After close to 200,000 units sold in Canada since 1986, Nissan is making a return to the Pathfinder's roots with the all-new fifth generation of the model. Back to its roots in the styling department, that is; the interior and chassis are thoroughly modern compared to the workhorse that first wore the Pathfinder badge. It will have seating for up to eight, hold a full sheet of plywood between the wheel wells, and it will offer ProPilot Assist driver assistance with navigation link.
The bodywork starts with a new face that's much taller and flatter than the soft-looking fourth-gen model. Nissan says it conveys "size and strength" and "gives it an authentic, rugged look." It's certainly more memorable than the trucklet it replaces, with a new twist on Nissan's V-motion grille bars, triple-stacked narrow (standard LED) headlights, and, if you look closely, a three-slot nod to the hood vents of the original Pathfinder. It's equally bold at the back, with large Pathfinder lettering and chunky shoulders beside the tailgate.
Nissan has added new materials to the interior and worked to make it look spacious, modern, and, again, more rigged. It's largely square, but appealing, and it offers an available 12.3-inch digital dash, a large head-up display, and an available 9.0-inch touchscreen information display.
The choice of eight-passenger seating, or seven with middle-row captain's chairs, increases flexibility for passengers. Nissan has added it's one-touch fold/slide second-row feature to both driver and passenger sides, and if you pick the captains chairs there is a center console that's removable without tools. A 120-quart cooler will fit behind the third row, or four sets of golf clubs. Laminated front glass, thicker second-row glass, and more sound isolation make the new crossover find paths much more quietly than before. Making it even more cozy, all Canadian Pathfinders come with heated front seats, a heated wheel, and heated washer nozzles.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with NissanConnect with Wi-Fi hotspot. Wireless Apple CarPlay is available, but wireless Android Auto isn't as of yet. The surround-view camera system has higher-resolution cameras and a wider viewing angle. Also standard on all grades of 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is ProPilot Assist, Nissan's hands-on driver assist that can help steer the vehicle to keep it in-lane, and has adaptive cruise control. Top trims add navigation integration that lets the system proactively reduce speed for exits or curves.
All Pathfinders get Nissan Safety Shield 360 with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high-beam assist and rear automatic braking, and they also have intelligent forward collision warning, intelligent driver alertness, blind-spot intervention, intelligent lane intervention, and rear door alert.
Powering the new 2022 Pathfinder is a 284 hp 3.5L V6 paired with a new nine-speed automatic in place of the CVT of the last-gen. That lets it tow up to 6,000 lb, and all-wheel drive is standard along with seven drive and terrain modes.
Nissan Pathfinder will be offered in four trims for 2022, S, SV, SL, and Platinum, with pricing and fuel economy coming closer to the vehicle's arrival at dealers this summer.
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