2013 Nissan Pathfinder Launch Review By Steve Purdy
2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER
Following the Trend
By Steve Purdy
TheAutoChannel.com
Michigan Bureau
We had our first look at the all-new, U.S.-built, Nissan Pathfinder a few months ago at a briefing by the folks responsible for the model’s development and marketing. It now joins Explorer, Durango and other former SUVs becoming transformed into a CUV. The difference, of course, is that the former are truck-based, body-on-frame vehicles and the latter generally car-based and of unit body construction. Just a few of the reasons for making this switch are reducing weight, improved mileage, more civilized car-like handling and a long-overdue recognition by both buyers and manufacturers that SUV owners seldom, if ever, need or use the off-road capabilities for which they had paid extra.
I was surprised to learn that Pathfinder has a mixed history – first and third generations were body-on-frame, second and fourth generations back to uni-body. The latter allows for more efficient interior packaging and lighter weight. Compared to the outgoing Pathfinder this new one has a longer wheelbase, it’s wider, longer, three inches lower and adds 8 more cubic-feet of interior volume.
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Behind the wheel we found the new Pathfinder charming and entertaining. While it will certainly be used mostly for soccer-momming around the suburbs, it has just enough dynamic personality to be fun to drive. It feels large on first blush as we climb in and take off, but soon it’s just as easy and entertaining as anything in its class.
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In spite of the lighter unibody construction the Pathfinder still boasts a good 5,000-pound towing capacity – another number they claim is best in class.
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Seating access is important in these three-row seat vehicles. If it’s too difficult to get into the third seat folks tend to get annoyed. Pathfinder has a standard flexible Latch and Glide ™ system that allows the second row seat base to lift at the front as the seatback folds forward, allowing more pass-through space to the third seat. It even works with an infant seat installed.
One option getting attention in Nissan’s marketing is the self-park feature, which uses their innovative four-corner camera system that can produce an interpolated bird’s eye view in the monitor screen. Not only does it see and calculate its way into a parallel parking spot but can see oncoming traffic when you’re backing out blind from a shopping center parking space. When crawling through the pasture testing its off-road capabilities those cameras also revealed the edges of the road and the cow pies in our path.
We also found, after missing a turn on the route instructions, that the Pathfinder has an exceptionally tight turning circle. That is worth a lot in suburban driving.
Comparing the Pathfinder to other full-size CUVs we find it feels plenty big from behind the wheel. It will compete in the market with mid-size entries like Honda Pilot, Toyota Venza and Kia Sorento. The German brands offer three-row crossovers at much higher prices.
Driving dynamics, handling characteristics, powertrain performance and the ambiance of the cockpit environment are all very good, very competent, but not especially stellar. Much like the GM three-row crossovers (Acadia and it’s siblings), it is decently upscale, offers very good content and pleasant to drive.
The new Nissan Pathfinder is on sale now (fall of 2012) starting with a base price of about $28,000 for the entry-level S model with two-wheel drive and escalating to the Platinum with four-wheel drive priced at $40,770. Each of the trim levels can be had with four-wheel drive for about $1,600 extra.
We’ll do a more extensive review and evaluation once we’ve spent some serious time with Pathfinder. Watch for that here on The Auto Channel.
©Steve Purdy, Shunpiker Productions, All Rights Reserved