The all-new Nissan Pathfinder is the fifth generation, first launched in the mid-1980s, and has come a long way finding its path on Australian roads.
While the Pathfinder’s overall length has been reduced, its stance has been widened and its height increased slightly to provide more interior headroom, legroom, and hip room.
The clean new design has also slimmed the pillars and delivered a more muscular appearance with flared wheel arches, an integrated rear spoiler, door-mounted side mirrors and a shark-fin aerial.
In the rear, the wide-aspect LED taillights are slimmer than the previous design.
The boxed-out boot returns to the boldness of the first Pathfinder, including the oversized Pathfinder name.
New slim-line lighting clusters front and rear are all-LED, with active-matrix pattern control for the headlights, while the three-slat V-motion grille pays design homage to the original Pathfinder.
The direct-injection 3.5 litre V6 (202kW @ 6400rpm and 340Nm @ 4800rpm) is now paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous Xtronic CVT. Fuel use is 10.5L/100km for 4WD models as was the one tested.
The transmission also features a wider gear ratio spread and for more control, the driver can take over shifting via the paddles on the steering wheel.
The full-time 4WD transmission offers seven different drive modes via a rotary-dial on the console, which optimises performance in each selected mode. These include ‘Standard’, ‘Sport’, ‘Eco’, ‘Snow’, ‘Sand’, ‘Mud/Rut’ and ‘Tow’.
All Pathfinders are now fitted with a low-distortion 10.8-inch Head-Up Display with double free-form mirror technology which keeps the image stable regardless of driver eye position. The display links to the navigation to provide turn-by-turn direction.
All models now adopt the 7.0″ TFT Advanced Drive-Assist Display instrument cluster. The Around View Monitor with moving object detection is now delivered in digital high-resolution with a wider field of view and greater clarity in varied conditions such as low light and direct sunlight on the camera.
The ride quality, steering feel, and braking, along with the nine-speed automatic all make the Pathfinder effortless to drive. It’s a comfortable highway cruiser and surprisingly it has low engine, tyre and wind noise and the new gearing in the transmission means it is only doing 1500rpm at 110km/h.
The Pathfinder is loaded with passive and active safety features, including nine airbags and boasts a maximum five-star ANCAP rating.
Nissan Pathfinder Ti 4WD starts at $71,490 plus on-road costs.
