Redesigned Pathfinder

[kerrton]

This is the last year for the current Pathfinder, a completely redesigned model is scheduled to be released as a 2013 model late in 2012.

The new Pat will be revealed on January 9th at the Detroit auto show, and the one thing that is clear is it will no longer be a body-on-frame truck, that's right, it's going to be a unibody "crossover". No exact details on the powertrain, but I'd expect a smaller displacement turbo, possibly the new 2.5L 4-cylinder turbo. Yes I said it, I believe the Pathfinder will be offered with a 4-cylinder making no less than 250 hp and 250 lb/ft of torque - by current standards a 2.5 turbo will be quite impressive considering Ford stuck a 2.0 Ecoboost turbo in the new Explorer. Here's another thought, could Nissan offer a next-gen CVT trans? I can hear the groans already from die-hard Pat truck fans, but I'd say this is almost guaranteed for the smaller engine anyway, and perhaps they'll still offer the regular 4.0 or 3.5 V6 with conventional auto trans.

*edit by Eikon to add pics from NAIAS 2012 (Detroit Auto Show):






Thoughts on this?

We should know the details in a little over a week, here's the link:

http://ca.autoblog.com/2011/12/19/nissa ... it-reveal/

[wisehunter1]

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=2013+pat ... 9,r:14,s:0

[kerrton]

Seems like it will look quite similar to the Murano, I wish they would have retained some of the boxy look of the current Pat, looks like the Honda Pilot will stand alone as the only one who resisted the temptation to go with a standard crossover styling and stick with the tough boxy look, too bad I like the boxy angular look.

One area where Nissan needs to gain some ground is in 3rd row seat functionality, including access via the 2nd row to compete with other 3-row family crossovers such as Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Ford Flex & Explorer, and Chevy Traverse. Yes I believe they will be changing their target market a little bit, no longer targetted at off-road truck lovers, they will need to market this as a family vehicle alternative to the minivan. This is a huge market that the current Pathfinder dabbles in but falls short in interior functionality and flexiblity. I believe this redesign will address those shortcomings and the new Pat will compete strongly against the above mentioned competitors, and with some next-gen super efficient powertrain could really blow them away as all of them offer older technology 3.5 L V6 powertrains which are reliable and capable but not great on fuel economy (with the exception of the Ford Explorer 2.0 turbo Ecoboost).

I'm excited for Jan. 9 to firm up some of these details.

[Towncivilian]

IMO the Pathfinder died in 2004. R51s resemble mini-vans. But at least they have 4WD - this new Pathfinder is FWD, isn't it?

[kerrton]

The Pat will be base FWD with AWD option or possibly they'll all come with standard AWD, regardless, the Pat will run in FWD mode most of the time with AWD kicking in only on startup, when wheel slip is detected, or when 'AWD lock" switch is turned on.

[Timmbo]

The new Pathfinder is basically going to be a brother to the Infiniti JX. Same platform (which is also shared with the Murano). AWD, but FWD based. CVT Transmission. Expect (NOT CONFIRMED, LOL) the same engine offering as the JX at the Pathfinder's debut. 3.5 with 265hp. Three rows of seating, and many of the mechanics will be shared with the JX and the Murano. Also, there will be the large panoramic style moonroof! As mentioned, chances are we will see a smaller displacement turbo engine to improve fuel efficiency. We will see, there is a teaser video that has an actual shot of the rear and front of the new Pathfinder. Front does look nice! Here is a link to the two videos: http://www.nissannews.com/show-video-ga ... docId=3138

[miamiheat3332]

Wow, way to ruin the pathfinder. The 1999.5 - 2004 Pathfinder and QX4 in my opinion is one of the best SUV designs ive seen. If you see a detailed pathfinder driving down the road. It definetly doesnt remind you of a 10 year old vehicle, the design still seems very modern.

The R51 they basically turned into an american junkbox. And now it looks like a buick enclave crossover, and the front lip of the bumper is maybe barely higher then a sedans. ( Even though im lowered that might seem hypocrytical, but i still have more ground clearance and the r50;s chassis is tucked very high under neath then most crossovers/fake suvs, it handles like a sports car, and i also have my 4wd function and more then enough ground clearance to make it a perfect winter vehicle with my snow tires )

Wtf is a FWD Pathfinder? More like a pothole explorer since it will never see a path or have enough clearance to get off the road.

[Timmbo]

I prefer the current Pathfinder myself, but Nissan wants to remain competitive with the Ford Explorer and other more economical SUV's. The nice thing is the Xterra is an extremely capable off roader, and that is not going anywhere.

[kerrton]

That's a good point, there's a lot of overlap between Xterra and Pathfinder, if you want a capable offroader with good looks which do you choose? Now it will be a much simpler decision, Nissan figured they've got the off-road market covered with the Xterra, and also the Frontier is a good option, so why not redeploy the Pathfinder to the much larger and lucritive crossover market?

What it loses in heavy truck, RWD 4x4 capability it will replace with gains in handling and on-road performance. If you look at the current redesigned Ford Explorer selling very well, Nissan really has no choice, this is a huge market that appeals to family's as an alternative to the minivan, and also sporty crossover enthusists who want a good looking vehicle with good ride height but also reasonable fuel efficiency - it was the poor efficiency that was really killing the current Pathfinder and the best way to address that was to lose the truck frame and make it a crossover. They also can fix some of the other shortcomings, such as the 2nd row that didn't slide or flip to allow access to the 3rd row which is absolutely essential now with families who need a functional 3rd row of seats. The Ford Explorer looks to be the best model for making the switch with success, and actually the reviews give it pretty decent offroad capability anyway, so it's really about making it good at a bit of everything - a good all around balanced vehicle that can do it all (the marketing speaks for itself, doesn't it?). If Nissan can accomplish this with the redesign and maybe even beat out Ford in efficiency through the use of the CVT trans and small turbo, they'll sell a lot more than they have with the current model, and it's probably long overdue.

[Buzzman]

Does the automotive world really need another freekin' crossover pretend SUV?
Aren't there more than enough already?
Besides, Nissan already has the Murano, so why even bother with another clone?
I also agree with the earlier post from towncivilian.
The Pathfinder died with the R50 in 2004.
Sheesh.

[wisehunter1]

Any of yall know anyone with the new 4 runners? I really like the boxy style of it although it is huge compared to previous gens.

[humsafar77]

IMO the Pathfinder died in 2004. R51s resemble mini-vans. But at least they have 4WD - this new Pathfinder is FWD, isn't it?

100% Agree

[Timmbo]

Does the automotive world really need another freekin' crossover pretend SUV?
Aren't there more than enough already?
Besides, Nissan already has the Murano, so why even bother with another clone?
I also agree with the earlier post from towncivilian.
The Pathfinder died with the R50 in 2004.
Sheesh.

Companies have to go where the buyers are. Back in the day everyone had a mini van, then it was the truck based SUV's, now Crossovers are extremely hot. You can't blame companies for building what customers want and are going to buy. Apparently the Pathfinder is supposed to take on a more "rugged" approach to the crossover. We will see. Personally I love the feeling of a truck based SUV, but I understand why others want something smoother that is much more efficient.

[Buzzman]

Companies have to go where the buyers are. Back in the day everyone had a mini van, then it was the truck based SUV's, now Crossovers are extremely hot. You can't blame companies for building what customers want and are going to buy. Apparently the Pathfinder is supposed to take on a more "rugged" approach to the crossover. We will see. Personally I love the feeling of a truck based SUV, but I understand why others want something smoother that is much more efficient.

yea, I understand what you're saying, and I understand the business model as well. You are right in that they need to go where the buyers are.
I guess I'm still lamenting the end of the R50 back in 2005.
Also, I've never really liked the new (R51) Pathfinder, so maybe it's a good thing it's being replaced.
It just seems to me that the crossover SUV market is over saturated right now, and with Nissan already having the Murano and Rogue, plus Infiniti having the EX and the FX, it just seemed like overkill to introduce another one.
Time will tell I guess.
As for my own needs, If I were to replace my current 2002 Pathy, I'd probably take a serious look at the Xterra. Either that, or scour the used car market for a cream-puff, low mileage, garage queen R50.
Cheers.

[kerrton]

I get what you mean, and the same can be said for other segments too, like midsize cars, compact cars, subcompact etc.. there are a million models to choose from making it really tough unless you have brand loyalty to start with. Who know, maybe the Pathfinder will have some unique features, we'll see.

[Wkz1gg0a]

This is STUPID why FWD why turn an real SUV into a Crossover. Murano covers CROSSOVER PATHFINDERS ARE MEANT TO BE SUV's. Agreed with 99.5-2003 is the best too bad they got crippeled with that stupid recall BTW im taking mine in on TUES just noticed i had a gaping hole (since my father uses it as a daily in stead of his Routan)

[Timmbo]

Besides this being a vehicle that will appeal to the masses, you also have to realize that auto companies have MPG ratings that they are required to meet by the government. Just with this change they will go from a Pathfinder that averaged about 18mpg to a Pathfinder that will average 24mpg and possibly even better if they introduce a smaller displacement turbo engine (such as what Ford has done).

Again, I am just stating this as something to consider, personally I love the current Pathfinder (even more so in 5.6 V8 configuration), and that is why I drive an Armada, but you have to take a step back and understand where Nissan is coming from. If they are going to remain competitive in the segment, this is the ONLY way to go.

[Buzzman]

Again, I am just stating this as something to consider, personally I love the current Pathfinder (even more so in 5.6 V8 configuration), and that is why I drive an Armada, but you have to take a step back and understand where Nissan is coming from. If they are going to remain competitive in the segment, this is the ONLY way to go.

Makes me wonder: Who still makes a true four by four?
What do you buy if you want a rock and hill climber?......Jeep, Land Rover...?
(I truly don't know anymore)

[Timmbo]

Wrangler, Land Rover, FJ Cruiser, Xterra, Frontier, Tacoma.....still plenty of options!

[Timmbo]

Here is the latest folks!

http://www.nissannews.com/pressrelease/ ... s-enhanced

[kerrton]

Looks great to me, although I'm surprised at the lack of photos.

Intersting details on powertrain, they mention a V6 with CVT, implying there will only be one powertrain but I'd guess they'll add at least one other engine option. Putting a CVT in the Pathfinder and mentioning it's ability to tow boats is fairly surprising considering the current generation of CVT is not really known for being bullet proof tough, and the current model Murano is limited to 3500 lbs I believe, which just won't cut it and justify bragging about towing capacity. So I'm guessing the next-gen CVT is pretty beefy and will offer 5000 lb tow rating which is the minimum you'd expect if you're planning on towing a boat. If I was going to be doing a lot of towing over the life of the vehicle I'm just not sure I'd be confident in the CVT durability, and I wouldn't want to be the guinnea pig testing it out unless they gave a better warranty on the trans. Efficiency gains are great with the CVT, but I'll be interested to see how many buyers will opt for the CVT Pathfinder to tow trailers with with stiff competition from Explorer, Durango, 4Runner, and to a lesser extent Honda Pilot, all of which have conventional autos with good durability or at least the ability to rebuild the transmission if it does fail. If you cook your Nissan transmission towing your trailer through the mountains in the hot summer heat, you can't rebuild or service it, all you can do is eat the $5000 grand to replace it - until you can service/repair a CVT this could be an uphill battle for Nissan.

For a 7-passenger family hauler that isn't a minivan, they could sell a ton of these, a lot will depend on pricing which I expect to be comparable to the Ford Explorer (i.e. too rich for my blood!).

[Alfredo24.pr]

This is the last year for the current Pathfinder, a completely redesigned model is scheduled to be released as a 2013 model late in 2012.

The new Pat will be revealed on January 9th at the Detroit auto show, and the one thing that is clear is it will no longer be a body-on-frame truck, that's right, it's going to be a unibody "crossover". No exact details on the powertrain, but I'd expect a smaller displacement turbo, possibly the new 2.5L 4-cylinder turbo. Yes I said it, I believe the Pathfinder will be offered with a 4-cylinder making no less than 250 hp and 250 lb/ft of torque - by current standards a 2.5 turbo will be quite impressive considering Ford stuck a 2.0 Ecoboost turbo in the new Explorer. Here's another thought, could Nissan offer a next-gen CVT trans? I can hear the groans already from die-hard Pat truck fans, but I'd say this is almost guaranteed for the smaller engine anyway, and perhaps they'll still offer the regular 4.0 or 3.5 V6 with conventional auto trans.

Thoughts on this?

We should know the details in a little over a week, here's the link:

http://ca.autoblog.com/2011/12/19/nissa ... it-reveal/

Here it is:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8oVpN6S ... AAAAAAAEAA[/youtube]

[Rev_D21]

Pathfinder or MallFinder? That thing would die going anywhere off a main road. It's a 5-lug with low pro tires, exactly how much trailing do you really expect this overgrown shopping-spree stationwagon to be able to do?

A question I saw on FB, when's the cabriolet version coming out? I hope it comes with free Toblerones.

[Buzzman]

Why not call it the Grande Murano, like Chrysler did with it's stretched Caravan/Voyager mini-vans back in '88?
Either way, that's one Pathfinder that will never see the light of day in my driveway.
Even the iconic vertical rear door handle is gone. Sad.

[Rev_D21]

All Nissan did was rip off the Pathfinder name badge and glue it on this tripemobile so they didn't have to go through building up a new model name. So what exactly is Pathfinder about it? Nissan say's it's all Pathfinder? Really? Where?

I have a serious distaste for all things Ghosn and Renault right now. It's the end of our relationship as far as new cars are concerned. They hit me where it hurt the most, the mighty Pathfinder reduced to a soccermom mall shopping mobile with FWD. It's like waiting for the girl who dumped you to maybe come around if you hope enough only to find her taking shots at you hoping you'll go away. Well Nissan, here we are. First it was a Maxima '4dsc' with no manual option. Then it was the cross-cabriolet Murano. Now it's the death of the Pathfinder. The f*** Pathfinder! My father had a WD21 2 door that they could not pry out of his hands till I convinced him the D22 Xterra was a close cousin. Nissan, oh boy. I had much higher hopes for you and this is what you do? I think I am going to be sick. Seriously I feel betrayed after a whole lifetime of being a Nissan fan. I grew up in a Datsun 610 for crying out loud! Nissan, ditched 50 years of truck techonolgy for flavor of the month CUV garbage. Ghosn and Renault have ruined the brand for me. No Nissan in my driveway will be newer than the 02 I currently own and you can take that to the bank.

[Towncivilian]

My father had a WD21 2 door that they could not pry out of his hands till I convinced him the D22 Xterra was a close cousin.

Xterra is WD22; Frontier is D22. It has many parts that are compatible and retrofittable with the WD21; the heavy duty trans is a bolt-on basically. The Xterra is really the true successor to the WD21. Floor mats, front skid plate, front sway bar, some steering components... the 98-2000 D22U Frontier also shares many parts with WD21s and D21s. See this thread on NPORA.

I'm just ignoring this new "Pathfinder" vehicle (although that will not be possible when some owners start posting here ). As I said above, the Pathfinder died in 2004 in my opinion.

[Rev_D21]

My father had a WD21 2 door that they could not pry out of his hands till I convinced him the D22 Xterra was a close cousin.

Xterra is WD22; Frontier is D22. It has many parts that are compatible and retrofittable with the WD21; the heavy duty trans is a bolt-on basically. The Xterra is really the true successor to the WD21. Floor mats, front skid plate, front sway bar, some steering components... the 98-2000 D22U Frontier also shares many parts with WD21s and D21s. See this thread on NPORA.

I'm just ignoring this new "Pathfinder" vehicle (although that will not be possible when some owners start posting here ). As I said above, the Pathfinder died in 2004 in my opinion.

I know the WD vs D designations, I just shortened it because I was fuming and just went with it, I was in the moment. Trust me, as a current D21 and D22 owner I know this info. Check out the work I have done on the NICO Nissan trucks section.

[Towncivilian]

I know the WD vs D designations, I just shortened it because I was fuming and just went with it, I was in the moment. Trust me, as a current D21 and D22 owner I know this info. Check out the work I have done on the NICO Nissan trucks section.

I wasn't doubting your knowledge - just sharing some additional info for those curious. I'm watching your "Where is the very first Hardbody?" thread, interesting stuff! If I ever get rid of my Pathfinder for some reason, I'd definitely consider a Hardbody as my next vehicle. I find the clean design and reliability appealing, but I digress at this point.

[asoomal]

All Nissan did was rip off the Pathfinder name badge and glue it on this tripemobile so they didn't have to go through building up a new model name. So what exactly is Pathfinder about it? Nissan say's it's all Pathfinder? Really? Where?

I have a serious distaste for all things Ghosn and Renault right now. It's the end of our relationship as far as new cars are concerned. They hit me where it hurt the most, the mighty Pathfinder reduced to a soccermom mall shopping mobile with FWD. It's like waiting for the girl who dumped you to maybe come around if you hope enough only to find her taking shots at you hoping you'll go away. Well Nissan, here we are. First it was a Maxima '4dsc' with no manual option. Then it was the cross-cabriolet Murano. Now it's the death of the Pathfinder. The f**king Pathfinder! My father had a WD21 2 door that they could not pry out of his hands till I convinced him the D22 Xterra was a close cousin. Nissan, oh boy. I had much higher hopes for you and this is what you do? I think I am going to be sick. Seriously I feel betrayed after a whole lifetime of being a Nissan fan. I grew up in a Datsun 610 for crying out loud! Nissan, ditched 50 years of truck techonolgy for flavor of the month CUV garbage. Ghosn and Renault have ruined the brand for me. No Nissan in my driveway will be newer than the 02 I currently own and you can take that to the bank.

That's exactly how I feel about Ghosn and crippling Nissan into Renault.... Then again, it's all about the moolah.

[Rev_D21]

I know the WD vs D designations, I just shortened it because I was fuming and just went with it, I was in the moment. Trust me, as a current D21 and D22 owner I know this info. Check out the work I have done on the NICO Nissan trucks section.

I wasn't doubting your knowledge - just sharing some additional info for those curious. I'm watching your "Where is the very first Hardbody?" thread, interesting stuff! If I ever get rid of my Pathfinder for some reason, I'd definitely consider a Hardbody as my next vehicle. I find the clean design and reliability appealing, but I digress at this point.

No worries brah! I was on fire last night. I am still extremely upset but not as pissed as I was. Sorry to have turned my fire towards you. I was a Nissan fan till yesterday. Today I am a pre-2002 Nissan/Datsun fan.