2013 Pathfollower...er Pathfinder

[MinisterofDOOM]

I'm kinda confused by Nissan's approach at this. But, at the same time, Nissan is one of only TWO automakers in the US making MULTIPLE midsize truck-based SUVs. Toyota is the other. While I don't agree with Nissan's move with the Pathy, I do understand why they made it.

Nissan has class-leading crossovers across a variety of segments. But the one segment they don't have ANY crossover in is arguably the most important: the 7 seat segment. Pilot is the king there, followed closely by the GM twins (Acadia/Traverse). The Highlander is an astoundingly mediocre turd graced with a great powerplant and the Santa Fe is easily Hyundai's worst product by several orders of magnitude. The new Cherokee and Durango are kinda off in their own corner, trying desperately to still be badass with their V8s and longitudinal AWD instead of sideways sixes and tiny rear axles, so they don't really enter into the Pilot/Pathfinder equation.

Anyway, the point is, Nissan has needed a 7 seat crossover for a while. The question I keep asking is: "Why did it have to be the Pathfinder?"
Why not a LWB Murano? Especially with all the clout the Murano name carries in the crossover market. Or why not an all-new product? Or why not take the FX, stretch it a bit, put some more tame sheetmetal on it, and call it the Nissan Something?

Even when the Pathfinder went unibody for its second generation, it did so in a Durango style "I'm still here to break stuff" sort of way. It had its engine turned the right way, it had a solid rear axle and, aside from the lack of a ladder frame, it was still very much a truck. It could be beat on, it's truck transmission meant it wouldn't self-destruct upon trying to tow so much as a uhaul aero trailer, it had real 4WD including a low-ratio mode...

I have the same reaction to Ford's wussifying of the Explorer, too. Why couldn't they keep selling BOF explorers alongside a 7 passenger crossover? Especially when they already HAVE a 7 passenger crossover? Why sacrifice an existing model to fill a new spot? It's like trading in your air conditioner for a water heater. The need for one does not preclude the need for the other.

But Nissan's move is slightly less horrifying and baffling since they've also got the Xterra. They get to keep selling the manliest midsize SUV AND get a slice of Honda's Crossover Pie at the same time. Ford, for some unfathomable reason, decided they want to go at their slice of pie with two forks, trading their steak knife in for one of them.

The real problem with Nissan's new Pathfinder, though, is that it doesn't do anything to stand out. It has a three-generation-old VQ under the hood bolted up to a CVT that's arguably not even up to hauling groceries on a regular basis. It's just another "I'm a box but I get non-terrible gas mileage" entry. It's too little and too late.

So it's worse than trading your air conditioner for a water heater. It's like trading your class-leading zoned home climate control system for a rusty junkyard water heater you bought from a crackhead on the way home from work for $3.

[raremotive]

I wouldn't be the least surprised if they did release a 180Z Hybrid.

That would be the day Nissan dies for me.

[NolimitZ32]

MoD you should write for C&D or MT or something, that was one of the most well written posts I've ever seen and not to mention very entertaining.

[Space Monkey]

The only 2 capable off-roaders still produced are the Xterra and the FJ, that's the way the market likes it so us enthusiasts are left to deal with what we have.

How did you miss the Jeep Wrangler? Also the Ford Raptor F-150.

[Rev_D21]

The Land Cruiser is still BOF.