Nissan reveals thoroughly revised Pathfinder

Saturday, 6 February 2021

Nissan has updated the Pathfinder with new styling and a new transmission.

Nissan has given the Pathfinder a good once-over, upgrading the SUV with a new transmission, reworked four-wheel drive system, more tech and a new design.

First off, the looks. Nissan has given the 2021 Pathfinder a more square V-Motion grille and a flat bonnet, which create a fairly stout front end. Blacked-out A, B and D-pillars are complemented by a body-clour C-pillar to add another interesting styling feature and give the roof a floating look.

Slim, wraparound LED taillights and spaced out ‘PATHFINDER’ text give the rear a wide appearance while the headlights up front are split into two sections. The upper gash are the daytime running lights, with the main cluster sitting below.

Nissan has given the Pathfinder a fresh design, both inside and out.

Inside the new Pathfinder is a modernised cabin with a new 9.0-inch infotainment display along with a 12.3-inch digital dash and a 10.8-inch head up display. Nissan’s latest ‘NissanConnect’ interface features, adding wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, wireless phone charging, a 360-degree camera and a 13-speaker Bose audio system.

**READ MORE:

The cabin is refreshingly light on tech, aside from the twin digital displays and the head-up display, of course.

* Isuzu details NZ-bound D-Max

* This is the new Nissan X-Trail SUV

Does the currently V6-only Pathfinder have a place in New Zealand, assuming the new carbon emissions targets remain as is? We’ll have to wait and see.

* Infiniti exits New Zealand and Australia

Buyers can have the Pathfinder in seven or eight-seat configurations, the former swapping the three-seater second row for twin captain’s chairs.

Under the bonnet is an updated version of the old 3.5-litre V6, this time making 212kW of power and 351Nm of torque – a bump of 10kW/11Nm. Even better news is that the CVT has been thrown into the dump, with a proper nine-speed automatic replacing. The new transmission ferries power to the front wheels or all four, depending on spec.

There was no mention of a hybrid option at launch but the previous generation had an electrified 2.5-litre supercharged four-cylinder.

However, Infiniti (Nissan’s luxury arm in North America) is reportedly planning on reintroducing the powerplant to the Pathfinder’s cousin, the QX60, later in 2021 or 2022. Additionally, a petrol-only 2.0-litre four-cylinder is expected further down the line.

Nissan also includes its 'ProPilot Assist' driver assist system with adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist for semi-autonomous speed control on highways.

Additionally, the 'Safety Shield 360' safety suite offers front and rear autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning and high-beam assist.

There isn’t any word about a New Zealand launch but the old model has been taken down from the Nissan NZ website, which usually indicates an announcement isn’t far away.