Driven: 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Offers Infiniti Luxury For Less

Back in 2021, Nissan updated the Pathfinder SUV for its fifth generation, updating the styling, changing the transmission, and improving the interior technology. The Nissan Pathfinder carries over unchanged for 2024, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There are new, more powerful, and more efficient options in the three-row mid-size crossover segment that rival it, but the Pathfinder remains competitive with a reasonable $36,650 starting price, a smooth V6 engine, the rugged Rock Creek off-road trim, and a luxurious Platinum model.

CarBuzz spent a week driving the Pathfinder Platinum, the most expensive model, which is far pricier than the base model at nearly $50k. We think it justifies that cost with features that you would expect to find in a luxury SUV like the Infiniti QX60. In fact, the Pathfinder might be nice enough to make us think twice about even entering an Infiniti dealership.

Exterior: Tougher Than Before

The previous generation Pathfinder was a pretty soft-looking vehicle, a far cry from the model’s rugged origins. Though it still rides on the Nissan D platform for crossovers, this latest model at least attempts to exude toughness. Even the base model looks premium with 18-inch dark painted wheels, while the Platinum model steps up to 20-inch machine-finished ones. The mid-level Rock Creek remains our favorite visually based on its trim-specific front fascia, 18-inch beadlock-style wheels with all-terrain tires, and roof rack.

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Nissan offers nine exterior colors and six two-tone combinations with a black roof. Our Platinum tester showed up in a lovely shade of Deep Ocean Blue Metallic, which is among our favorites. Scarlet Ember Tintcoat is also a beautful and Baja Storm Metallic (a flat khaki hue) gives the Pathfinder an off-road appearance that some will love.

Interior: Platinum Status

With newer, more recently-updated options in this segment, the Pathfinder does not boast the best technology in its class. That being said, the available technology is simple and intuitive. An eight-inch touchscreen comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while a larger nine-inch screen with wireless phone mirroring is available on the SL and Platinum trims. Most trims come with analog gauges featuring a small information display, while the Platinum adds a 12.3-inch digital dashboard and a head-up display. Nissan could increase the infotainment screen size in a facelift to be on par with competitors, but we didn’t have any issues with how the infotainment functions. The 13-speaker Bose premium audio system sounds nice, but not the best we’ve heard.

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Cloth seats come standard in the lower trims, while the SL adds leather in either Charcoal or Gray. Upgrading to the Platinum brings semi-aniline leather with premium stitching in either Charcoal or Chestnut to the table, as seen in our tester. The Platinum also gets heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats offer tremendous support and feel softer than most competitors. Heated rear seats are available, but you’ll only get ventilated seats up front if you tick the box for it on the options menu.

Practicality: Kid Friendly

Available as either an eight-seater with a bench, or a seven-seater with captain’s chairs, the Nissan Pathfinder excels as a family-friendly vehicle. Both second-row seating configurations offer tilt and slide adjustments, meaning passengers can be more comfortable. The captain’s chairs come with a center console between them, which can easily be removed if you prefer a roomier feel. Getting into the third row requires a single button press, which tips and tilts the seat forward to allow better ingress. The third row isn’t the largest in the segment, but it’s usable for adults.

There are more spacious SUVs in the class when it comes to carrying cargo, but the Pathfinder supplies up to 80.5 cubic feet with the seats folded. The third row is manual with no power-folding option available, and there is a deep storage area underneath the floor. Nissan doesn’t include any levers to fold down the second row from the trunk, making it slightly inconvenient to get maximum storage space.

Powertrain: Familiar Friend

While some competitors have downsized to a turbo-four or hybrid powertrain, Nissan remains faithful to its 3.5-liter VQ series V6 engine. It’s comparably potent for the class, rated at 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. Nissan specifies that the Rock Creek is tuned to deliver 295 hp and 270 lb-ft on premium fuel, matching the output from the Infiniti QX60. This is a similar situation to the Toyota Grand Highlander, which can produce Lexus levels of power on premium gasoline.

• 

  2024 Nissan Pathfinder

  Base MSRP

  $36,080

  Engine

  3.5L V6 Gas

  Horsepower

  284 hp (295 hp Rock Creek)

  Torque

  259 lb-ft (270 lb-ft Rock Creek)

  Fuel Economy

  20/27/23 mpg (2WD) | 21/27.23 mpg (AWD)

  Towing Capacity

  6,000 lbs

• 

  2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

  Base MSRP

  $43,070

  Engine

  2.4L Turbo Inline-4 Gas

  Horsepower

  265 hp

  Torque

  310 lb-ft

  Fuel Economy

  21/28/24 mpg (FWD) | 21/27/23 mpg (best AWD)

  Towing Capacity

  5,000 lbs

• 

  2024 Kia Telluride

  Base MSRP

  $36,190

  Engine

  3.8L V6 Gas

  Horsepower

  291 hp

  Torque

  262 lb-ft

  Fuel Economy

  20/26/22 mpg (2WD) | 18/24/20 mpg (AWD)

  Towing Capacity

  5,500 lbs

Power goes out through a nine-speed automatic transmission to front-wheel-drive or optional all-wheel-drive (standard on Rock Creek). Fuel economy is rated at 20/27/23 MPG city/highway/combined with FWD, but 4WD oddly getting a slightly better rating in the city. The Platinum 4WD gets lower fuel economy on account of its larger wheels at 20/25/22 MPG, as does the Rock Creek due to the all-terrain tires (20/23/21 MPG). These numbers are decent for the segment, but far from class-leading. And when properly-equipped, the Pathfinder tows up to 6,000 pounds, an impressive number that is bested only by the Dodge Durango – and then only by 200 lbs.

Driving Impressions: Cushy Ride

Even riding on the largest wheels available, the Pathfinder delivers a cushy ride. Imperfect roads do little to upset the suspension and the cabin remains quiet even up to highway speeds. Little about the Pathfinder can be described as sporty, but there are some drive modes on a rotating knob that can slightly alter the vehicle’s character. Medium steering effort keeps the drive engaging without feeling cumbersome on the highway. Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist helps with steering, taking the pressure off during long highway stints.

The V6 engine pulls hard without ever feeling like it is overstressed. Nissan’s transmission tuning is on-point with well-timed downshifts and imperceptible upshifts during normal acceleration. Though we’d love to see Nissan add a hybrid powertrain for improved fuel economy, the existing setup is more than adequate.

Pricing & Verdict: The Strong Option

Pricing for the 2024 Pathfinder begins at a reasonable $36,650 for the S 2WD trim, going up to $38,550 with 4WD. The Pathfinder Platinum is the most expensive, starting at $49,620 ($51,520 for 4WD), putting it well below the priciest options in this segment. We think the Rock Creek packs the most value for $44,470, and is a great option for families who want to look rugged and don’t require every bell and whistle, but the SL at $43,070 is ideal if you value features over style.

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There are elements we’d like to see Nissan improve with the Pathfinder, mostly in terms of infotainment screen size and fuel ecconomy, but those small changes aside, the Pathfinder is a compelling package that undercuts many of its competitors while offering a strong feature set. The Toyota Grand Highlander is bigger and more fuel efficient, while the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride are more premium inside; all of these models can get more expensive than the Pathfinder, though. If you want a nicely-sized crossover that can fit the family and out-tow the competition, consider the Nissan Pathfinder.

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