The Nissan Pathfinder, currently in its fourth-generation, has undergone a mild facelift midway through its cycle before an all-new version arrives in a few years.
The update gives the SUV a revised exterior, more advanced driver aids and gutsier engines, which should inject some new life into Nissan’s large SUV range when it arrives Down Under in early to mind 2017.
Michael Bunce, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, during the new Pathfinder’s US launch, said: “The Nissan Pathfinder has an amazing heritage as one of the modern pioneers in the SUV segment, with more than 30 years in the marketplace, yet we are always looking forward – as the Pathfinder name implies,”
“For 2017, Pathfinder receives much more than your typical facelift. It now offers more power, improved driving dynamics and new available driver assistance features – more of what you need for safe, comfortable every day and weekend family adventures.”
The front of the new Pathfinder features Nissan’s new corporate nose with their V-motion grille, boomerang-shaped headlight housings with new daytime running lights and full LED headlamps.
Apart from the head-on visual changes, the rest of the Pathfinder looks pretty much unaltered since this fourth-gen version made its debut in 2013 – the rear end remains familiar as does the cabin, with subtle refinements and more current technology features.
The boldest change found in the facelifted Pathfinder is the new 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine. Given the silence on the subject, we could assume the Pathfinder hybrid’s powertrain will be carried over unchanged.
The new direct-injection V6 uses more than 50 percent new components over the outgoing motor - including combustion chamber design, pistons, intake manifold and e-VTC (fully electronic on intake). The compression ratio has also been raised to 11.0:1 (from the previous 10.3:1).
The result is more power and torque without a detrimental effect on fuel economy and, at least in the US, can be expected to produce 212kW and 351Nm as compared to the Aussie-spec current Pathfinder’s 190kW and 325Nm. Power and torque outputs will be confirmed closer to the updated SUV’s local debut.
As before, the V6 is mated to Nissan’s X-Tronic CVT that sends power to either two-wheel or all-wheel drive configurations (ALL-MODE 4x4-i system).
Curiously however, Nissan wanted to give the SUV a sportier character this time around. They’ve quickened the Pathfinder’s electric power steering to be 11 percent quicker in response to driver input, they claim. Meanwhile it’s front and rear dampers have been made 11 percent stiffer and rear spring rates increased by 25 percent. Rebound springs have been added to the front struts to help assist with roll balance and body control.
Inside, the most obvious difference would be the large 8.0-inch colour touchscreen infotainment display, a system that’s equipped with support for the NissanConnect app to allow for remote vehicle start, location services, and HVAC control via a smartphone.
The new Pathfinder also includes Around View Monitor, Moving Object Detection, tri-zone automatic climate control, and an updated Advanced Drive-Assist Display in between the instrument cluster.
For more on Nissan vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
