Nissan embraces rugged with revamped Pathfinder

Nissan's Pathfinder midsize crossover is undergoing a redesign and upgrades in power and performance with the aim of raising its relatively low sales status in a crowded segment.

To get there, the three-row, third-generation model adopts more rugged SUV styling, moving away from the inoffensive and vanilla character of the outgoing Pathfinder, which debuted for the 2013 model year at a time when sleeker and more carlike features were popular.

Crossovers today are wearing more classic SUV design cues that hark back to the truck-based SUVs of the 1990s, AutoPacific analyst Ed Kim said.

"The new Pathfinder looks more suited to SUV tastes today and has more attitude compared to top sellers like Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot. That will help it stand out," he said.

Ken Lee, senior design director at Nissan's Global Design Center in Atsugi, Japan, acknowledged the shift in tastes.

Research showed customers "want a bolder, more tough-looking design," Lee said.

The redesigned Pathfinder reflects an outdoorsy vibe.

"When we considered a new Pathfinder, the first thing we wanted to do was to enhance the proportions — making it bold, strong, and also have simplicity," Lee said. "So we strengthened the silhouette."

The front end is more upright, with the hood straighter and flatter. The vehicle's "U-shaped" highlights blend with the fenders to create a muscular look. The rear end sports slim LED taillights and a boxed-out liftgate. A new "floating" C-pillar allows for a two-tone roof.

The 2022 model will arrive in U.S. stores in early summer. Pricing has not been disclosed.

The Pathfinder, which posted U.S. sales of 48,579 last year, is part of an ambitious two-year product reboot that will see 70 percent of Nissan's portfolio updated by the end of the year.

The redesign seeks the utility of an SUV with the ride and interior premium-ness of a sedan.

Three-row crossovers have mostly replaced minivans as the go-to family vehicle, said Sam Fiorani, vice president at AutoForecast Solutions.

"Keeping the Pathfinder on the shortlist of moms and dads is important to a full-line brand," Fiorani said. "The Pathfinder helps Nissan hold on to customers as their families outgrow a [compact] Rogue."

The redesigned version will be available in two-wheel and four-wheel drive, powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that pumps out 284 hp.

The model ditches Nissan's finicky continuously variable transmission for a new ZF-supplied nine-speed transmission that delivers improved acceleration and smoother driving experience.

Fiorani described the CVT as the "weakest link" in the Pathfinder's "otherwise excellent" powertrain.

"The average age of a vehicle today is around 12 years, which means that transmission had better be able to survive past 200,000 miles," Fiorani said. "The new transmission should tie up that loose end for the Pathfinder."

Design overhaul

The 2022 model found some of its design inspiration in the past. It sports a Nissan V-motion grille that incorporates a hood design with three slots from the original Pathfinder.

The interior makeover opens up the cabin and incorporates tech upgrades.

The Pathfinder's dashboard is anchored by an optional 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 9-inch center display and 10.8-inch head-up display.

To reduce in-cabin road noise, the redesign used acoustic laminated front glass, thicker second-row glass and increased engine noise insulation.

The Pathfinder also includes Nissan's safety tech suite, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning and lane-departure warning. Available in higher trims is Nissan's ProPilot Assist technology that helps reduce fatigue associated with road trips and stop-and-go highway traffic.