When I was in high school, I remember seeing a radical-looking SUV driving around Southern California. It was the first-generation Nissan Pathfinder, and it was one of the coolest things on the road. It looked like nothing else, with its distinctive shape, two-door body and an attitude that suggested it actually wanted to leave the pavement. It belonged to a new wave of SUVs that combined relatively affordable pricing with serious off-road capability. Naturally, I wanted one. Naturally, my budget had other ideas.
Nissan
Five generations later, the Pathfinder is reaching its 40th anniversary, and Nissan is celebrating with a heritage-inspired edition that borrows some personality from the original. The most appealing throwback, at least to me, is the available burgundy upholstery and two-tone interior. Yes, an actual interior color. In a world where choosing upholstery often means deciding between black, slightly different black, and something your children will immediately stain, I approve.
What makes me laugh is how much larger today’s Pathfinder is than that original two-door. Park them together, and the old one might look like something the new one brought along for its kids to drive. That’s where SUVs have gone over the past four decades. Fortunately, the modern Pathfinder offers enough utility and comfort to justify much of that growth.
Powertrain and performance
Underneath the anniversary treatment is a familiar powertrain, and that’s a good thing. The 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 produces 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque and is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. There’s no tiny turbocharged engine trying to convince you it has six cylinders, and no continuously variable transmission droning through the proceedings. It’s a straightforward combination that suits a substantial family SUV.
The nine-speed automatic is well matched to the engine, and there’s plenty of power for everyday driving. It won’t rearrange your internal organs when you accelerate, but it doesn’t need to. The point is moving people, luggage and whatever recreational equipment the family has decided is essential this week. I would expect fuel economy around the low-20-mpg range, with roughly 22 mpg serving as a reasonable expectation for this configuration. My encounter was brief, so that is an expectation rather than the result of a full fuel-economy test.
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Available Intelligent 4WD brings seven drive modes, giving drivers settings for different surfaces and conditions. Properly equipped Pathfinders can tow up to 6,000 pounds, although that maximum depends on configuration. The standard rating across the current lineup starts at 3,500 pounds, so buyers planning to pull a trailer should check their vehicle’s equipment and rating. The anniversary treatment doesn’t automatically mean every example has maximum towing capability.
Exterior and interior design
Nissan hasn’t attempted to turn the current Pathfinder into a replica of the original. There are black 20-inch wheels and distinctive styling details, but the basic shape remains that of a modern three-row SUV. Some enthusiasts will want more retro bodywork, and I understand that. The old Pathfinder had a wonderfully recognizable silhouette. Still, there’s something to be said for incorporating a little history without making the whole vehicle look like a costume.
Inside is where the connection works best. The burgundy upholstery recalls an era when automakers weren’t afraid of cabin colors that could also describe a wine list… or my favorite newscaster. Combined with the two-tone treatment, it gives the Pathfinder a warmer, more distinctive atmosphere. It doesn’t transform the vehicle mechanically, but it does make it feel special when you open the door. For an anniversary edition, that counts.
More importantly, this is a lovely place to spend time. After my brief encounter, I felt the interior helped narrow the gap between the Pathfinder and the Infiniti QX60. I’m not suggesting that different upholstery turns a Nissan into an Infiniti, but the presentation gives this version a credible place near the more upscale end of the mainstream segment. Nissan is clearly willing to dress for dinner, even if it still plans to tow the boat in the morning.
Technology and family practicality
The supplied anniversary information lists a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, multiple USB-C charging ports and available premium Bose audio. That’s the appropriate collection of conveniences for a family vehicle today. Apparently, a road trip now requires enough charging connections to support a small newsroom. I remember when keeping passengers entertained involved a cassette tape, a window and being told we would get there when we got there.
Nissan’s LATCH AND GLIDE second-row seating remains one of the Pathfinder’s more thoughtful features. It helps provide third-row access with a compatible child seat installed, reducing the gymnastics involved in getting everyone aboard. The supplied information also lists standard Safety Shield 360 and Intelligent Forward Collision Warning. Those systems add useful assistance, but the seating arrangement is the kind of feature parents may appreciate several times before they even leave the driveway.
Driving the Pathfinder Heritage
It drives just like the other Pathfinders I’ve recently driven, which is exactly what I expected. There’s ample V6 power, the transmission gets along well with the engine, and the handling is reassuring for a vehicle with this much family responsibility. Nothing about the anniversary presentation suggests a fundamentally different chassis underneath, and my brief drive didn’t reveal one.
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My favorite Pathfinder remains the Rock Creek. Its more adventurous personality better matches my interests, and I appreciate that Nissan offers a version aimed at people who want to venture beyond paved parking lots. This Heritage version takes a different approach. It adds character and a more inviting cabin to a familiar package, and it succeeds at making an everyday family SUV feel a little less everyday.
Final thoughts
Expect to see this anniversary Pathfinder at dealerships soon, although final pricing will be important in determining its value. A distinctive interior and some historical connection are appealing, but they still need to come with a sensible window sticker.
I like this direction. The Pathfinder has become larger, more comfortable and considerably more family-oriented than the SUV that caught my attention in high school. This edition acknowledges that history while offering the towing ability, technology and versatility buyers expect today.
I still wish Nissan would give us something as simple and off-road-focused as those earlier SUVs. I hear there may be more adventure coming, but I’ll wait for something concrete before getting carried away.
Popcorn is in hand.
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