Nissan Pathfinder 2014 Review

As a jack-of-all-trades Nissan's Pathfinder ST, which has been in the care of motoring.com.au for a long-term test, has been an entirely dependable unit.

Even now, into its third month with us, the Pathfinder has not let us down. But during the time in my possession the Nissan briefly exhibited some bad behaviour that is known to be a common flaw in the current model's CVT (continuously variable transmission).

Despite the CVT generally operating to specification, there was a moment of driveline shunt on launch from a green light on one occasion. A few kilometres later, after the Pathfinder completed a right turn into a side street, the engine began to 'chug' – with symptoms like fuel surge or two dropped cylinders. It only happened the once, and just briefly, but it's an indication that complaints from owners concerning the CVT in the Pathfinder are not unfounded.

The CVT wasn't the only system in the Pathfinder I found to be troubling. It's all too easy to brush the lock button on the key while climbing into the cabin. When the vehicle relocks itself behind you, pushing the start button will elicit an error message in the trip computer display: 'incorrect key ID'.

Issues like that can sway a person's opinion against a vehicle, but I was already less enamoured of the Pathfinder, thanks to the look and layout of the infotainment screen, which didn't appeal to me, personally. The graphics were dreary, familiarisation with the layout and the menu items wouldn't come easily and the display was not a touch screen either. Some won't mind that, but I do.

What frustrated me most, however, was that this vehicle – priced in the mid $40K bracket – wouldn't wirelessly stream music from an iPhone [Ed: or any Bluetooth device for the matter in ST grade]. You could play music through a USB lead, but then you ended up with the cable wrapped around the gear shifter or draped elsewhere throughout the cabin. As I see it, any car costing $20,000 or more should come with wireless music streaming via Bluetooth. The Pathfinder in this specification costs more than twice that amount.

It's a point that has been made by staff previously, since the latest Pathfinder might just be the most thoroughly scrutinised SUV in the history of motoring.com.au.

We've driven it overseas – twice – we've attended its local launch; the flagship was subjected to a seven-day test back in January; it has been dragooned into two comparisons; and now this entry-level Pathfinder ST in our garage for a long-term test has been taken off-road, subjected to the family hack test and the young-singles-with-a-large-social-circle test.

This must be the well-trodden Pathfinder...

So is there anything else to write about the 'Pathie' that hasn't already been noted in endless detail?

The Pathfinder's anti-carjacking facility requires the driver to unlock all doors manually if, for example, dropping off one or more offspring at school. The doors do not automatically unlock from seating positions other than the driver's if the engine is running and the transmission is in gear. It's not a big deal, but it's a setting you should be able to change to suit your lifestyle.

No, you don't want kids bailing out of the car, but if the foot is firmly on the brake pedal and the vehicle is stationary passengers should be allowed to alight from the Pathfinder without deferring to the driver. On the other hand, if the kids are too young to be trusted, throw them in the back seats and enable the child-proof locks.

In contrast with the findings of other writers, the Pathfinder's trip computer seems to have its act together, as regards fuel consumption. It posted a figure of 13.0L/100km while in my hands. That included about 60km of freeway cruising, but mostly comprised round-trip commuting for a total of just under 520km. A fill at that distance took 66.71 litres, which works out at 12.96L/100km, calculated manually. Near enough, I reckon.

Given that the Pathfinder is a decent-sized SUV with seven seats, powered by a 3.5-litre V6, and with the drivetrain mode left in auto for the entire two-week period I drove it, there's not much cause to complain about that fuel consumption figure. The Nissan certainly wasn't driven for optimal fuel efficiency.

Steering has been another point criticised in the Pathfinder. There was some feedback available mid-corner, I found, and the Pathfinder could be placed reasonably well on the road, but feel in a straight line was conspicuous by its absence.

Leaving aside the steering, however, the Pathfinder was well mannered in bends. Brake appropriately before the corner and the Nissan turned in neatly. But leave the braking a bit late and the stability control system would intervene – defaulting to understeer. For a seven-seat SUV though, the Pathfinder's roadholding was surprisingly safe and strong, as I discovered on a wet road one evening.

As has been noted elsewhere, the Pathfinder rode well and was pretty quiet inside. At open-road speeds I found it to be subdued, with just a light rustle of wind and a combination of road noise and driveline to be heard. With the range of ratios available from the CVT, the engine was frequently working from as low as 1100rpm, or thereabouts. Yet the V6 didn't labour or carry on at such low revs.

To my relief, furthermore, the Pathfinder's drivetrain proved a little more engaging than one might expect. The V6 in the Pathfinder was a strong unit, and still felt 'driveable', even through the CVT. Boasting 3.5 litres displacement and output of 190kW/325Nm the engine could be taken to its 6500rpm redline, assuming the driver was that determined. It didn't sound shrill or truck-like getting there either. Most of the time the V6 delivered perfectly acceptable performance in the mid-range, but it's nice to know it can really haul when required.

2014 Nissan Pathfinder ST 4WD pricing and specifications:
Price: $44,290 (as tested, plus on-road costs)

Related reading:
Nissan Pathfinder Long-Term Introduction

Nissan Pathfinder Long-Term Update #1

Nissan Pathfinder Long-Term Update #2