Nissan Pathfinder: It's time to grow up

Nissan Pathfinder: It's time to grow up


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SALT LAKE CITY — The Nissan Pathfinder used to be a hard-riding, truck-based, off road-capable SUV. It is no longer any of those, which might be a good thing.

The year 2013 marks the second time (1996–2004 was the first) of the Pathfinder being a unibody, meaning it no longer looks and rides on a stretched-out pickup truck; and that has its pros and cons.

First, the advantages of not riding on a truck chassis:

  1. It rides much smoother. While I haven’t driven everything out there, I have driven a lot of vehicles, and the parts-sharing Nissan Frontier was one of the hardest-riding rides around. If your kidneys can’t bench press more than 100 pounds, it’ll give ‘em a beating.
  2. Useable space. By not having to build a passenger compartment around truck parts, there is more design freedom. I attended the unveiling of the original Xterra, and designer Jerry Hirshberg called the higher rear seats “stadium seating,” which allowed rear passengers to see over the front seats. It was great marketing spin for having to raise the seats to make room for the gas tank. The new Pathfinder doesn't have to make any concessions to allow for a bed-bearing brother in the lineup.
  3. Weight. By having the body and frame combined, the ’13 unibody weighs 500 pounds less than the old truck-based model.
  4. Economy. Nissan says the new Pathfinder is much sleeker than the old one and says it gets 30 percent better fuel economy with a smaller, though just as powerful engine. Replacing the old four-liter is a 3.5-liter V6 with a continuously variable transmission, rated at 26 mpg highway / 20 mpg city for the 2WD; and 25 mpg highway / 19 mpg city for the 4WD model. Those figures are in minivan mpg territory. The new engine runs on regular unleaded, not the 2012’s premium gas.
  5. Styling and aerodynamics. Since it does not have any engineering obligations to a truck, the Pathfinder has its own look. Visibility is tough in the rear, but it has cameras all around and can give you a view of the curb that’s better than any other vehicle's except motorcycles.


With its new aerodynamically optimized shape, the styling is a major step forward in the evolution of the SUV, retaining its people- and cargo-hauling utility without looking quite so utilitarian.

–Al Castignetti


"With its new aerodynamically optimized shape, the styling is a major step forward in the evolution of the SUV, retaining its people- and cargo-hauling utility without looking quite so utilitarian," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager for Nissan North America. "As a true Next-Gen SUV, it’s fitting that a vehicle that tackles adventures in a whole new way completely looks the part."

And the disadvantages of not riding on a truck chassis:

  1. Towing. The unibody claims a 5,000-pound towing capacity. Last year’s could yank 6,000 pounds with the V-6 and 7,000 with the V-8.
  2. Off-road capability. If Nissan didn’t keep calling the new Pathfinder an SUV, we’d call it a crossover. The 2012 approach angle (how steep a thing it can start driving up before the front scrapes) was 28.5 degrees and the departure angle (how steep a thing it can drive off before the rear scrapes) was 24.3 degrees. The new model is 14.7 and 22.3, respectively, but not respectable, off road. This is not a climbing vehicle. Now here’s where the whining starts:
Looking at the comparisons, I know the new Pathfinder is a far more practical, economical, comfortable way to transport the family around. "When it comes to supporting family adventures, the Pathfinder’s rugged heritage comes through,” Castignetti said.

But that heritage was built on a truck. I interviewed the designer of the original Pathfinder, Jerry Hirshberg. He told of how he took the frustrated designers out to see “Silence of the Lambs” mid-day. Inspired (by serial psycho-killers?), they came back to the design studio and drew up the new SUV, complete with little triangle windows.

It was tough, capable and built on a truck. Americans snatched them up, loaded a couple kids in ‘em and went everywhere but off-road. But like most SUV buyers, the important thing was they looked like they were headed to some mountain climbing adventure and could motor right up a pile of rocks should some end up blocking the road between dance lessons and soccer practice.

Nissan let us borrow a Pathfinder for a week. We had a comfortable, smooth drive all over northern Utah. That is, until we tried to take it off-roading, which is not what is was designed for. Apparently Americans are ready to give up on the “we could go off-road if we ever needed to” image: Pathfinder sales so far this year are up 207 percent over the truck-based model.

Check out the photos to see the features of our loaner. The list price as tested is $44,395, which includes destination. The 2013 MSRP is actually cheaper than the 2012: It runs from a 2WD base $28,650 to a loaded 4WD for $41,150 (our tester added the premium package with DVD player). The old model was $29,290 base / $43,970 loaded.


Brian Champagne has reported on cars for more than nine years. He holds a master's degree in communications from the University of the Pacific and teaches at Utah State University.

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