4WD lock.

The Pathfinder Hybrid has the same cabin space and flexibility as the non-hybrid models. It also has Nissan's "EZ Flex" seats that has a sliding second row with 60/40 split and fold functions. The slide function can be accessed even if a baby seat is attached. The third row seat is a 50/50 split-fold design that reclines for passenger comfort - a feature Nissan claims is not available on other SUVs in its class. The second and third seat rows also fold flat for maximum cargo space.

In the US, Nissan claims the hybrid will be tow 1600kg. The Pathfinder Hybrid is expected to be launched at $55,000-$60,000, a premium of about 10 per cent on the entry-level ST model. Nissan was chewing over a 3-litre V6 turbo-diesel - also used in the Infiniti range - to appease lovers of diesels, but it was an easier fit to pick up the US-specced hybrid model. However, that may not preclude the diesel engine from making an appearance as an option later in the year.