2013 Nissan Pathfinder: full details of new Territory rival

By Tim Beissmann
August 06th, 2012

FIND DEALS

The all-new Nissan Pathfinder has been fully unveiled in the US, with the Japanese manufacturer claiming the fourth-generation SUV will be the most fuel-efficient vehicle in its class.

Equipped with a 194kW/325Nm 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine and teamed with the brand’s next-generation ‘Xtronic’ continuously variable transmission (CVT), the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder uses 10.7 litres of fuel on the combined cycle in front-wheel-drive form and 11.2L/100km when powering all four wheels, according to US testing standards.

Nissan says the figures make the new Pathfinder 30 per cent more economical than the outgoing third-generation model, a result achieved primarily through the SUV’s new aerodynamic design, 227kg weight reduction, reduced engine friction and its more efficient CVT.

Although there is currently no petrol engine option in the local line-up, Nissan Australia told CarAdvice at January’s Detroit motor show that the petrol V6 would be offered in the new Pathfinder range when it arrives down under, which will be towards the end of 2013 at the earliest.

At least one diesel engine will also be offered when the new model launches in Australia, although Nissan is yet to reveal details of any other powertrain options. While any diesel variants are unlikely to benefit from 30 per cent efficiency gains like the petrol model, the new Pathfinder’s substantial weight reduction – achieved through the shift from a body-on-frame chassis to a car-like monocoque construction – should see significant economy improvements nonetheless.

Nissan says the move to a unibody chassis has not affected the Pathfinder’s towing capacity or four-wheel-drive ability, with the new model featuring the brand’s All-Mode 4×4-i system with selectable 2WD, 4WD and Auto modes.

The more accommodating seven-seat cabin now features reclining third-row seats and the ‘EZ Flex Seating System with Latch and Glide’, which features a second-row tip-up seat for use with a child restraint seat that allows easy access to the rear while keeping the child seat securely fastened.

Other available features include Nissan’s Around View Monitor four-camera bird’s-eye view system, satellite navigation, 13-speaker Bose stereo with tri-zone entertainment system, heated and cooled front seats, and Nissan Intelligent Key with remote engine start.

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Paul

I dont like where nissan is going with this new pathfinder. They are getting rid of all of the off road potential. They should have just revamped the murano with all this stuff and maybe put the 3.7L V6 in the murano. The pathfinder should have stayed as a off roader to keep rivaling the prado. By not rivaling the prado and tacking a swipe at the teritory they will only hurt their previous customers through poor resale values. This is a crap unthought through move by nissan. I just prefferd the old pathfinder ti550. Nissan with has also stuffed up with the new patrol because they just got the infiniti qx56 and put a nissan badge on it that is hardly what I call development.
- jekyl & hyde
  
  dude,buy a prado then.
  
  nissan (and everybody else) knows what it’s doing with this new model.its looking at the explosion of suv sales,and wants a bigger slice of the pie than it’s currently got with the current pathy.the farmers loss is the soccer mum’s gain in this case.
  
  nissan MUST sell this with the current diesel (or something even better) engine.no brainer….
crouchy35

I want to like it.

But I dont.
Macca

Why the big deal about it being a Territory rival? It’s as much of a Santa Fe or Kluger rival (if not more so), or are you just looking for any tenuous means to have a go at Ford – again?
- Matty
  
  Maybe because the Territory is the one with the most at stake.
  - organza
    
    disagree. given the petrol is the main engine …. the car with the most to lose is the Kluger (without a diesel).
    
    Both designed for the American market. Both with very similar design intent. How that translates to the Australian market is the issue.
- Kampfer
  
  Because this mean Nissan has no decent real 4WD left in the line up. The seriously out dated Patrol will replaced by $100k+ patrol only luxury new Patrol.
  
  Should leave Pathfinder as Navara based real off-roader as a cheaper Prado competitor. Upsize the next X-Trail to family size SUV (may be optional 3rd row seats) and make the next Murano better looking 7 seater.
  - Paul
    
    Kampfer I agree with you 100%. I hope nissan take the negitive critisim on board
    - Adelaide_john
      
      but its too late, the models are locked in for a few years now, so no chnages will be forthcomign quickly and given we wont see the pathfinder for another ~15 months………..
      - Silver Streak
        
        We will never see a genuine off-roading Pathfinder again. Oh well.
      - gfys
        
        They could bring the X-Terra over
  - Big picture or myopia
    
    just a thought but does this mean you think Nissan have no idea what they are doing? I dont see any other manufacturer going towards more rugged “off road biased 4WD’s” either …. does this mean they are all wrong too?
    
    prove your point with data that customers are buying “real off road 4WD’s” and then I’ll accept your argument.
    
    I have no doubt there is a market for an “off road 4WD” – Prado tends to prove that although that tends to be the case north of the tropics than below it …. soft roaders with passenger car manners is what the customers want.
    
    Take a look at the SUV sales in VFacts …. the numbers dont lie. All the growth is in soft roaders with passenger car comforts and driveability.
    - Hwqng_edward
      
      That is what kruger and murano are for.
      Holden, vw and Ford are going to introduce ladder frame based 4wd near soon. Nissan is going opposite direction.
Braedz

Best looking Nissan I have seen in a while. I don’t mind it.
3D4

I’m very disappointed with this car.. It looks terrible and it’s purpouse would be ONLY for carrying fat mums with their fat kids… Shame NISSAN, shame…!
- Gamelec
  
  Your the issue with society
  - TG
    
    The main issue with society is people who can’t spell properly.
    - 3D4
      
      Ha ha..!
Robin_Graves

I’d be a little dubious about 300+Nm thru a CVT. It looks frumpy and ‘low’ – only way I can explain it. Looks like it’s been lowered too much.
- Phil
  
  Don’t you only look for problems with VW gearboxs?
  
  Nissan have a long and dubious history with gearbox problems in Pathfinders (and Navaras). They were with traditional automatics and manuals (how on earth do you mess up a standard manual design?) with lots of people having complete failures at low mileages, so this CVT couldn’t be much worse.
  - Beewee100
    
    The problem with the manual boxes were from the dual mass flywheels causing havoc with clutches. No issues with the autos. The beefed Cvt used behind the V6 in the Maxima, Murano uses a torque convertor as well. Imo they are brilliant behind an engine with torque and the latest xtronic versions behind the V6 have no issues.
    - Phil
      
      Plenty of reports across the web including from the NTHSA about problems with Pathfinder/Frontias/Xterrra automatic tranmissions.
      Among other problems with the automatic, apparently “radiator coolant tanks rupture, causing coolant to enter the tranmission and destroy it”.
      It’s cleary a real problem because Nissan USA has even admitted the problem (to some degree) and extended the warranty on the gearbox to 8 years/140,000kms (for USA only).
      I’ve also heard of countless failures in Nissan Patrol diesel engines. Apparently the pistons/cylinder head starts melding. Not sure if it affected any Pathfinder models.
      
      Haven’t heard of any issues with Nissan’s CVTs though have heard of many problems with Honda Jazz CVTs
  - wompie
    
    R51 with irrigated transmission! Coolant and transmissions don’t marry so well. would want bloody good warranty to get me back anywhere near a pathfinder or nissan
MisterZed

I still think the 2000-2004 Pathfinders (with the 3.3L V6) were the best looking ever.
Basil Exposition

Looks like crud. I also don’t trust the reliability of the CVT… Pass.
- Phil
  
  I think the problem would be it’s a Nissan gearbox not that it happens to be a CVT (though a Nissan CVT is a area for worry).
  
  Pathfinders, Navaras and Patrols all have a exntensive history of gearbox problems and none were with CVTs.
Fraap79

Another sissy 4WD. S**K. They have gone soft. Gone is the true pathfinder with 4.0 V6 & replaced by this mom’s taxi. Nissan… your sales will suffer!
- Seriously Concerned!
  
  So they lose a few thousand sales in Australia to gain over a hundred thousand new sales in America ….. I don’t think Nissan will be too concerned …. although the mark up per vehicle is probably better over here.
  
  CVTs are critical, not for driving pleasure or effectiveness, but to make sure that large vehicles such as SUVs meet their US mandated fuel economy standards while retaining an auto function.
  
  However, it does raise an emerging problem of our local market becoming saturated with big, incredibly ugly, fuel inefficient petrol SUVs with CVTs designed for the American market, as well as risky small SUVs with automated manuals designed for the Euro market. Apart from the ageing Forester …. few have any worthwhile ground clearance.
  
  Where is the sensible middle ground?
Arkitek

I like the new look, I’m not sure it’s a great move nudging this into softroader territory, wouldn’t mind owning one cos I don’t offroad anyway… I do think current model Pathfinder is more rugged in design, and this a lot more soccermom. And that bum looks more like a Dualis.
Nick

It seems that a lot of people don’t understand the global pressures to maintain profitability facing car companies these days. The fact is 95% of the people who buy these types of vehicles do not take them off road, and probably never intend to. There is so much competition these days that car makers need to target as big an audience as possible. If that means alienating the 5% that take their car off-road, then that’s a risk they are obviously prepared to take.
MisterZed

I’m glad they’re getting rid of the noisy, smelly diesel.
- Paul
  
  The diesel is a good power plant and is far from noisy at iddle and sound really nice. The power plant only sips fuel and has a hugh amount of torque.
Chopperp7@gmail.com

The current pathfinder is an embarrassment to the name, this is going to be even worse..

Just build a commodore wagon with a Nissan badge and be done with it.
- Paul
  
  You do not know what you are talking about the current pathfider especially the ti550 is great and drives well and is good value for money
  - Sumpguard
    
    Good value for money? NOT! The diesel powered version with the V6 is a total rip off. The decision to build it off the ute made sure it was aweful to look at too at the rear.
Paul

Why didn’t they just invest in some hybrid technology and have a off road 4×4 with good fuel efficiency. They could cut down on weight with the use of different materials. However I do like the look of the new pathfinder it looks like a beast just preferred if I could take it off road.
Paul

To I would not like a Prado because the diesel is gutless and the V6 engine has good performance but it’s not what you would call frugal.
- Big picture or myopia
  
  Paul …. where would you take the old model Pathfinder “off road” that you don’t think a a Kluger/Territory/new Pathfinder would go?
  
  I realise there ARE a few places that a Kluger/Territory/new Pathfinder won’t go compared to a Prado …. but I’d love to know which ones you go to so I can ask the following question ….
  
  How often do you go to that place? And depending on that answer … do you think manufacturers would design a car like these for the 0.002% of the time they go to this difficult place or would they design it for the rest of the time in the real world that the customer demands ease of use, fuel economy improvements and on road civility (amongst other requirements)????
Sumpguard

10.7 ltrs equates to 15 ltrs in the real world with that V6 and with a van on the back it will be in the 20′s. They have just lost the van towing grey army market straight up. No diesel = Crazy!
- Ausblock
  
  Read the article again “Sumpguard.” There will
  be a diesel, but the particulars are unknown at this stage. I will agree
  though, that real world figures are far higher than manufacturers claim. This
  is especially the case for European cars.
  - Sumpguard
    
    Yeah I somehow skipped over it. Sorry. I stand by what I said about their real world figures and I wonder how a CVT will go towing a van? Nissan’s V6′s tend to blow right out on fuel especially under load. It’s a great engine (Q) performance wise but not so great on the juice.
    
       I am therefore dubious about their claims of a 30 percent improvement.
    
       I suspect we had all better get used to the idea of CVT though as more manufacturers go that way.
    
       Meanwhile does anyone else think the headlight /grill treatment is “too big” for the car?
Dimekoza

They should have made it like the Touareg or the ML, with optional air suspension and low gear/diff locks for the people who want to go off road, but like this it’s pretty lame. What’s the point having the Murano and this, ok it has 7 seats, big deal, who needs them anyway, but getting rid of something that Nissan is famous for (making damn good off roaders) is just wrong…
- Paul
  
  Exactly right Dimokoza why make two cars the same with the same power plant for the same target audience.
coolbeans

Oh look it’s a Kluger clone…but a smart decision by Nissan because at least it will sell. The current Pathfinder is not on the radar for most 4WD/SUV buyers.
- Simon
  
  Agree – current one is ‘too 4WD’ for soccor mums, and ‘soft’ for real 4WD market. It is understandable why they are going with this though, like Nick said, the sales are in ‘SUVs’ which may occasionally mount the kerb to be washed on the council strip - but that’s as off road as they will go!
  - Big picture or myopia
    
    fairly condescending there Simon.
    
    Tell us all what the “real 4WD market” is.
Vins

The new Hyundai Santa Fe looks better
Able

In my eyes it’s now just a 7-seat Murano. Does every new Nissan (bar completely new names and the Tiida) get worse with every new generation? PASS!
- Sumpguard
  
  My eyes too! The new pulsar is awful. Their designer I am guessing is in his 80′s and never been to an eye specialist.
  
  Nissan once did a range of great “cars(s)” ,now due to said eye condition they do “crass”!
MisterZed

It’s a Nissan, that’s my car.
Aquahead

They lost me the moment it was said there were ”Front Wheel Drive” models. That means is just another rear wheel assist set up and will be as dymaically satisfying as driving a car with tyres made from banana skins.

I tow, I do real 4wd and the Pathfinder would have been something that I considered, but not now. Lets hope the New Ford Everest and Holden Colorado7 are the real deal….
Prosl2

Does this mean that the Pathfinder is no longer going to be a Navara with a changed rear end?
Ox

Dont like it
It’s gone soft.
It’s lost it’s tough utilitarian edge and any off road credibility.
What a shame, dosnt deserve the Pathfinder badge.
- Paul
  
  Yep you are right it just deserves a glorified Murano badge on it.
- Benji
  
  Footpath Finder…
- Moxley23
  
  The current Pathfinder is great. It provides good offroad and touring ability in comfort and can tow safely being real wheel drive. It’s essentially the same as a pajero, almost as good as a Prado (but cheaper). The new one will be in a different class. Good for families that don’t go offroad and don’t tow caravans. It’ll probably sell well, but I’d always go RWD, so off my list.
http://profile.yahoo.com/TXRGKCXVJETGMTDBRD3R2XTJPM Scottwheels

I own a 2011 pathfinder, and I’ve had 50,000 trouble free kilometers so far. I’ve taken it well off the beaten track, Gibb river Rd, El Questro, Bungle Bungles and general bush bashing. It does need a lift though, the bash plates don’t provide much protection. The serious 4WD crowd don’t rate them highly, mainly due to the clearance, and the after market parts are less available. To set one up for touring you’d need a long range tank, roof rack system, cargo drawers, fridge slide, rear spare tyre carriers, suspension upgrade, winch bar, heavy duty tow hitch, second battery, air lockers, bigger tyres… The list goes on. All these accessories seem to be made primarily for the Toyota brigade, it’s rare to see a Mitsubishi or a Nissan set up like that. When setting up a touring vehicle, the higher purchase price of yotas is offset by the range of after market gear.
Luke Adams17

its sad to see that it is no longer a 4wd, and has none of the pathfinder heritage…. like the rear door handle or tailgate, if you put all the pathfinder models together without badges you would say this car is the odd one out….
Luke Adams217

also the current pathie, (R51), is a very capable 4wd matching the patrol and modified ones at that.. the only reason i can see for nissan to down grade the pathfinder to the pure suv is the fact that the new patrol is basically the current pathfinder jst a bit bigger…
Laurierayr

Nissan have always made great 4WD (and sports cars) now they have a SUV which will be snapped up by a different market who don’t like the hard look and ride of the triditional 4WD. Wish they had released this before I bought my 2012 Subaru Tribeca. The Tribeca is on its way out due to lack of support by Subaru and this car will be another nail in the coffin…
Bharatjyani

the off road look was much better. and should stay. nissan is giving way for oher companies to occupy the place. which is not a good sign. the patrol design is should be followed. it could be named something else. dont spoil the game. let pathfinder be pathfinder.
Anthony Motor Sports

Styling is current and is similar to other manufactures, about time, and hopefully it will be more roomier than the current model. With regards to the tough 4×4 comments, I currently have a 2001 CRV and it has performed well on icy, snow covered roads around Mt Selwyn, dirt roads between Singleton and Gunnedah and also managed to come of ok against a kangaroo on Picton Road as well as take our son to his Football (soccer) games. So it basically does the job, as I hope the new pathfinder will. If I decide to be a cattle or sugar cane farmer or join a 4wd club, I will look at a land cruiser 70 or 200 series, patrol or Navarro etc so something that can carry half a dozen people in luxury and manage a few obstacles every now and again is ok for me.
pathfinder_liker

very similar to the current Kluger. i like the interior etc, but i dont think they should sell it as Pathfinder – they should sell it as something that is the bigger brother to the Xtrail and still have the proper Pathfinder. The Pathfinder has always been a good compromise between actual 4×4 and comfortable drive. this is taking away the actual 4×4 and replacing that with xtrail like front wheel drive biased 4x4i system – not a real 4×4. pity.
Richard Muirhead

Nissan claim this model will be more fuel efficient than the R51. It would want to be!!
My 2009 R51 Auto is getting 18.5 L/100 Km. Shocking. 3 times back to Nissan dealers here in Perth and they deny there is anything wrong. I am seeking others like me to participate in a class action against Nissan for compensation on the basis of false and misleading advertising when I bought the vehicle new in 2009.
This new Nissan…… who cares….. my next vehicle will be a Prado and yours should be too
- Scottwheels
  
  There is something wrong. Mine (ST-L manual) gets 9.5 l/100km. If Nissan won’t acknowledge the problem, maybe get your mechanic to diagnose the problem and take it back to Nissan. I have never known a car company to fix a problem out of good will. Even agreeing there is a problem may open them up to other liabilities, but you definitely have a problem.
Mikemck39

I have the 2010 ST-L auto diesel Pathfinder and it is a joy to drive.
Fuel economy is 8.4 to 9.6L/100K around town and 6.9 to 7.5 on long drives.
Probs so far were a leaking air-con radiator inside the firewall a year ago – repaired under warranty.
Now have occasional loss of power on take-off — from Pathfinder Club forums this may be a booster controller malfunction. I am still gathering evidence but it is a real worry.
Only real prob with design in current model is an instrument panel that is virtually invisible in daylight and it is in the most expensive models too!
I certainly won’t be buying the new Pathfinder – just as ugly as all the other brands in it’s class.
MikeM
Wild_Boy

To Richard Muirhead, perhaps your Pathy is a petrol engine… the fuel consumption figures are normal like a Kluger gets. The others are diesels and often get below 10L/100km city cycle, like mine does. That’s probably why Nissan stopped selling the 4.0 V6 petrol. I also loathe the new pathy as I need to tow a 2ton boat. and 5,000 lbs is on the limit. This could mean that the whole rig will stop on hills !! Not good!

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