ge5495317926738662844
ge5347498494566609615
ge5226276657958133012
ge4792350553133834263
ge4737057867535391553
Feann Torr17 Jun 2014
REVIEW

Nissan Pathfinder: Large SUV Comparison 2014

Nissan's soft new Pathfinder moves away from its rugged roots, but how does it shape up against rivals?

Nissan Pathfinder ST (AWD)

EXECUTION OF INTENDED PURPOSE?
The new-look Pathfinder brings comfort and modern conveniences in spades. In this company, it offered the best third-row accommodation – class-leading, in fact. Even the spacious new Kluger fell short in this regard.

The Pathfinder also scored well, equal with the Hyundai Santa Fe, for ergonomics. There’s a place for everything, and the controls, buttons and dials are all easy to find and use. And it was the only car on test to feature electrically-adjustable seats – but no seat memory.

The voluminous proportions, comfort levels and strong list of standard features also saw the Pathfinder score well on various criteria. However, it lost points for a 60/40 configuration that favoured the roadside entrance – thanks to its American build. On a more positive note, the Pathfinder’s flip-fold entry mechanism was the easiest to negotiate.

The combination of easy access, generous space, comfortable seats, large side windows and dedicated rear-row ventilation outlets all played their part in the Pathfinder scoring the highest in this category. However, there wasn’t much in it, with just five points separating first and last place.

With seven seats in play, the Pathfinder offered 453 litres of cargo space. With a hefty kerb weight of 1985kg, it also boasted a braked towing capacity of 2700kg.

FIT, FINISH AND FINESSE?
Quality finishes and thoughtful details saw the Pathfinder finish equal first with the Santa Fe in this category – seemingly at odds with its lardy persona. But this new-generation Pathfinder delivers softness and finesse, as well as a whole lot of metal.

Plastics, although hard to touch, combine matte and high-shine finishes with smooth dials and faux brushed chrome to deliver a seriously premium feel. The cloth-upholstered seats were also well finished as well as supremely comfortable.

The weighty doors closed with a confident thud, and the seats adjusted both smoothly and effortlessly.

The Pathfinder also disappointed with a below par infotainment screen; the colour and resolution seemed ‘cheap’ compared to the rest of the equipment on board.

From the outside, the Pathy looked the goods. We noted uniform panels gaps and a nice paint finish, except for a slight mismatch in colour tint between the quarter panels and the bumpers.

No gas strut for the bonnet made engine bay inspection a slightly perilous chore, and one not for the weak.

ON THE ROAD?
The Pathfinder was the only one of our trio with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It didn’t really make things better or worse, just different. Often CVTs are more efficient than conventional automatics but, as it stood, the Nissan was the thirstiest of the bunch, posting an average fuel figure of 11.7L/100km.

That said, the transmission was ultra-smooth and the big 3.5-litre V6 engine refined and strong, propelling the car to 100km/h in 8.3 sec. For an SUV that's rapid and it felt like it.

Nissan's well-regarded VQ35 powerplant pumps out 190kW and 325Nm, just shy of the Toyota Kluger’s output which made it more fun to drive than the Santa Fe on mundane trips. However, the Nissan’s brakes bit strongly to wash off speed in a hurry.

The Pathfinder’s ride comfort was unmatched, with its well-sorted suspension and tyres absorbing corrugations and lumps in the road with languid ease. Our notes described the ride as 'cushy', except at very low speeds, where small amplitude bumps were quite noticeable.

Dynamically the Pathfinder felt bulkier and less wieldy than its rivals, and not helping matters was the dull and lifeless steering. While the car maintained a flat attitude through corners, it was the longest and widest of the three and felt as much.

SUITABLE INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY?
The Pathfinder ST and the Kluger GX were both around $4000 more than the Santa Fe Active. As such you’d expect a little more equipment for your dollar, so it’s interesting to note the Pathfinder trumped both the Santa Fe and the Kluger on this front, with a generous level of standard technology.

In addition to those features found on both rivals, the Pathfinder also offered ‘comfort’ entry with push-button start, an eight-way powered driver’s seat, tri-zone climate control, and a 2GB hard drive built into the audio system.

The Pathfinder’s six-speaker audio system also had Bluetooth telephony (but not audio streaming) and USB connectivity, and like the Santa Fe offers screen-off functionality for night time travel.

The Pathfinder was also unique in offering tyre pressure monitoring, and like the Santa Fe included reversing sensors and a rear-view camera as standard fare.

However, unlike the Kluger, the Pathfinder does not come with front foglights or all-auto functionality for the power windows. It also misses out on daytime running lights (as does the Santa Fe).

We found the trip computer harder to use compared to the Santa Fe’s. Like the Kluger, the Pathfinder’s various modes took several steps to access and activate, and there was no singular controller to make things easier.

Bluetooth worked a treat when making and receiving phone calls, so it was a shame it couldn’t also stream our music.

VALUE FOR MONEY?
The Pathfinder starts at $39,990 (plus on-road costs) and like the Kluger, can cost more than $60K if you want all the fruit (it tops out at $65,090 plus ORCs). Metallic paint costs $495, the cheapest of the three.

While the Pathfinder ST model was priced at $44,490 (plus ORCs) – $4000 more than the Hyundai and $500 cheaper than the Toyota – it came with more equipment than either competitor.

It also had the best capped-price servicing deal, spanning six years and 120,000km (the first service costs $256.39, with service periods set at six-month/10,000km intervals).

Roadside assistance (12 months) and warranty (three-years/100,000km) were both average. Retained value was the best of the bunch, with the Pathfinder holding onto 56 per cent of its original value ($24,900) after five years according to redbook.com.au.


Price: $44,490 (plus on-road costs)?
Engine: 3.5-litre six-cylinder petrol
?Output: 190kW/325Nm?
Transmission: Continuously variable?
Fuel: 10.2L/100km (ADR Combined)?
CO2: 240g/km (ADR Combined)?
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

What we liked:? Not so much:?
>> High level of standard kit? >> No Bluetooth audio streaming?
>> Plush ride comfort? >> No diesel option?
>> Impressive V6 power >> Lifeless steering

motoring.com.au's 2014 Large SUV Comparison

>> Toyota Kluger

>> Hyundai Santa Fe

Share this article
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Disclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.

If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
Download the carsales app
    AppStoreDownloadGooglePlayDownload
    App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
    © CAR Group Ltd 1999-2024
    In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.