Will this be the next Nissan Pathfinder? Nissan SUV concept could signal Pathfinder version just for China

China’s market often features slightly different versions of the same nameplates found elsewhere in the world, so is Nissan looking to play that game with the Pathfinder?

At the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show, Nissan showed several concepts, including a new China-focused SUV concept called Arizon, and a sports car called Max-Out.

But a familiar badge is worn by one car shown this year somewhat unexpectedly, the Nissan Pathfinder concept.

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Given the current-generation Pathfinder was revealed in 2021 and launched in Australia late last year, the idea of a new Pathfinder being already close to completion is incredibly hard to believe, but this might be something else.

Nissan says the concept, like its Arizon SUV, is “designed with the Chinese market in mind”, noting that the large SUV blends “Chinese modern aesthetics with quintessential Nissan-ness”.

Given the relative recency of the new Pathfinder’s reveal, it could be possible that Nissan is flagging a China-only version of the SUV, while the already existing model remains on sale in other markets.

While the concept is much more modern-looking than the current generation car, which has a fairly standard interior and uses relatively recent but traditional Nissan styling cues, it looks closer to production than a lot of concepts displayed at motor shows do.

Its exterior design takes a departure from the current-generation Pathfinder.

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The Pathfinder concept uses Nissan’s current steering wheel.

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It has a multimedia screen, climate control panel, gear selector and multimedia controls, cupholders, air vents, and standard-looking window control switches. It even uses Nissan’s current steering wheel and has three rows of seats. 

Its exterior design takes a departure from the current-generation Pathfinder, the company calling it “completely redesigned”, but it wouldn’t look out of place on a modern street.

No technical specifications were revealed, aside from Nissan referring to its new concepts as addressing “the needs of consumers in China with its diversified powertrains”.