First Impressions

Feeling the effects of consumer demands for better fuel economy, Nissan has revamped the fourth generation Pathfinder by retracing their steps; and going back to a lighter unibody. The Altima-based platform, shared with the Infiniti JX, brings some civility to the rough and rugged Pathfinder legacy.

Exterior edges have been smoothed and sculpted. The 7-passenger interior takes major steps forward in style and features with a center stack available touch-screen interface, around view monitor, and tri-zone entertainment. Access to the third row is among the easiest in its class.

V6 power is downsized from 4.0-liters to 3.5, good for 260 horsepower with the standard CVT, and a 5,000 lb towing capacity. Best in class highway fuel economy is claimed; 26 mpg with the front-drive Pathfinder.

With over two inches less ground clearance, the new Pathfinder clearly caters to those looking for long haul comfort and versatility rather than go-anywhere ruggedness. However, it’s not without some off-road attributes as the available ALL-MODE 4WD-i traction system can be locked into four-wheel drive.

The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder is on sale now, starting at around $28,000.