The 2018 Nissan Pathfinder is powered by a 3.5L V6 making 284 horsepower. The Pathfinder is rated at 27 mpg on the highway and 20 mpg in the city for 2-wheel-drive models, while 4-wheel-drive versions are rated only 1-mpg lower in both ratings. Part of this economy is attributable to Nissan's standard continuously variable transmission (CVT), which, unlike traditional automatics, has an infinite number of gear ratios and is consequently always able find the best compromise between economy and power.
With a third row for seating and passenger capacity up to seven, Nissan boasts that the Pathfinder has best-in-class front headroom, front foot room and overall interior passenger volume. While the Pathfinder has an additional 8.4 cubic feet of interior room over the outgoing model, it also makes better use of its interior space, with a flat load-floor and second-row seats that slide a full five-and-a-half inches to make third-row access much easier. The third row even has a reclining feature, which is uncommon for vehicles of this size.
The 2018 Pathfinder comes in four different trims -- S, SV, SL and Platinum -- which allows for a broad range of pricing and features. Base S models come with plenty of nice features, including attractive 18-inch wheels, tri-zone automatic climate control, a 6-speaker stereo with auxiliary input, keyless entry and a dashboard-mounted monitor. SV Pathfinder models add roof rails, automatic headlights, Bluetooth connectivity, a rear view monitor and Nissan's Intelligent Key system. The SL Pathfinder begins to add some serious luxury, featuring leather seating, heated steering wheel, a remote engine start and a power rear liftgate. It also features additional exterior amenities such as fog lamps, heated mirrors and chrome side moldings. An SL Premium Package adds a dual panorama moonroof, a tow hitch and a Bose sound system. The Platinum Pathfinder is the next step up and features 20-inch wheels, a navigation system and climate-controlled front seats. The Platinum Family Entertainment Package includes pretty much every feature listed above plus a tri-zone entertainment system.
Safety is addressed in the Pathfinder with dual stage front airbags, side impact airbags, side curtain airbags and a rollover sensor. Preventative safety systems include anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control and a tire pressure monitoring system. SV-level and better Pathfinders also include a rear view monitor to make backing out of parking spaces easier and safer.
Good Fuel Economy
Spacious Interior
5000-pound Towing Capacity
Third Row Seating
Competitive Pricing
After a robust and thorough update in 2017, Nissan has continued to build upon the Pathfinder platform in 2018 by adding automatic emergency braking as standard equipment and a system called Rear Door Alert that helps remind drivers of anything they may be forgetting in the back seat, including children and pets.
Between its seating capacity and fuel economy, the Pathfinder makes a good value play. While previous Pathfinders competed with truck-like SUVs like the Toyota 4Runner, the 2018 Pathfinder aims instead to compete more closely with crossover vehicles such as the Toyota Highlander, bringing more space and refinement to the market at a slight cost to seldom used off-road capabilities.
