A tonne of grunt
With a bit of fanfare, Nissan has given us a new Pathfinder. Ben Selby reports.
The Pathfinder is a name we haven’t seen for some time amongst the Nissan lineup, so has it been worth the wait?
From the get-go, it’s obvious the new Pathfinder has, well, found a new path, in terms of looks. It’s a polished-looking SUV from every angle, and it’s not hard to see inspiration from the likes of the Land Rover Discovery, especially from the rear three quarters. I love the full-width large font on the boot spelling out ‘Pathfinder.’ Nice touch. 
The range comes in two spec levels, the Ti and the Ti-L, the latter of which was my test car. The Ti will set you back $83,490 and the Ti-L $88,490. Under the bonnet, both models get the same 3.5L V6 petrol engine mated to a new 9-speed automatic gearbox. The latter replaces the previous Pathfinder’s old CVT system. Power is sent to all four wheels and rated at 202kW/340Nm of torque.
Inside the cabin has been given an overhaul in line with the current Nissan Qashqai. All the switchgear feels solid and well put together and there is plenty of space front and rear.
The Pathfinder comes standard with Intelligent 4X4 with seven all-terrain modes, heated front seats, a 9.0” touchscreen infotainment system, a 13-speaker BOSE stereo system which happens to be one of the best in this class, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging. LED head and taillights, adaptive cruise control and a whole host of active safety features.
My Ti-L gets additional goodies like an electric panoramic sunroof, 20-inch alloys, intelligent rear-view mirror which gives a camera view of your rear visibility and a 12.3-inch TFT digital instrument cluster to name a few. It’s also a full seven-seater and the second row can be tilted and moved back and forth for the full captain’s chair experience.
Wind out the Pathfinder for the first time and masses of smooth torque come into play. Simply flex your big toe and that bonnet rises, allowing you to surge forward. It’s also a quiet unit. In fact, its probably one of the most refined feeling petrol V6s out there.
The ride is supple, and the bumps are dealt with easily. You can also play with the multiple off-road modes when roughing it, and the Pathfinder takes it all in its stride. It does feel heavy at a snip over two tonnes, but it manages to also feel planted and stable in all conditions.
I was actually rather impressed with Nissan’s new Pathfinder. While that price tag makes it one of the costlier options in this class and it doesn’t mind a drink, there is plenty to like here and those after a premium-feeling SUV with a tonne of grunt should give it a look.
FACT FILE
2023 Nissan Pathfinder Ti-L
Price: $88,490 + ORC
Engine: 3.5L V6 Petrol
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Power: 202kW
Torque: 340Nm
Combined Fuel Consumption: 11.7L/100km
Weight: 2044kg
Max Towing Capacity: 2700kg
Max Boot Space: 782L
