I'm not usually a flashy dresser, but this particular getup is monochromatic
even for me. This is the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder, and the general feeling is
it's kind of beige.See what I mean? Or can you guys even see me back here?
Okay, so this might be a tad extreme, but you get my point.
Nissan's midsize SUV is lacking a little bit of pizzazz.
There's not a ton new on this fourth-generation 2018 Nissan Pathfinder.
Automatic emergency braking is standard on all trim levels, and a new rear-door
alert system reminds you to check the rear seats if you left something behind,
and that's pretty much it. This 3-row crossover fills the space above the
compact Rogue and two-row Murano but below the Grande Armada. The Pathfinder used to
have personality plus. It was squarish and rugged and came in bold paint colors
with options like weatherproof cargo liners for muddy stuff. But long gone are
the days when Nissan's boxy SUV looked like it could actually find paths.
Even so this fourth-generation Pathfinder is a handsome enough
looking SUV. There's still a hint of boxy in the rear, but other than that there's
not a ton that differentiates it from everything else that's out there right
now. Case in point, with no badge would you
even know what it was? Not sure. Inside even small touches like contrast
stitching and more premium trim materials would have made it a little
bit more special. The center stack and controls look really dated. Before I knew
there were DVD monitors on the backseats I thought this was a CD player. Oh, wait
it's a CD player. There is such a thing as too many buttons, and this friends is
it's. From the super hard plastic to the generic aesthetic even on the top of the
line trim level, I think the Nissan Pathfinder is long overdue for a
redesign. On a positive note the seats are comfortable and adjust well for
driving position, and the steering wheel automatically gets out of your way to
make getting out of the car easier. In the second row there's great legroom and
a lot of recline and even the center seat is livable. And if you hate
ambiguity you're gonna love the second-row's cargo mode instructions. You guys, I
think the cosmonauts can see this from space.
As for the third row even with an average guy like Micah, okay an
average-sized guy like Micah, there's plenty of room, but please only small people. With
a long-slide second row it's pretty easy to get in and flee. Okay, flee!
The interior space rocks. There's even a little trunk back here that has an
enough room for jumper cables, a blanket or a small purse that you're trying... or a pinecone that
you're trying to hide. For cargo you're looking at up to 47.8-cubic feet
behind the second row depending on where you position the seat,
and 79.8-cubic feet behind the front seat, but when all the
seats are up, it's seriously handicaps visibility. Third row seats, look at that,
you can only see the car directly behind you. When I turn around to look second-
row headrests also block my view. The side mirrors are huge, so that helps, but
when I'm trying to look around them and the front windshield pillar those block
my view too. A two wheel drive based Pathfinder S trim that comes with 18-inch
wheels and an eight-inch infotainment display starts around $31,000 including
destination charges. Bump up to the SV to add remote start, rear parking sensors,
leather seats, and safety features like intelligent cruise control and blind
spot warning.This particular Pathfinder is the top-shelf Platinum model loaded
with options like 20-inch wheels, rear cross-traffic alert, moving object
detection, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, power liftgate, a
Bose audio system and a $1700 four-wheel drive system.It costs nearly $49,000.
That's a lot of green for a lot of beige. Annoyingly Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto aren't available, and in a family dominated category where everyone
has at least one Smartphone integrating those phones is quickly becoming the
cost of entry. On the other hand Nissan has passionately embraced the USB port.
Six come standard in every trim level. This fourth generation was the first
since the Pathfinder came on the scene in 1985 to move from body-on-frame to
unibody construction. Mistake or wise choice since so many SUVs aren't asked to
ever go off-road anymore. Now built on the Altima platform, the Pathfinder feels
more like you're driving a car. The Pathfinder is powered by Nissan's
familiar VQ 3.5-liter V6 and paired exclusively to a continuously
variable transmission. Personally I think the CVT handicaps the decently large
Pathfinder just a little bit, especially when it's getting up to speed in the
lower gears, not that the CVT actually has gears, but you know once it gets
moving it actually moves pretty well.
The suspension was retune for the 2017 model, a little stiffer than it was
before. It's a nice ride quality, nothing too extreme but it's not too gushy
either.
For something this big, fuel economy is quite good. With all-wheel drive only
imposing a modest penalty. Steering feel is really weird you guys. When you're on
center it feels great, connected, nice and stable. The second you go around a turn
it gets really loose and kind of wonky, any connection you felt is gone.
It's really weird. This particular Premium 4x4 version
comes with off-road features like hill descent control and a 4x4 setting for
driving off pavement, but they're saddled with pathfinders mere seven-inches of
ground clearance. Most competitors in the category
including the Toyota Highlander, the Ford Explorer, Volkswagen Atlas and the
Hyundai Santa Fe have more. That means no one's going rock crawling in this, but
you're not going to have a problem taking the family camping, which is probably all
you're gonna end up doing in this anyway. So, some pathfinding perhaps.
Yes, SUVs are a major segment out there, and yes, they need to appeal to a lot of
people, but sometimes trying to be all things to all people makes you just
blend in. Here's hoping with the refresh that's coming in 2019 Nissan won't be
afraid to interject a little more color, snazzy, unmatching jacket not required.