Nissan is within the midst of a large product rollout, with the final of 10 all-new or utterly redesigned merchandise set to succeed in showrooms by subsequent winter. The record is a various one, with basic sedans like Sentra, and even a brand new battery-electric automobile, the Ariya. However the emphasis, in step with the instances, is on SUVs.
The most recent to get a makeover is the Pathfinder. And 35 years after its unique debut, the next-generation utility automobile is returning to its roots. No, that doesn’t imply a swap again to body-on-frame design. The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder retains its crossover-style unibody format. But it surely adopts a extra rugged look and features a bit extra off-road functionality.
Overview
That’s one thing we at TheDetroitBureau.com had an opportunity to take a look at throughout two current occasions, one navigating the brand new Pathfinder by means of backcountry Montana, one other throughout the difficult trails arrange on the Holly Oaks Off-Street Park, an hour’s drive north of Detroit. What we found was an SUV each extra nice to drive on-road and extra succesful off-road.
There are different causes to love the 2022 Pathfinder. For one factor, it ditches the buzzy CVT that was a frequent supply of complaints concerning the outgoing SUV — and it makes the carryover 3.5-liter V-6 much more nice to drive.
Add an upgraded infotainment system and extra high-tech security gear and Nissan is betting the Pathfinder makeover is not going to solely maintain its place in a crowded section however achieve some new momentum.
Exterior
The first affect for the 2022 remake was the unique, 1986 Pathfinder, in response to senior designer Ken Lee. That is no retro mannequin, however these acquainted with the previous SUV will seemingly catch the best way the brand new Pathfinder picks up on basic particulars just like the chamfered grille and triangular rear home windows.
Once more, that is no retro-mobile. There are many trendy touches, as effectively, together with the LED lamps and the now-familiar Nissan boomerang working gentle design, although right here they’re “blockier” than on different current Nissan entries.
The wheels have been pulled additional out to the corners on the brand new Pathfinder, with a bit extra sculpting to the physique sides. There’s additionally a brand new, floating C-pillar which works effectively with the 2022 mannequin’s obtainable two-tone roof.
Inside
The aim could have been to present the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder a extra rugged and aggressive look, however Lee was fast to emphasize that immediately’s patrons count on way more consolation and options than did SUV followers 35 years in the past.
That interprets into an elevated use of soft-touch supplies on all surfaces a passenger may come into contact with. And there are upscale choices like semi-aniline leather-based, with seven completely different inside “environments” on the examine record. The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder adopts a flat-bottom steering wheel and a floating touchscreen, with metallic accented shapes bookending the instrument panel.
The SUV is available in a typical, eight-passenger format however a seven-passenger mannequin with second-row captain’s chairs is accessible. So are a 10-way energy driver’s seat and a tri-zone local weather management.
Patrons can go for a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, reasonably than the usual analog gauges, in addition to a 9-inch coloration touchscreen positioned excessive on the instrument panel. Pathfinder additionally will get an elective, 10.8-inch head-up show for the primary time.
At a much less high-tech stage, Nissan wished to be sure you and your passengers keep hydrated, whether or not out on the path or whereas taking a cross-country tour. So, it’s packed in 16 beverage holders. Using a brand new e-shifter, in the meantime, opened up a big area within the heart console for added storage. All informed the 2022 Pathfinder has 19.5 liters of cargo area, considerably greater than the outgoing SUV. And the tailgate is now large sufficient to slip in 4-foot-wide sheets of plywood or drywall and allow them to lie flat.
Powertrain
Energy comes from a 284-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 mated to a brand new 9-speed automated transmission changing the unloved CVT used on the outgoing mannequin. With 259 pound-feet of torque, the bundle is able to pulling what Nissan claims is a best-in-class 6,000 pound trailer load.
The 2022 Pathfinder will likely be obtainable in each two- and four-wheel-drive. And drivers can have the flexibility to regulate a wide range of automobile capabilities — together with steering increase, throttle response and shifts — because of a seven-position Drive and Terrain Mode Selector.
The newly up to date 4WD system attracts extra enter from numerous sensors across the automobile, Nissan claims, one thing that permits or not it’s proactive, reasonably than reactive, anticipating potential traction issues and shifting torque to the place it seemingly will likely be wanted.
The 2022 mannequin provides fuel-saving Idle Cease/Begin performance. In consequence, the front-drive Pathfinder manages 21 mpg within the metropolis, 26 on the freeway and 23 mixed. Surprisingly, the 4WD bundle truly boosts the freeway score to 27 mpg. The asterisk is the Platinum trim which cuts mileage again to twenty/25/22.
Those that need even higher mileage is likely to be dissatisfied, nevertheless, to find that Nissan dropped the hybrid drivetrain provided on the previous Pathfinder.
Security and Know-how
The brand new Pathfinder affords as much as three screens, as earlier famous. They’re giant, well-positioned and straightforward to learn. The Nissan Join infotainment system could be paired with each Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the latter additionally obtainable in wi-fi type. The brand new SUV affords wi-fi smartphone charging. And there’s an elective, 13-speaker Bose Premium sound system.
The brand new Pathfinder will get a wide range of safety-related options, such because the Round View Monitor that gives a birdseye view of the SUV’s environment, in addition to elective ProPILOT Help, a system that’s claimed to make driving simpler on lengthy journeys — although it formally nonetheless requires the driving force to keep up fingers on the wheel. Amongst different issues, it hyperlinks to Pathfinder’s elective navigation system and lively cruise management and may mechanically gradual the automobile throughout sharp curves or at freeway exits.
The Nissan Security Defend 360 system provides different sensible methods, together with Computerized Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind-Spot Monitor and Lane-Departure Warning.
For individuals who truly will take the brand new Pathfinder off-roading, there’s additionally Hill Descent Management which works very similar to cruise management, albeit at very low velocity. It lets you give attention to steering, reasonably than having to bounce your foot forwards and backwards between throttle and brake.
Driving Impressions
The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder clearly boosts its off-road credibility. It dealt with just about all the pieces I may throw at it throughout my run on the Holly Oaks Off-Street Park, colleague Larry Printz reporting very a lot the identical observations throughout his time behind the wheel in Montana. That stated, we didn’t take the Pathfinder to extremes like we’d have with the unique SUV. Amongst different issues, it’s merely not outfitted for true path crawlers, the 2022 mannequin missing such requirements as skid plates and locking differentials.
On-road, nevertheless, the brand new Nissan retains the consolation of the outgoing mannequin and, if something, seems a bit extra nimble, particularly when cornering, because of its properly compliant suspension.
We’d each like a bit extra energy, particularly when making high-speed passes. Although I didn’t have an opportunity to tow, my sense is that acceleration would fall into the sluggish class with an enormous load.
Vacationers are sure to understand the upgrades Nissan has made to Pathfinder’s inside, and that’s very true with the brand new infotainment system that appears quicker and extra intuitive to function.
We’ll be watching to see what occurs throughout the lifecycle of the brand new Pathfinder to see if Nissan may raise a web page from the playbooks of rivals like Ford and Toyota, arising with much more severe off-road trim variations of the brand new SUV.
Wrap Up
The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder begins at $33,410 for the bottom S mannequin with front-wheel-drive. The four-wheel-drive bundle begins at $35,310. (Add one other $1,430 for supply charges.) The highest-line Platinum trim begins at $46,190 — climbing to $48,090 with 4WD.
The Pathfinder continues going up towards some well-entrenched rivals, together with the Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer. The bottom mannequin Nissan carries a little bit of a worth premium in comparison with that Detroit SUV which begins at $32,675 for the 2021 version. But it surely is available in effectively underneath the bottom $35,085 for the Toyota. However the content material stage of the Nissan seems to be richer than on these two rivals.
The query is whether or not it’s definitely worth the worth.
The unique Nissan Pathfinder was a severe, go-anywhere SUV. In current iteration it turned simply one other family-hauler various to a minivan. Whereas the 2022 remake isn’t a whole return to unique type, it strikes sufficient in that route. It ought to fulfill those that want some reasonable off-road capabilities, together with loads of towing capability, whereas nonetheless delivering a very good on-road driving expertise and loads of area for passengers and cargo.
