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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 |