What's the difference?
Pathfinder. That's a rugged-sounding name, isn't it? It's a well-known name, too, having been a part of the furniture at Nissan for over three decades. The substance of the current (R52) model has been around since 2014 and introduced the big SUV to the idea of hybrid, with a novel supercharged four-cylinder and electric drivetrain. The rest of the range ran the petrol V6, like its arch-rival, the Toyota Kluger.
Nissan Australia has admitted disappointment with the Pathie's sales performance. It looks alright, is cheaper than its obvious rivals, but is outsold by Holden's centuries-old (in car years) Captiva. Punters bought more of the dying Ford Territory in 2016 than Nissan's big bruiser.
So, for 2017, Nissan gave the Pathfinder a bit of a going-over, which included baking some of the dough out of the handling, adding some safety gear and fixing the looks a bit.
It’s a tight tussle for a slice of the red-hot seven-seater SUV market segment, and Nissan’s Pathfinder is still trying to gain a decent foothold there.
Strange, because this is a big, smooth-driving, highly functional, family friendly wagon. Last year the Pathie was updated with a new V6 petrol engine, styling tweaks and new safety tech, but have any of those changes really bolstered the appeal of what has been a solid but overlooked model? Read on.
The Pathfinder might not be at the top of the seven-seat SUV buy list, which might be down to the R51 looking older than it was. There's not much wrong with the pricing (relatively speaking) and it's a more modern car than some that outsell it.
It's a bit of a head-scratcher, really - it has always been competent, roomy and quiet and with the MY17 changes applied, it's also a better drive and a safer one to boot. Will it remain the bridesmaid of the segment? Who knows. Buyers are a strange bunch.
The Pathfinder’s recent raft of changes must have surely helped to push it closer to front of mind for some buyers seeking a solid, comfortable and safe seven-seater SUV for their families.
Problem is, it’s a busy, highly competitive segment with numerous other appealing options on offer.
The Pathfinder doesn’t so much set itself apart from the others, as it does its own thing really well – and Nissan is hoping more people will notice that. It’s not a serious off-roader by any means – neither are many of the current generation of city-biased SUVs – and it does cost a lot, but as a comfortable, family friendly work-and-weekend vehicle stacked with gear and safety tech, it’s difficult to totally disregard as a viable proposition.
What do you think of the 2018 Pathfinder – is it a decent Adventure mobile, or another same-samey SUV for the city? Tell us what you reckon in the comments below.