The Nissan Pathfinder will turn 30 this year, and to mark the occasion it will get a nip here, a tuck there, and hit the gym in an attempt to stay young and current while maintaining its dignity.
Sheetmetal has been revised to make the crossover more easily recognizable as a Nissan. The company’s signature “V-Motion” grille, “boomerang-shaped” headlights, new 18-inch and 20-inch wheels, and two new exterior colors – Sandstone and Caspian Blue, to be exact – are meant to increase the new Pathfinder’s presence and set it apart from the crowd. The result of the new body work is a coefficient of drag of 0.326, down from 0.34.
Powering the 2017 Pathfinder will be a re-engineered 3.5-liter aluminum direct-injected V6 that employs more than 56 percent new or new-to-Pathfinder components. Horsepower is up 24 from the outgoing model’s 260 to 284 while torque is rated at 259 lb-ft, 19 more than before. The engine is paired to the company’s Xtronic (CVT) transmission that mimics gear shifts (someday you’ll tell your kids all about gear shifts and they’ll do their best to feign interest). 2WD models maintain the same EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 20/27/23 mpg (city/highway/combined). Subtract one mpg in each driving category when opting for a 4WD version. Towing is rated at up to 6,000 pounds, although further details have not been given.
Inside is seating for seven via three rows of seating. A 60/40-split second row and a 50/50-split third row with a built-in child safety seat are standard. Creature comforts – optional or otherwise – include heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, an illuminated front storage bin, standard 8.0-inch touch-screen monitor, three-zone automatic climate control, voice-operated navigation, satellite radio, a dual panoramic moonroof, and a 13-speaker Bose audio system are among the most notable.
Driving aids on the new Pathfinder consist of a Bluetooth hands-free phone system, forward emergency braking, Nissan’s Intelligent Cruise Control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and the new-for-2017 is Around View Monitoring with Moving Object Detection.
Pricing and release dates have yet to be announced but we expect to bring you that information soon. Until then, check out this video from the debut.
