The new transmission is a significant improvement over the wheezy CVT, offering fast, smooth shifts. All four trim levels have a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. Its 3.5-liter V6 engine carries over from the previous generation and still makes 284 hp and 259 pound-feet of torque, but it’s now paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission instead of the previous CVT. The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder has one powertrain configuration. The infotainment system hasn’t changed much, but the rest of the Pathfinder’s interior is as new as the outside, and well-designed with logical controls and quality materials. Pricing for the Pathfinder starts at $35,105, including delivery for the front-wheel-drive S and goes up to over $53,000 for a loaded Platinum. For families with small children, the second-row seats tilt forward without changing the seat angle so child seats and boosters can stay in place while accessing the back row.
Captain’s chairs are available for SV and SL and standard on Platinum, cutting the passenger count from eight to seven. The S, SV and SL trims come standard with a split three-passenger bench for the second row. The SL and Platinum trims have the upgraded version that links to the navigation to automatically slow the vehicle when going through corners where it might be too quick. The new Pathfinder earns five stars from NHTSA, but only “good” ratings from IIHS. The SV gets Nissan’s hands-on lane centering assist called ProPilot.
All but the S get radar-adaptive cruise control, but a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features comes standard on all trims. Nissan offers four trims: S, SV, SL and Platinum.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard on all models, with the SL and Platinum offering a wireless Apple connection. The S and SV have an 8-inch touchscreen, while the SL and Platinum grades get a 9-inch screen. The Pathfinder’s center screen is clearly visible, even through polarized sunglasses. Nissan has addressed a long-running complaint about the previous generation’s dim and poor contrast infotainment screens. The new interior is plush but not as good as the rival Palisade and its top-notch materials. It isn’t going to follow Jeeps down the Rubicon trail, but it has some basic off-road capability. The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder rides on a thoroughly updated platform with bolder styling, new tech and a much-improved transmission. While that is competitive with the gas-powered models from other brands, it falls short of the 25 mpg Explorer hybrid and the 35 mpg Toyota Highlander hybrid. The transmission shifts smoothly and quickly and offers a 1 mpg improvement in the EPA fuel economy rating, to 23 mpg in combined city and highway driving. The most crucial mechanical change this year is the replacement of the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with a 9-speed conventional automatic with a choice of front or all-wheel-drive. A slightly tweaked version of Nissan’s long-running 3.5-liter V6 engine provides 284 horsepower, a bit less than the 291-hp V6s of the two Korean SUVs and the 300-hp from Ford’s turbocharged four-cylinder.
At 197.7-inches long, the 2022 edition is virtually the same size as the outgoing model and competitors such as the Ford Explorer, Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. Nissan designers even managed to incorporate a few subtle design throwbacks for fans of the original (and very popular) 1980s-era Pathfinder, including its bulging fenders and triple horizontal slots on the leading edge of the hood.ĭespite these echoes of the past, the design is thoroughly contemporary with crisp lines and muscular proportions. The three-row family crossover is now both more rugged looking and modern. This new iteration is the fifth generation of the SUV. Nissan has given the Pathfinder a complete redesign for the 2022 model year.