2021 nissan pathfinder review driver#
2021 nissan pathfinder review full#
2021 nissan pathfinder review plus#
2021 nissan pathfinder review series#

2021 nissan pathfinder review driver#

The interaction between the car and driver gives a feeling of confidence that we found very reassuring, even when towing.Īdmittedly, Nissan Australia wasn’t keen to push the limits of the Pathfinder’s towing abilities on test.

The Pathfinder’s electronic nannies are wonderfully well metered and cooperate with the driver’s intentions at all times – which makes a refreshing change from some of the increasingly overbearing systems we’ve experienced elsewhere (GWM Haval, we’re looking at you).

2021 nissan pathfinder review series#

It takes a very rough series of craters to upset this SUV’s roadholding, and with communicative steering and a ripper view out, there’s really no excuse for ‘getting it wrong’. Putting the Pathfinder through its paces over sealed, pockmarked and unsealed roads we found the suspension set-up capable and composed. The vehicle is easy to get in and out of, well set-up for family use, spacious without being oversized, and yet agile enough to tackle even the poorest of backroads with total confidence. What’s more, Nissan appears to have tailored the Pathfinder to cater for both opportunities with a lot of thought. The Pathfinder is a car one could comfortably live with through the week while still getting far enough off the beaten track to enjoy the sorts of activities Aussie SUV buyers love. Nissan has managed to tread the line between hard- and soft-core SUV with aplomb. Which means there was an obvious gap for a right-sized in-betweener. By the same token, many of the ute-based and diesel powered three-row family haulers are too off-road focused for urban use, feeling truck-like – even overtly utilitarian – in urban environs. Take any of the current crop of seven-seat SUVs down your nearest dirt road and you’ll soon find they’re no match for the job.

There’s a fine line between too rugged and too soft. The Pathfinder rides on a MacPherson strut (front) and independent multi-link (rear) suspension arrangement and is stopped by four-wheel disc brakes. The Pathfinder is further enhanced by Nissan’s new dual-pinion electric assisted steering setup it claims provides sporty and engaging feedback to the driver. The 4WD system offers driver selectable modes including Standard, Sport, Eco, Snow, Sand, Mud/Rut and Tow.īraked towing capacity for the Pathfinder is listed at a useful 2700kg and is backed by a trailer stability program as part of the vehicle’s electronic stability control system.

2021 nissan pathfinder review full#

The new Pathfinder has passed muster with safety watchdog ANCAP, which handed down a full five-star crash-test rating, including one of the highest child occupant protection scores on the market at 93 per cent while adult occupant protection scored 86 per cent.Īll-wheel drive models are offered with a new direct coupling 4WD system Nissan says allows torque transfer directly on the clutch pack using oil pressure, allowing for confident and immediate take-off in low-traction scenarios. Powered by Nissan’s proven 202kW/340Nm VQ35DD 3.5-litre petrol V6 and paired to a nine-speed torque converter automatic transmission – with front- or all-wheel drive available – the Pathfinder is offered with Nissan’s Pro-Pilot semi-autonomous driving system on ST-L grades and above for the first time. With seating for up to eight passengers – much like Hyundai’s Palisade – along with new technology and safety features and an entirely revised exterior design, Nissan says the Pathfinder marks a return to the model’s rugged roots without compromising on modern luxury or on-road comfort. Although dearer, it will compete with rivals such as the Hyundai Santa Fe (from $45,550 + ORC), Kia Sorento ($47,650 + ORC), Mazda CX-9 ($46,250 + ORC) and Toyota Kluger ($47,650 + ORC).įull variant specifications and detailed pricing may be found here.

2021 nissan pathfinder review plus#

Nissan has priced the new American-sourced Pathfinder from $54,190 plus on-road costs, or a pineapple more than the entry point to the now-defunct previous generation range. We spent a couple of days with the new Nissan Pathfinder in Victoria’s stunning Strathbogie Ranges sampling the model on pockmarked B and C roads, crusty fire trails and with a trailer in tow to see just how broad the appeal of this three-row family hauler truly is.īut before we get to that, a few important details…

So, has Nissan found an ideal middle ground with its new generation ‘Pathy’? Instead, it’s an immensely capable vehicle that has been designed specifically to walk the line between its truck-like diesel-powered rivals, like the Ford Everest and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, and concrete cruisers like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Kluger. It is not the rough-and-tumble ute-based four-wheel drive of yore. Ahhh, the immortal words of one Basil Fawlty and a point Nissan near as much admitted in returning the latest Pathfinder to its rugged roots.