Nissan Pathfinder 2023 review

The old model hasn’t been around for a couple of years now after Nissan sold the final allocation well before the new one got here. For its fifth generation, the Pathfinder has gone up in price by a sizeable amount.

The new starting price for the new-gen Pathfinder is $54,190 before on-road costs. That is $10,000 more than the previous base model from a couple of years back.

Grades include the ST, ST-L, Ti and new Ti-L, with a mix of two and four-wheel drive, depending on the grade. The range tops out at $80,227 for the flagship Ti-L 4WD.

For its fifth generation, the Pathfinder has gone up in price by a sizeable amount.

This entry price is higher than some other car-based family SUVs, like the Toyota Kluger, Mazda CX-8 and CX-9, Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe.

Even the flagship Ti-L grade, which is new to the range, is more expensive than the top-spec versions of all of the Kluger and CX-9.

On the flipside, the Pathfinder is more affordable than the only other eight-seater SUV in its price range - the Hyundai Palisade.

The Ti-L grade Pathfinder features 20-inch alloy wheels.

Pleasingly, you get a lot of car for your money, too.

Standard gear in the base ST is impressive and includes 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, three-zone air con, heated fronts seats, 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat, a 10.8-inch head-up display, 9.0-inch multimedia touchscreen, digital radio and a six-speaker audio system.

By the time you get to the flagship Ti-L, you have leather seats, ventilated front seats, 20-inch alloy wheels, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless charging, a 13-speaker Bose audio system and a lot more - including a lengthy safety features list, but more on that in a bit.

The flagship Ti-L grade also features wireless charging.

Remember the rugged Navara-based Pathfinder from the 1980s? Or the boxy Pathie off-roader from the mid-noughties? Well the new model has evolved a lot since then.

There are still some rugged elements to the new Pathfinder and it’s quite handsome in the metal. 

In fact of the three new Nissan SUVs - Qashqai, X-Trail and Pathfinder - I reckon this is the best looking.

There are still some rugged elements to the new Pathfinder.

It’s got the typical Nissan front end with split head-lights and big grille, and slimline tail-lights at the back. Much more appealing than the bloated look of the previous generation model.

The interior might not be the last word in design, but it’s a cohesive look overall. I probably wouldn’t say it’s the most premium looking cabin, but it’s more visually appealing than a Kluger’s interior.

It’s also light years ahead of the old model that had an interior that looked and felt old even when it was new.

The Pathfinder has the typical slimline tail-lights at the back.

There’s no denying that the Pathfinder has a practical and roomy cabin with plenty of space for up to eight occupants.

The space is used smartly too, with loads of storage options up front including a little ledge above the glovebox, ample room for bottles and more in the doors, a pair of cupholders, a phone holder, wireless chargers in TI and Ti-L, a decent sized central bin and the handy under-console ledge for stowing items that’s also in the new X-Trail.

Speaking of cupholders, Nissan claims the Pathfinder has 16. However, it includes bottle holders in the door as part of that count. 

The Pathfinder has a practical and roomy cabin with plenty of space.

All Pathfinder grades have a 9.0-inch multimedia screen that is easy to use and features visually appealing graphics. The Pathfinder was in dire need of a cabin tech upgrade and this model delivers.

The dash design and layout is quite similar to the new X-Trail, which is no bad thing.

The front seats are flat but comfortable, and ST and ST-L get cloth trim, the Ti gains leather-accented seats and the Ti-L features quilted leather-accented seats.

All Pathfinder grades have a 9.0-inch multimedia screen.

Moving rearward, the Pathfinder is a tale of two second rows. Grades from ST to Ti feature three seats in the second row, with a 60/40 split, and an easy one-touch system that folds and slides the seats forward to allow access to the third row.

The Ti-L grade swaps that out for two captain’s chairs with individual armrests and the middle seat is replaced by a removable central console with storage.

Second-row occupants in any grade have access to digital climate controls, roof-mounted air vents, loads of storage, map pockets, and USB-A and USB-C ports.

One seat in the third row has ISOFIX points, while the two captains chairs have ISOFIX too.

There are three third-row seats and getting in and out is much easier than expected thanks to the aforementioned one-touch second-row folding function. There’s obviously not a great deal of room for a six-foot tall adult like me, but plenty of room for young ones. Lowering and raising the third row is super easy from the boot area. 

One seat in the third row has ISOFIX points, while the two captains chairs have ISOFIX too. In eight-seat versions the second row outboards have ISOFIX and the centre is top tether.

The third row has air vents, some storage and one USB-A port.

With all rows in place, the Pathfinder’s cargo area can take 205 litres, which is less than the Palisade’s 311-litre capacity. But lower the third row and that increases to 554 litres, which is, again, not as much as the Hyundai at 704 litres. 

There’s a generous under-floor storage space in the Pathfinder’s boot that accommodates 54 litres of storage, which is not included in the above figures. The Pathfinder has a temporary spare under the rear of the SUV.

Under the Pathfinder’s large bonnet you’ll find a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine delivering 202kW of power and 340Nm of torque.

If that sounds eerily familiar, that’s because this is the same powertrain from the previous Pathfinder. So this engine has been around for a while.

In comparison, the Palisade’s petrol V6 pumps out 217kW/355Nm.

Under the bonnet is a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine delivering 202kW of power and 340Nm of torque.

One key difference is that Nissan has swapped out the decidedly average continuously variable transmission (CVT) for a new nine-speed automatic transmission. 

It is two-wheel (ST, Ti) and four-wheel drive (ST-L, Ti, Ti-L) depending on the grade, and there are various drive modes, including Sport, Eco, Snow, Sand, Mud/Rut and Tow.

The Pathfinder maintains its 2.7-tonne towing capacity, which is a bit more than the Kluger’s 2.0-tonne rating.

There are various drive modes, including Sport, Eco, Snow, Sand, Mud/Rut and Tow.

On the combined cycle, the big Nissan consumes 10 litres per 100 kilometres in two-wheel drive guise, while the four-wheel drive is a bit thirstier at 10.5 litres.

It’s definitely not frugal, but those figures are slightly less than the Palisade FWD which drinks 10.7L/100km. 

CO2 wise the FWD emits 234g/km and the 4WD is 245g/km.

The Pathfinder Ti 4WD consumes 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres.

Nissan has seriously upped the safety tech for the new Pathfinder and not a moment too soon.

The base ST misses out on some features like front parking sensors, a surround-view monitor and Nissan’s ProPilot semi-autonomous driver assist system that connects the adaptive cruise with stop and go and lane keeping aid, but the other three grades get it all.

The Pathfinder ST-L, Ti and Ti-L grades receive a surround-view monitor.

Other features across the range includes auto emergency braking (AEB) with junction, pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear AEB, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot warning and intelligent blind spot intervention, rear seat alert, a driver alert, traffic sign recognition and trailer sway control.

It has a suite of airbags including curtain airbags for all three rows, and a front centre airbag to help cushion the blow between the two front passengers in the event of a side impact.

The Pathfinder has just been awarded a five-star safety rating from ANCAP.

Other features across the range includes blind spot warning and intelligent blind spot intervention.

The new Pathfinder comes with a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.

Buyers also have access to capped-price servicing for the first six services, and it can be pre-paid for the first three, four or five services. Pricing ranges from $351 for the first service up to $1625 for the sixth service of a four-wheel drive Pathfinder. 

The schedule for the servicing is every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, which is average for this type of vehicle.

The Pathfinder also comes with five years of free roadside assist.

The new Pathfinder comes with a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.

From a standing start the Pathfinder’s ageing V6 engine is reasonably responsive, but the vehicle does feel heavy on the road - no surprises given it weighs about two tonnes.

Of course the biggest change is the new nine-speed auto replacing the unblocked CVT. For the most part, the new transmission is well calibrated, but during a stint towing a jetski to test towing capability, it held gears occasionally. That towing also blunted response, but marginally.

As well as its heft, the Pathfinder’s size is also noticeable during more dynamic driving sections, but there was some surprise and delight with how the big SUV handled. 

The Pathfinder does feel heavy on the road - no surprises given it weighs about two tonnes.

Nissan has tweaked the suspension setup which has helped in this area, and it has ensured a more compliant ride than the lardy old version.

Overall, the Pathfinder is enjoyable to drive and throws up very few - if any - curveballs.

Another area of significant improvement - much like the smaller X-Trail - has been in cabin refinement. It is a much more hushed cabin than before and is a nice, comfortable and quiet space to spend a long drive. 

There was some surprise and delight with how the big SUV handled.