2013 Pathfollower...er Pathfinder

[Bubba1]

I just opened up the new issue of Motor Trend. Saw a small article about the next generation Pathfinder going on sale this fall. It has some significant changes besides a restyled front end and more steeply raked windshield. Nissan is switching from a rugged body-on-frame design, to the car-like unibody Murano/Quest/Maxima platform. They are also offering just one engine/one transmission choice. The 3.5 V6 and a... CVT. This is the first Nissan V6and AWD to have a CVT. The AWD system will be FWD based with 3 operating modes: "intelligent" AWD, full-time 4WD, and FWD.

This drivetrain/chassis combo is also going to be used for the upcoming Infiniti JX35. Yep, CVT is going to begin to infest Infiniti.

Richard Miller, Nissan's truck/suv Product Planner was quoted as saying, "A CVT is actually better off-road because it keeps the engine right in the power band."

Personally I'm a bit concerned. Nissan has appeared to convert what was once a rugged, durable off-roader and made it into an ordinary station wagon. Then offered it with only a CVT and expects us to believe its a better off-roader?? Uh, ok. The next thing you know they might take a Maxima, remove everything that once made it sporty, offer it only with a CVT and label it a "4 door sports car". Oh wait....

Thoughts?

[Encryptshun]

This news fills me with a vitriolic mixture of hatred and loathing for the doucheweasels at Nissan marketing. Was the Pathfinder not selling well in its current configuration? Were there complaints? Nope. After a dip in sales commensurate with the general dip in automotive sales overall, the Pathy had been experiencing double-digit YoY growth since 2008. Then why change? Why take something consumers loved and turn it into something consumers loathe? Oh yeah...costs. Because cutting costs of course means that you'll make loads of money even if you alienate your consumers and drive them to the competition, right? Absolutely! Just ask the folks at Nissan marketing....

[sx moneypit]

Saw the same article,i can't believe it.

[AppleBonker]

Why take something consumers loved and turn it into something consumers loathe?

I think your usage of the word "consumer" isn't accurate. Swap in "enthusiast" or "registered NICO member" and I'd say that question has some validity to it.

On the other hand, I have a feeling the general consumer will like these changes. The car platform should help the ride be a bunch smoother, but the off-roading will suffer. I don't think you need to poll soccer moms to figure out which is more important to them. AND, if you can cut costs in the process, wouldn't that generally be considered a win?

Also, who is this competition you speak of? It seems like everyone is doing this. More and more SUVs are being built on car platforms (see Ford Explorer, Range Rover Evoque - which somehow won a "truck" of the year award?!?!?, et al). Considering less than 5% (probably) see off-road use, why design the line as a whole around that capability.

Don't get me wrong; I'm as disappointed as the rest of you. I'm just not surprised (the direction makes sense). The Pathy WAS on my short list of vehicles I'd be interested in. I have now removed it.

[Encryptshun]

Based on the look of the proposed '13 Pathy, I'd say the demographic it's going for are people who want a minivan but don't like the convenience or stigma of sliding side doors.

[AppleBonker]

Precisely! There are a LOT of people who are looking for the interior space of a station wagon or minivan but don't want the stigma of either of those vehicles. That is EXACTLY what this provides (as it essentially is a station wagon with a different body style).

[Rev_D21]

Don't get me started on this. The 2013 Pathfinder is what turned me away from Nissan until Ghosn and his French idiots take their hands off the brand. I refuse to consider anything Ghosn-era and this is a perfect example was to why. Pathfinder or Mallfinder? Either way, let's see this CVT equipped disgrace hit some real trails. Nissan, I have driven or driven in an Nissan for 36 years. I will not buy anything 2002-newer. There just may be a Hyundai in my driveway next time around. French design is usually a miss for me. Thanks Bubba, the Pathfinder wound runs deep with me.

[AppleBonker]

Either way, let's see this CVT equipped disgrace hit some real trails.

Like this?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMziYq8RTXk[/youtube]

Oh wait. That was about 5 inches of water and 4 inches of trail-packed snow. Nevermind... At least they're testing it against "extremes".

On that note, they didn't throw anything at it that my old Altima couldn't handle. Not shocking, considering it IS an Altima. The 2013 Pathfinder probably faired a bit better than my Altima would have, but that could entirely be attributed to the addition of AWD. Not impressed.

[Bubba1]

Precisely! There are a LOT of people who are looking for the interior space of a station wagon or minivan but don't want the stigma of either of those vehicles. That is EXACTLY what this provides (as it essentially is a station wagon with a different body style).

Right, I think Nissan has turned its sights away from the Toyota 4runner (traditional truck based SUV) and more toward the bigger selling Toyota Highlander, which is not much more than a Camry with a 4 Runner sized wagon body. the "Pathurano" has become more for people whose idea of offroading is a packed gravel driveway to a picnic area, which sadly is the majority of SUV buyers now.
From a manufacturing standpoint, I think what Nissan is doing makes economic sense as they're adding yet another model to the same platform (much like Chrysler did with the ol' K car platform) and that reduces costs. But in doing so, I think they de-balled some of the unique strengths that made the Pathfinder popular in the first place. And that loss cannot be replaced by a marketing slogan or well rehearsed commercial . It'll be interesting to see whether their gamble pays off or stings them. Oh, and sorry Rev.

[Rev_D21]

Can it handle at least a set of 31s? They say they tested it in all kinds of bad weather, where's that footage? All I saw was what a mall's parking lot looks like after a typical Rochester snow.

[AppleBonker]

It'll be interesting to see whether their gamble pays off or stings them.

I'm sure it wont hurt much. How many people out there honestly know the difference between unibody and body-on-frame? And, more importantly, what the trade-offs are between those two.

Because cutting costs of course means that you'll make loads of money even if you alienate your consumers and drive them to the competition

I'd like to revisit this comment. I'm not well-versed in the details of most SUVs (never really been in the market for one), so what options exist for a truck-based SUV on CURRENT models? I've looked quickly and have yet to find anything. Note: I'm interested in the mid-size variety. I know the Armada still exists, but it's a bit larger than the average consumer would need.

Edit: Forgot about the Xterra...

[Encryptshun]

Again, the power of marketing.

Step 1: Figure out how to make more money by making a crap product.
Step 2: Convince consumers that crap products are somehow BETTER.
Step 3: Profit!

[Rev_D21]

You can tell they cheaped out on it, they didn't even bother to give it a new name. They just took an old established name and rode those coat tails, that's lazy. There is nothing Pathfinder about it. I wouldn't have minded it so much if they had dropped Pathfinder and went with an entirely new name for this one but they didn't want to spend the time marketing a new name. That's lazy IMO.

[Encryptshun]

Waiting for the 2013 Versa to show up as a "180SX".

[sx moneypit]

[Bubba1]

Waiting for the 2013 Versa to show up as a "180SX".

LOL, or the 2014 370Z available only with a CVT.

[AppleBonker]

Motor Trend Article

Nissan has evolved the family-hauler with off-road capabilities to better coddle urban and suburban families without giving up its off-road prowess.

I lolled. AWD Altima != "off-road prowess"

The comments are also gold:

And a CVT transmission? Obviously a committee of men carrying purses designed this thing…

Could not have said it better myself.

[NolimitZ32]

They are doing what every other car company is doing and making profit doing it, I have always loved pathys (especially the WD, I owned one) and I currently own my 2nd; 2nd gen 4runner but as someone said above anything made past 2002 has been castrated. 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.

[Encryptshun]

Motor Trend Article

At the bottom of the "article" is the following phrase: "Source: Nissan".

Usually that means the reporter got facts from Nissan. In this case, however, I think Nissan actually wrote the article. This is shilling disguised as journalism of the worst ilk. Wretched.

[Bubba1]

Motor Trend Article

At the bottom of the "article" is the following phrase: "Source: Nissan".

Usually that means the reporter got facts from Nissan. In this case, however, I think Nissan actually wrote the article. This is shilling disguised as journalism of the worst ilk. Wretched.

HA! Good catch, but then again, we're talking about Motor Trend.

[AppleBonker]

True.

And the other thing that hasn't been discussed that I just thought of: towing. The Pathfinder used to be a great option for people who wanted more interior space than a mid-size truck (but didn't need the space/size of the Armada) and needed to tow a boat or something. I wonder what the tow-rating will be for this thing; a VQ mated to a CVT means it can't be much.

Also, with many manufacturers making the move to crossovers, it seems that it is just opening customers up to the Jeep GC. I know that is unibody, but it should still be far more off-road capable than this neutered thing. If you want to be able to hit the trails AND maintain some higher-end creature comforts, it appears to be one of the few remaining options.

[Rev_D21]

"“As families spend more time in their SUVs everyday as well as on weekends..."

Is this why unemployment is so high? Because people are too busy playing with their NAV and Ipods in their SUVs all day and on weekends?

Basically this thing is designed to take the traditional long trips families used to take in the 60's that no one can afford to take these days. And how many kids does Nissan think average families are really having these days? 5? 9? This thing is a marketing blunder.

[Towncivilian]

In my opinion, the Pathfinder died in 2004 when the R50 model ended.

[Encryptshun]

Rev, don't forget that the average stay-at-home mom spends at least 4 afternoons a week having unprotected sex with strangers at seedy motels out by the interstate. She's gotta drive something back and forth.

[numbnuts240]

*note to self - hit on cougars that drive pathfinders.

[sx moneypit]

[alms24sebring]

The truth hurts sometimes. My civic can plow through more 'extreme' snow than that weaksauce dusting.

[NolimitZ32]

*note to self - hit on cougars that drive pathfinders.

[raremotive]

Waiting for the 2013 Versa to show up as a "180SX".

LOL, or the 2014 370Z available only with a CVT.

Or even a rear trans-axle.

[Rev_D21]

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