Nissan Pathfinder 2023 review: Ti

The Pathfinder is a good-looking and serious family-mover. With that eighth seat, you could argue it’s really a mini-van masquerading as an SUV. This redesign sees a fuller, squared-off shape but the edges are sleek enough to deter any images of ‘bricky-ness’.

The large LED lights are nicely tapered and there’s a generous amount of black plastic moulding along the bottom of the car, which looks good on our model’s ‘Deep Ocean Blue Pearl’ paintwork, but it could be too much of a contrast on a lighter colour.

The interior is a far cry away from the dated look of previous models. The boxy shaping of the dashboard is proportional and looks solid. All of the sleek controls and dials are well-placed for easy-to-reach access.

There's a sense of refinement, too, with the softly padded touchpoints and shiny black accents found throughout the car. 

All of the sleek controls and dials are well-placed for easy-to-reach access. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

Got it any bigger? No, seriously, the cabin is very roomy and the only row that doesn’t benefit from that sense of space is the third one (which, I would save just for the kids).

There’s ample headroom and legroom, so even the taller members of the family will be comfortable.

The Pathfinder's cabin is very spacious. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

I love the storage throughout this car. There are deep drink bottle holders in the doors, multiple cupholders in each row, pockets, shelves, cubbies… you name it, and you’ll probably find it.

The boot has an okay amount of space when all three rows are in action (205 litres) and will suffice for the odd shopping trip but when you pop that last row down, it jumps up to 554 litres and that’s ample room for all of your gear. 

Besides the sense of ‘this-is-huge’, it’s fairly easy to get around in. Everyone will enjoy the space and you might even reduce some of the in-house squabbles that can happen when siblings sit too close together!

The amenities in each row are most welcome. Up front, you have a lot of storage, dual-zone climate control and heated front seats. In the middle row, there are retractable sun blinds (my son’s favourite), map pockets, heated outboard seats, climate control and directional air vents.

Passengers in the second row will enjoy plenty of head and legroom. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

Even the third row isn’t forgotten, with four cupholders and directional air vents. There are also multiple USB ports in each row, so everyone can stay charged up if they need to.

The powered tailgate is a handy feature, as is the level load space. I really like the underfloor storage, too – perfect for when you have small loose items that you don’t want rolling around in the back. Or just a handy spot to store wet wipes, sunscreen, umbrellas… anything that will make a roadie or sports day that much easier.

The third row features four cupholders and directional air vents. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

The Pathfinder comes with some a healthy safety features list, like: AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection and junction assist; forward collision warning, lane keeping aid, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and trailer sway control.

It has nine airbags, including a front centre airbag and curtain airbags that cover all three rows. It has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing done in 2022 – so it’s nice and fresh.

On the middle row, there are ISOFIX mounts on the outboard seats plus three top tether anchor points and with the right seats, you should be able to fit three side-by-side. You’ll also have no issue fitting a 0-4 rearward facing child seat.

The third row also features an ISOFIX mount on one outboard seat and a top tether anchor point, which adds some flexibility for growing families.

The Pathfinder has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing done in 2022. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

There are four models for the Pathfinder and our version is second from the top and has 4WD capability. The Ti will cost you $70,030, before on-road costs, and for all of its features, it’s competitive for the market. 

And it does have a stack of features! Our model has also been fitted with an optional tow bar, which adds $1911.23 to the price tag.

This is a bit of a gas guzzler, though. The official combined fuel cycle is 10L/100km but I managed 10.8L and that was after a lot of open-road driving.

The optional tow bar will add $1911.23 to the price tag. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

I imagine urban dwellers will cough up more at the bowser, but I guess that’s the compromise for the size and power!

The Pathfinder comes with Nissan’s five-year/unlimited km warranty, whichever comes first, which is standard for the market.

You can pre-purchase either a three-, four- or five-year capped-price servicing plan and services average $516 on the five-year plan, which is competitive for this class. Servicing intervals are reasonable at every 12 months or 20,000km, whichever occurs first.

The Pathfinder comes with Nissan’s five-year/unlimited km warranty. (Image: Glen Sullivan)