It’s been eight long model years since Nissan retooled its flagship large crossover. The segment has continued to grow and attract new entrants such as the Volkswagen Atlas, Subaru Ascent, Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. And Toyota, Ford and Chevrolet, which top the segment, have reloaded with redesigned models packed with the latest safety tech and connectivity.
Now, with a redesigned 2022 Pathfinder landing in showrooms, Nissan hopes to recover turf and reignite consumer interest in its three-row utility, which over the past several product cycles became overshadowed by newer and better rivals.
Nissan is counting on what is calls the Pathfinder’s best-in-class third row for roominess, abundant safety tech, larger infotainment displays and wireless Apple CarPlay.
The Pathfinder was a chunky two-door, five-seat SUV when it debuted in 1987. Nissan touted its truck-based, go-anywhere capabilities with family-friendly features such as second-row seats that reclined.
Nissan has revived the blocky styling of the original on the 2022 model. The vehicle is equipped with a 284-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 engine that is hitched to a nine-speed automatic transmission. It will be available in front- and all-wheel drive. We’ve collected some early reviews from the automotive media.
“”n the highway, the Pathfinder is a smooth operator, its static dampers doing a solid job of dealing with road gnarliness, although some of the louder pavement noises and various bumps do eventually make their way to the cabin. The whole shebang is a ton quieter than before, though, thanks to a wider use of sound-deadening glass. The all-wheel-drive system is improved, too, thanks to a new direct coupling between the front and rear that eliminates the need for the front wheels to slip before the rears generate grip. Fuel economy depends on trim and drivetrain layout, but at its most efficient, it should return about 27 mpg highway.
“Since the 2022 Pathfinder is all about returning to its more rugged roots, it only makes sense that the bite matches the bark. And it does, to a degree. You won’t be following your dentist in his Defender 110 as he recreates Hannibal’s march across the Alps, but the majority of basic off-roading — tall hills, muddy ruts, sandy crap — is dealt with in short order. That’s due in part to a vehicle mode switch that adjusts the traction control and throttle response to match the terrain underfoot. It’s about on par with what the Subaru Outback Wilderness can muster, although the Nissan’s ride height is a little lower at 7.1 inches to the Wilderness’ 9.5.”
— Andrew Krok, Roadshow by CNET
“”n 2013, the Pathfinder abandoned its former tough-trucklet status in favor of a transverse V-6, unibody construction, and optional front-biased all-wheel drive. The 2022 Pathfinder is much the same, nominally speaking, but engineers managed to pull some additional rough-road capability from the three-row CUV. The optional all-wheel-drive system is more advanced than before, using pneumatic clutches in its center differential to engage the rear axle more proactively when wheel-speed sensors detect slip. The old system required the front driveshaft to spin a bit before clocking the rear driveshaft into play.
“Keen to strut the SUV’s stuff, Nissan sent us down a narrow trail in an all-wheel-drive Pathfinder SL. Even with the dusty surface that turned slightly muddy by the time we were done, the system shuffled power rearward as soon as we encountered slip. Some thanks could go to the all-wheel-drive model’s seven-position terrain selector, which features Sand, Mud/Rut, Snow, Normal, Sport, Eco, and Tow modes. Admittedly, the course wasn’t technical enough to tax the Pathfinder’s middling 7.1-inch ground clearance and highway tires, but the SUV will still happily get families to most outdoor activities.
“Instead of that transmission’s slushy, obviously fake shift points, the new gearbox offers quick, decisive, and smooth gear changes.
“More impressive than its adequate off-roading talent is the 2022 Pathfinder’s maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds, a number that only the Dodge Durango can out-tug in the three-row crossover class. The new gearbox is part and parcel to the Pathfinder’s newfound muscle, as is an optional towing package that includes a transmission cooler, wiring harness, and hitch receiver. The towing pack is standard on the Platinum and part of a premium package on the SV and SL, which also includes captain’s chairs and a panoramic roof, as well as a power liftgate on the SV that’s already standard on the SL.”
— Brett T. Evans, motor1.com
“”issan increased the Pathfinder’s tire width from 235 millimeters to 255 and stiffened the spring rates to improve handling. Indeed, the new model gripped better than its predecessor on our skidpad—0.80 g versus 0.77 g—but the Pathfinder still trails the nimbler offerings in this class such as the Mazda CX-9 in terms of on-road driving satisfaction. The steering is numb and overboosted, and the ride is bouncy with a light load. (It improves when weighed down with more people or stuff onboard.) We were impressed with the effect of the extra sound deadening and thicker glass that Nissan added, as the cabin is nicely hushed on the highway.
“As with the Pathfinder’s smaller Rogue sibling, the interior materials are a big upgrade as well. There are many soft touch points on the dashboard, the optional leather upholstery is plush, and the front seats are comfortable and supportive. We also appreciate the large volume and tuning knobs flanking the touchscreen infotainment display, and the clearly marked climate-control knobs lower down on the center stack. The Telluride’s cabin design still looks more upscale, but the Pathfinder is nicer inside than the Ford Explorer and Toyota Highlander by a wide margin.”
— Joey Capparella, Car and Driver
“The new Pathfinder feels like a bigger version of the recently redesigned Nissan Rogue. It’s got all the things we liked in the Rogue but with an extra row of seats. It’s a slick, well-thought-out vehicle that — at least in the Platinum trim — is competitive well above its price class. In fact, this trim feels like a solid competitor to the Acura MDX.
“The last Pathfinder was bland, clumsy, and unimpressive — a forgettable SUV if there ever was one. This new Pathfinder is far better. It’s noteworthy that a new Infiniti QX60, which historically uses the same platform as the Pathfinder, is also on its way to the market. This bodes well, because Infiniti has been starved of competitive products for the past few years.”
— Jon Linkov, Consumer Reports
“”llow us to sing a hosanna or two for this transmission. Although we have no evidence to suggest that a belt clamped between two shiny, variable-diameter pulleys (CVT) can’t reliably tow 6,000 pounds, we just inherently trust enmeshed gear teeth to do this job better over the long run.
“Nissan says the new nine-speed automatic has a 55 percent broader gear ratio spread than the former Xtronic CVT. The shorter first gear provides 38 percent more leverage to the torque acting on the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder’s wheels, so we expect 0-60 times to improve even though power, torque, and curb weights mostly carry over. The new transmission should more confidently accelerate a 6,000-pound travel trailer, and a new trailer-sway control system will keep it in line. (Nissan notes that towing capacities top out at 5,000-5,600 pounds for most competitors.)
“By keeping the overall top-gear ratio close to the CVT’s and adding auto stop/start, the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder’s fuel economy mostly improves, with AWD models gaining a single mpg in city and combined ratings. Proving that you can’t assess aerodynamics with your eyes, the blockier new bodywork is sleeker than the outgoing lozenge; its drag coefficient drops from 0.34 to 0.32. But wider tires and bodywork add frontal area, lowering highway economy by a single mpg on front-drive and Platinum AWD models.
“This butch new Pathfinder will really win families over with its attention to passenger- and cargo-carrying details. Got kids in car seats? Wider-opening rear doors with handles for proximity-key unlocking makes loading them a breeze, and new second-row captain’s chairs (available on all but the base S grade) feature an electric release that lifts and tilts the entire chair forward — even with an empty child seat mounted — providing a 10-inch-wide opening at the floor for easy entry to the third row. And that third row is now wide enough to fit three preteens comfortably enough to expect them to sit there while their booster-seated sibs hog the middle-row thrones.
“Cargo-wise the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder’s carpet-lined caboose now lets 4×8-foot sheet goods lie flat on the floor with the seats down. With them all up, there’s room for six roll-aboard suitcases or a jumbo 120-quart cooler in the way back. And nearly 2.0 cubic feet of stuff fits in the easy-to-clean plastic underfloor bin, which features friction hinges to hold it open.”
— Frank Markus, Motor Trend