Nissan Pathfinder 2014 review

How much room do you really need? That is, do you and your wife need the five-bedroom house, the 900sqm block and the eight-seater SUV? Particularly the SUV, because this is the thing that you will rattle in up and down the freeway, occupying a lane and a half and drinking at the rate of an Oliver Reed bender.

If you don’t need all that space then, honestly, do yourself - and the world - a favour and get something a little more suited to one commuter. For the rest of us, those with children either intended or now occupying one of the bedrooms at home, big is good.

No surprises that Nissan recently has embedded itself in the future family. Its new supersize Pathfinder family wagon comes from the US - the land of plenty - and boasts seven seats in which even adults will feel perfectly at home.

Hitting hard against the Japanese-built Toyota Kluger and Mazda CX-9, the US-built Pathfinder does everything right - except retain the go-anywhere appeal of its similarly-named predecessor. It’s becoming the way of the world as families ignore outback adventure in favour of urban haulage.

For all those critics who lament the passing of the rugged Pathfinder of old, the queue is on the left, just alongside the one for people demanding a new diesel Patrol 4WD. That’s right, no one listens to the minority buyer anymore.

Value

Given that this targets the seven-seat SUV sector, there’s no surprises that the price is very close to rivals from Toyota, Mazda and Subaru. Like these, Nissan has front drive and all-wheel drive Pathfinder models. The former is better value, saving $4000. Luring families to Nissan is by bolstering the feature list and the mid-spec ST-L version is not shy of goodies.

Standard kit includes three-zone airconditioning with vents for each of the three seat rows, privacy glass from the B-pillar back, rear camera and sensors, two sunroofs, electric steering wheel adjustment, heated front seats and leather. Nissan offers a 3yr/100,00km warranty with roadside assistance, six monthly service intervals and a six-year capped-price service program that costs $1919 for the first three years. Glass’s Guide says resale value after three years is 56 per cent.

Design

Looks terribly conservative. The cabin is its high point, especially the trick split, slide, fold and tumble seats called EZ-Flex. One-hand operation makes the second row slide forward and collapses the seat back for easy access to the spacious third row. The second row slides and when folded, tucks the cushion under to create a big flat area with extra floor storage behind the front seats.

Excellent personal storage, ie-down hooks in he rear, grocery-bag hooks and underfloor storage make it a thieves den of hiding places. Luggage space is a very generous 453 litres with all seats upright, 1353 with the third row down and 2259 with the second row flat. It tows 2700kg but watch the towball download rating to ensure it suits your caravan or boat.

Technology

It looks new but it’s borrowed. The platform and drivetrain is shared with the Murano and the Altima, the Maxima. The 190kW/325Nm 3.5-litre petrol V6 is also related to the 370Z and the continuously-variable transmission (CVT) is a common Nissan substitute for a conventional automatic in many models.

But the efficient Nissan CVT - made by associate Jatco - has been the subject of customer complaints in the US. No complaints have been registered against the Pathfinder. The SUV is available as a front drive or AWD, the test wagon having a part-time system that engages the rear wheels when front-wheel traction is lost. Brakes are four-wheel vented discs while park brake is foot operated.

Safety

The big wagon backs up its foreboding appearance with a five-star crash rating, six airbags, electronic aids, reverse camera, rear park sensors, auto headlights, a tyre pressure monitor and heated mirrors. The spare is a space-saver mounted under the chassis. Nissan also includes a tyre repair kit.

Driving

Though utterly conventional and almost styled to the point of being boring, the Pahfinder is a very composed drive. It is solid on the road, the steering is relatively accurate and the road/wind/engine noise is very low. It’s more a lounge room than a car and the children love it. Handling is above average though there is some body roll.

There’s plenty of poke from the engine and the CVT works very well through the range except from start-up where it delivers an occasional, unnerving bump from the engine power hitting the transmission. The All-Mode drive system dials three positions - front drive, "auto" for on-demand AWD and "lock" for off-road work up to 40km/h. It’s reasonably capable in the dirt but even with tyres deflated, maybe a bit heavy to take beachside.