This year the Pathfinder comes in several versions; the tester I got was the Platinum version, sitting at the top of the range and including just about every feature you could imagine. Right down to the screens on the back of the front-row headrests.
The engine
It’s powered by the 3.5L V6 generating 284 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque, combined with a CVT transmission. This powertrain will never glue you to your seat but it’s well-suited to this type of vehicle. It does what it needs to do, quietly and without making a fuss. You can also switch to 2WD mode to help save a bit on fuel consumption. Braking, meanwhile, is adequate, and the steering gives no discernible feedback from the road surface. Not surprisingly, this SUV is at home on the highway; the city and narrow, winding country roads are not its preferred habitat!
The interior
Getting into the Nissan Pathfinder is easy, and sitting in it is roomy and comfortable, whether you’re in the first or second rows, or even in one of the two third-row seats. In the latter, best not be 6-feet-tall, however. The front seats are heated and ventilated, which is great except that the indicators on the central console don’t actually indicate that clearly to what position they’re set. You could end up with overly hot or cold seats before you figure it out. The steering wheel is power-adjustable and also heated – my favourite feature when driving in winter!
The design of the dashboard is fine, but some of its elements will need to be updated when the next generation comes around. There’s a lot of hard plastic, for one thing. And fake wood paneling? Does anyone go for that? Remember that my tester was the Platinum, valued at just over $50,000. At the price, seems to me the materials should be more premium. Quality of construction, on the other hand, was beyond reproach.
The instrument panel and its two large dials are simple - really simple - but hence easy to read. The onboard computer placed between the dials provides a host of vehicle data, and the infotainment system is straightforward to use. As for the navigation system, it’s easy to use as well but its interface is pretty old school. What’s more, there’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility, so that the data you access can be outdated.
One great element of the central screen is the Around View Monitor. Thanks to cameras installed on th exterior side-mirrors, on the front grille and on the back hatch, the screen displays a bird’s-eye image from above the Pathfinder. With a vehicle of this size, this is really useful when parking or manoeuvring in a tight space.
Cargo space
On to a crucial element of a utility model, the cargo space. Even with all the seats in place, there’s a good amount of space behind the third row, which 50/50 split fold down. There’s a storage space under the floor, where you’ll find the Bose amp and a bit of room for placing a container of windshield-wiper fluid, for example. Fold down that third row, and cargo space blooms! The flooring is practically flat and the overall space is cavernous.
The 2018 Nissan Pathfiner is an excellent product that can easily fulfill the function of any minivan. The one exception may be access to the third row, which is a little trickier. On the other hand, the driving experience is more positive.
The mechanics are solid, in fact this V6 is one of the best that Nissan has ever produced. However, there’s fault to be found with the quality of the materials inside, and the finishing elements are from another era. At more than $50,000 for the Platinum version, buyers will be expecting more.
Model tested: 2018 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum
Consumption figures according to Natural Resources Canada:
• City – 12.4L/100 km
• Highway – 9.2L/100 km
Consumption figures according to Nissan: 10.7 L/100 km
