Just bought a '13 Pathfinder!!

[coledog188]

With our family growing by one soon I felt the need to upgrade the family car...So after test driving a Rogue, Murano, and the new Pathfinder I made up my mind. The 2013 Pathfinder is an incredible car, fits like a glove, extremely smooth power with the CVT and I love it.

I'd be happy to answer questions about it if anyone has any.
I went with the S model with 4wd since we live in upstate NY and have snowy roads 5 months of the year.

My only gripe is shifting into 4wd Lock mode...It can only be done under a certain speed (10 mph?) and the car will automatically go back into Auto 4wd after it's turned off and turned back on. There is no shift on the fly for Lock, only Auto. Small complaint, but still a complaint.

All in all it's stylish, comfy, tech savvy, and gets good mileage so I'm pleased so far.

[skiski329]

Let's see it!

[coledog188]

Ask and you shall receive!

[reckless1]

Let me know if you like it better than the R50. One of the things I love about my QX4 is that I can hit all kinds of things and not worry because it has high ground clearance. I sometimes treat my Q like a Rally car (albeit a slow one). The other day I went accidentally through a construction zone where the road was all tore up a few feet at around 70 mph and my Q was loving it. I love how I can constantly abuse her and she doesn't give me any problems.

[skiski329]

WOW! i like it! nice color choice. definitely more streamlined, and looks powerful. Let us know about the ground clearance, that front looks a bit low. I'd really like it if that black plastic piece wasn't there, then it would look like it could hold it's own off the pavement.

[zach7685]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ayep8kkD5M < great off-road of sorts video

[zach7685]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqAVI3HFwMQ Overall review

[coledog188]

Well, first off...I love it more and more every day.
I've had 3 R50's, my girlfriend currently has one, and my mom had an Armada so I've had a lot to compare against (98 QX4, 03 QX4, 96 Pathy, 98 Pathy, 06 Armada) and I have to say this is the best Pathfinder I've ever driven.

It's refined yet has balls, it's classy and sleek, it has room throughout for everyone and everything, and everything is exactly where I'd expect it to be in a perfect world. Cup holders are well designed and nicely placed, controls for wipers and turn signals are easy to reach, radio controls are intuitive and again easy to reach as well. The only gripe I have is that the outside mirror adjustments are a bit of a reach if you have the seat back a little ways.

Yesterday we took it down to Buffalo for a Bills game with some friends and after 8-10 hours in the car everyone was still comfortable and I didn't really want to get out of the car. The CVT transmission shifts smoothly and provides plenty of passing power while not being "jerky" when you floor it. For a lot of the trip on I-90 I had it going at a good 85-100mph clip and it didn't miss a beat...Even when I asked it to pass someone when I was already doing 85.

One of my passengers in the backseat was around 6'3" and even he was comfortable with legroom. It truly is one of the best designed cars I've ever been in.

I get compliments on it constantly, everyone wants to sit in it, and my parents are thinking about trading in their 2011 Outback for one even.

I don't do much off-roading I must say...And since this was purchased because of a new baby coming in April I kinda doubt I'll be taking it out on any trails anyway. I haven't had any issues with clearance so far though, and a few of my computer client's houses are deep in the woods off the beaten path.
The thing I notice the most is how smooth the suspension is, actually feels better than my friend's 09 BMW 528xi over bumps and dips.

Overall...I give it an A+ and I'd recommend one to anyone!

[Towncivilian]

Thanks for sharing your photos and your experiences! It sounds like a great vehicle. I still feel it doesn't deserve the name Pathfinder, though.

Is there anything you dislike about the R50s that you feel were improved upon with the Armada or your new Pathfinder?

[coledog188]

I felt the R50's (especially the pre 2001 year) were underpowered. The Armada obviously had a 305HP engine and was a rocketship on wheels lol.
The '13 Pathfinder feels like it had way more power than my '03 QX4 even though it's larger and only has 12-15 more HP. The fuel economy is a big thing to me as well, 18MPG highway in my 03 just wasn't going to cut it moving forward.

I've owned 14 total cars including this Pathfinder...I get bored or they have some mechanical issue. This is my favorite I must say...and I've owned BMWs, Rams, Audis, R50s, etc, etc.
As I told my dad when we were test driving various cars (Rogue, Murano, Pathy), the Pathfinder just "fit like a glove". The others didn't...The Rogue was rough feeling and unrefined, and the Murano just wasn't nearly as comfortable feeling or driving.

To sum it up, here are the improvements over my 03 QX4 in my opinion.
- More power
- Smoother overall, feels like a sports car
- More rear legroom
- 3rd row seating
- Better MPG
- Feels roomier in the "cockpit" for drinks, iPhone holder, passenger, etc
- Dual zone climate control
- Better visibility
- Comfier seats even though mine aren't leather or heated

Random notes:
Dog hair sticks to the clothe seats like crazy...Without even having a dog in the car! If someone gets in with a little on them it'll be on your seats. Good think is that it comes off easily with a vacuum. It also stands out against the charcoal color of the seats.
Highbeam indicator is EXTREMELY bright and doesn't go down in brightness even when using the dimmer controls, can be obnoxious at times.
Headlights are very bright and are the ONLY headlights I've ever been able to favorably compare to my QX4's HIDs.

[reckless1]

You got me thinking about it now... I never thought I'd drive any japanese car other than the QX4 (I have two V12's: 1 mercedes, 1 bmw). Is the QX56 same as pathfinder?

[Towncivilian]

QX56 is the Infiniti version of the Nissan Armada.

[zach7685]

The 2011+QX56 is different than the armada. The they are Gorgeous or bulbous I love them.

[kerrton]

HI there, I have an 08 Rogue and with 2 kids will be upgrading to something larger in the next couple years - a slightly used Pathfinder is going to be a good option.

You said that a friend over 6' sat in the third row and was comfortable on a long highway trip? Very few if any 3-row crossovers can claim that. And getting in and out of the back row was fairly easy? (I know what Nissan marketing says about it, I just like to know the real-world reality).

My Rogue suspension is very firm, I don't like it, I'd love something softer and more luxurious - you mentioned that the ride is very soft but still controlled? Also the Rogue 2.5 is noisy as all hell when its cold outside, and takes forever to warm up. Once it finally warms up, the heater is very weak, same for the A/C. AND one of my big annoyances with the CVT is that it will hold a very low gear in cold weather until it really warms up, so you end up driving around town revving like crazy 3500+ rpms just under very light throttle pressure - I really hate that feature - its designed to protect the CVT from cold stress damage but seems like overkill.

It looks like you're driving your Pat in some colder weather, does the engine warm up fairly quickly - and the heater gets nice and hot? I'm assuming the VQ is fairly quiet and refined even when cold? AND my big question: Does the CVT hold a low gear ratio when its cold, the equivalent of driving around in 2nd gear until the engine reaches operating temps? I absolutely hate this feature on my Rogue, combined with the rattling 2.5, this thing sounds terrible when cold (once warmed up things are quiet and refined, it just takes forever).

How's the forward visibility? Does the hood interfere somewhat with visibility? I have had my eye on a Honda Pilot for a few year and other than the ridiculous high resale prices on the used ones, the front visibility kinda sucked with the big hood in the way.

Thank you!

[kerrton]

One more question: have you looked at your maintenance schedule in detail yet? I tried to download it from the Nissan site but it wasn't available yet.

Low maintenance costs are a big plus for me. I like to do certain fluid changes early, like coolant, rear diff, transfer case, and manual trans fluid (for my other cars) to get rid of break-in residue but otherwise appreciate high maintenance intervals.

For example, does it specify a CVT fluid change interval on this "next-gen" CVT unit?

How about engine oil, I'm assuming Nissan is sticking with a 5W-20 conventional oil spec, with the option of going to synthetic based on owner preference? Or perhaps they've tweaked this spec?

Thanks again, and good luck with the new ride, looks awesome!

[Missouri Swede]

Maintenance manual is here:

http://x.nissanhelp.com/forums/maintenance.php

Owner manual is here:

http://www.nissan-techinfo.com/deptog.aspx?dept_id=36

Oil is 5W30 according to the manual, and "NISSAN recommends Genuine NISSAN Ester Oil available at a NISSAN dealer."

[Towncivilian]

Nissan's ester oil is nothing special, and not worth the price.

As far as I know, only the 2013 Altima specifies 0W-20 oil with 5W-30 usable as well if 0W-20 is not available.

[Timmbo]

I have the JX35, and I will say this about the JX35 and the Pathfinder, the passing power had highways speeds is AWESOME! It is so immediate and so effortless! I had 3 grown male passengers with me, and it was incredible how simple it was to pull out and pass. Off the line acceleration is nothing crazy, but the passing power is fantastic.

[coledog188]

In reply to Kerrton:
The middle row has the sliding seats so with the seats all the way back my friend was comfortable. With the seats all the way back, however, the 3rd row doesn't have much leg room but if you have kids to put back there they'll be fine. Getting in and out of the 3rd row is INCREDIBLY easy and is quite impressive to be honest. I've never seen that much access space in an SUV and as I stated before my had an Armada and my dad has a Suburban.

My Pathfinder's ride is better than a 5 series BMW in my opinion. It's smooth, car like, very tight, and feels very "rich". When I was buying the Pathy I test drove a Rogue and a Murano and I know exactly what you mean. The Rogue is very rough and doesn't feel anything like the Pathfinder in ride quality.

You'll definitely notice the engine being a lot quieter. Warmup takes a few miles but while cold the CVT hovers around 2000rpm at 45mph. Definitely not loud and definitely not like what you're describing.

The heater gets nice and hot, I usually end up cooking myself if I have it set at 74 degress and will turn it down to 68 or so on longer rides.
Since it's winter I haven't tried the AC in it yet.

I honestly can't even see much of the hood when I drive it, it's not an issue at all and visibility is fine. A lot better than the Rogue or Murano in my opinion.

I'm probably going to end up running Cen-Pe-Co oil in it, which is VERY high quality oil and is highly regarded by dealerships at least around here.

I agree with Timmbo, passing power is quick, smooth, and awesome!

[kerrton]

Thanks guys for all the info., you've got me even more excited about this vehicle now!

I'll be curious to hear how the real-world mileage/efficiency pans out, but I'm guessing it will be fairly close to posted numbers if you drive conservatively with a light foot.

You know I'm also curious if there have been any modifications to the VQ35 engine, (the press release didn't mention anything) or is this the same design thats been inservice for many years in the Murano, Altima etc.?

Thanks again.

[Timmbo]

I am getting just over 22mpg (mixed highway and city driving) in my JX35 AWD which is supposed to be about an MPG lower than the Pathy. The mpg was considerably lower during break in, but great now.

All Nissan has said is that this engine has been tuned specifically for the SUV duty of the Pathfinder. They will not go into specifics. JX35 has 5 more hp, and 8 more lb ft of torque, but premium is suggested in the JX35, Pathy is regular.

[coledog188]

I was incorrect on the RPMs for 45mph, they usually hover around 1200 not 2000. When driving down the highway at 80mph it runs at around 2300.

I have about 1100 miles on the car and I have a heavy foot and do a lot of around town driving and the terrain is rather hilly so I've been getting about 19 mpg. Highway is around 21-22.

Timmbo how long did it take for you to start seeing better mpg?

I tried to figure out the top speed last night but I ran into traffic on the interstate so I only hit 120, but it was definitely still climbing.

[Timmbo]

Just over 1500-2000 miles the MPG really got better.

[Timmbo]

That is an awesome top speed, I want to try!!!

[coledog188]

I wonder how much power and torque I'd gain if I ran premium...

[Timmbo]

I have never tried regular in mine, only premium. Performance is great.

[kerrton]

It's really amazing that the QR3.5 has been around for so many years, is soldiering on in a brand new 2013 model, and producing best in class efficiency (much better, in particular with city driving, than the Explorer, Durango, Pilot and even the Highlander). The new CVT must be doing some amazing things, combined with weight reduction. Imagine how efficient this thing could be if they stuck a Honda 3.5 with variable cylinder management, like in the Pilot, that would be an amazing combo and without the need for complex and expensive hybrid electric systems.

Yes I know Honda is the enemy, I was just sayin......

[Timmbo]

I am sure there has been on going fine tuning to the 3.5 and the CVT, so simply pairing the Honda 3.5 with Nissan's CVT would probably not result in the same performance / fuel economy.

[kerrton]

I really appreciate you guys posting your experiences with the '13 Pat, it gives me some good input for my decision on my next vehicle. In particular I'm keeping an eye out for reports of issues with this newly redesigned CVT. If I had to bet, I'd say it will be more reliable, refined and quiet than previous versions but you never know until there's some good real-world test results from real drivers. And its those "tweaks" that may have been done to the VQ35 engine, resulting in better efficiency etc., that also could cause issues potentially - gains in one area, can lead to unitended consequences. I remember reading on the Murano forum about quite a few complaints about bad headgaskets and coolant fouling the engine a few years ago. It seems Nissan quickly issues a fix and corrected the problem with redesigned gasket - the lesson is you never know when an issue might pop up, especially in a first-year new design like this.

My 08 CVT mated to the QR25 is very efficient but has issues with low-rpm vibration at "around-town" speeds, and more concerning is the development of a whining sound at highway speeds when the CVT gets nice and hot. It is a common feature of this vintage CVT, and it doesn't develop until somewhere after 30,000 miles. It gets very loud with high rpms, for instance when passing on the highway, it sounds like the whining noise you get with hydraulic systems, and with high speed bearings that are starting to show wear and tear. Most owners drive for tens of thousands of miles without issue, but the noise is concerning. I'm curious if something similar will occur with this next-gen CVT, or will they finally have perfected the design? I'm very encouraged by the fact that the tow rating is 5000 lbs - even for people who don't tow this is great because it indicates the durability of the system and if you just use the vehicle for light-duty it should last forever, in theory, due to the low loads.

I read that the next-gen Honda Pilot will slap a CVT in its FWD version, and Toyota plans to roll CVT's in many of their vehicles, although they don't really say which models. Perhaps Nissan's strategy of early-adoption and perfection of the CVT is turning out to have been a wise decision, and many of the critics are now changing their tune and even following suit.

[Timmbo]

Hey, the fact that Nissan can continue to use the 3.5 with little or no change and have such great performance with amazing fuel economy is FANTASTIC! Other companies are dropping to smaller engines with turbo or going with hybrid.

The other interesting thing is the JX35 does not have a transmission cooler, the Pathy does with the updated CVT and the 5000lb towing capacity.