Did you know there are more models and trims of SUV/CUVs currently for sale than there are cars? Of course you do, but that was not always the case. There was a time when automobile manufacturers were busy making minivans, sedans, coupes, and even sports cars. There were a handful of SUVs available, but they were pretty niche vehicles. One of the original SUV (the OG SUV) was the Nissan Pathfinder, it was quite a capable vehicle and was loved by adventurers.
About Nissan Pathfinder
The Pathfinder is the second largest Nissan SUV, it slots under the massive Nissan Armada. Over the many decades, the Nissan Pathfinder has become softer and more of a family hauler than an all-out off-roader; but the Pathfinder is not alone in that respect, this can be said about many of the modern SUVs. However, the last generation Pathfinder had become quite bloated instead of featuring the classic straight lines of the old Pathfinders. But that has all changed with the introduction of the 5th generation Nissan Pathfinder (R53), which was introduced in 2021 as a 2022 model. Nissan has also overhauled its aging Frontier pick-up truck, which we’ll be reviewing in a few weeks.
How Much Is the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder?
In Canada, the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is offered in 5 trims. The base Pathfinder S has a starting price of $43,998 and the top-of-the-line Pathfinder Platinum has a price of $54,598. These prices do not include $1,860 for Freight & PDE and local taxes. Below is a list of the prices for all of the trims of the 2022 Pathfinder.
| Trim | Price |
| Pathfinder S | $44,338 |
| Pathfinder SV | $47,450 |
| Pathfinder SL | $50,898 |
| Pathfinder SL Premium | $52,698 |
| Pathfinder Platinum | $54,998 |
Our review Pathfinder was the Platinum 4WD, it included the optional Pearl Metallic paint for $950. Total price was $57,408 inclusive of Freight & PDE.
What Engine Does the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder Have?
All five trims of the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder are powered by 3.5-liter V6 engines, producing 284 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 259 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm. This is the exact same horsepower and torque as the outgoing model. All trims of the Pathfinder are equipped with AWD, power is sent to the wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission. The transmission is a change from CVT, which is a welcome change for many/all of us. As good as a CVT can be, it can never be as good as a good old fashioned automatic transmission.
Driving the Nissan Pathfinder
The Pathfinder may share its engine with the outgoing model, but getting rid of the CVT and replacing it with the 9-speed automatic transmission has changed the dynamics of the Pathfinder. No matter how good a CVT is, it can never compete with an automatic transmission, and there’s no comparison to a manual transmission; but an SUV with a manual transmission is a fantasy nowadays, so we’ll take an automatic over a CVT any day of the week.
The 284 HP and 259 lb.-ft of torque is adequate for a vehicle this size. It performs well in the city and there’s plenty of power for highway passing. The 9-speed transmission is smooth and has changed the driving dynamics quite a bit. The Pathfinder has a tow rating of 6,000 pounds (2,722 kilograms), which I didn’t get the opportunity to try.
The suspension on the Pathfinder gives a very smooth ride, I was extremely impressed with the way the Pathfinder glided over paved roads. The way the Pathfinder drove felt like a luxury car. The suspension soaks up bumps nicely, giving you a smooth ride. The suspension should be great on unpaved roads.
New Styling on the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder
In addition to the big news of the removal of the CVT, the other big news is the styling. The Pathfinder is back folks! The previous generation Pathfinder was an okay looking vehicle, it looked more like a cross between a minivan and an SUV. It wasn’t particularly an offensive design; it was just bland and nothing stood out about it.
The 5th generation Pathfinder is actually quite an attractive looking SUV. It uses a lot of straight lines, as opposed to the soft curves of the previous generation, giving it a more rugged look. The original Pathfinder had quite a nice design for its time, it had lots of straight lines and it looked rugged.
The 5th generation Pathfinder somewhat shares it’s looks with the Rogue, which is especially apparent in the front of the vehicle. The overall design is quite pleasant and muscular. I particularly like the 3rd window, the way it’s integrated into the body gives it an upscale look; it reminds me of the new Land Rover Defender for some reason.
Nissan Pathfinder Interior
Like the exterior, the interior now features more straight lines and is boxier, and in my opinion, it looks pretty nice, especially in the fully loaded trim our review car had. At the center of the dash is an average sized infotainment screen, measuring 9”. The touchscreen houses a volume and a tuning knob on each side, which is a big thing for some people. Below the knobs are short-key buttons for audio, main menu, maps, and camera. Below this is a pair of air vents and a separate section for the climate control system, which features buttons for the heated/cooled seats, temperature control knobs, fan speed etc. There is a small screen displaying the temperature, fan speed, and airflow. Under all of this is storage area for phones and small items, which also features a wireless charging pad. The Pathfinder has a short stubby gear lever, which is also found on the Rogue. The center console features another small storage area, a couple of cup holders, brake hold and parking brake, and a knob for the different driving modes.
The top-of-the-line trim also comes with a 12.3” digital gauge cluster. It’s a pretty standard screen with a two different layouts. I would’ve liked a bit more customization options on this screen.
Our top-of-the-line Pathfinder was equipped with soft dark grey/black leather with brown inserts, and featured white stitching. The same stitching is applied to the soft materials on the dashboard and the door panels. Most of the surfaces on the interior are soft, giving the Pathfinder a luxurious feel.
The interior is comfortable and there is more than enough room for taller people, in the first and second row of seats. Our vehicle had the 2nd row captain’s chairs with a removable center console. I found plenty of room for my 5’ 8” frame and even taller passengers will find good leg room. The second-row seats are situated higher than the front seats, giving rear passengers a good view of the road ahead. These seats can be reclined.
It’s really easy to get to the third-row seats by pushing a button on the second-row seat, which lifts and leans forward the seat. The third-row seats have a decent amount of leg and head room, however there isn’t much thigh support, it’ll get tiring on a long trip if an adult is seated back there.
The interior is quiet and comfortable and the ride quality is extremely smooth. I was quite surprised by how smoothly the Pathfinder glided over paved roads. I didn’t get an opportunity to go on rough roads, which is not something many owners will do, but the previous generation Pathfinder was quite compliant so I don’t expect the 5th generation Pathfinder to be any different.
Tech, Convenience, and Safety Features
Our review car was the top trim, so it came with all the bells and whistles Nissan offers. Below is a list of the equipment on our 2022 Pathfinder Platinum.
- LED headlights (low/high beam) with LED daytime running lights
- Intelligent auto headlights
- LED fog lights
- LED taillights
- Electric fold outside mirror
- Motion-activated power liftgate with position memory
- Panoramic moonroof
- Front UV-reducing solar glass and rear privacy glass
- 12.3″ digital dashboard
- NissanConnect with 9″ color display with multi-touch control
- Head-Up Display
- NissanConnect Services powered by SiriusXM
- Navigation with 3D Map and Birdview on SD card
- Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System
- ProPILOT Assist with Navi-link
- Intelligent Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection
- Front sonar sensors
- Intelligent Driver Alertness
- Push Button Ignition
- Remote keyless entry
- Nissan Intelligent Key
- Remote Engine Start System
- Tri-Zone Automatic Temperature Control
- Intelligent Cruise Control
- Rain sensing wipers
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- 120-volt AC power outlet
- Power tilt/telescoping steering wheel
- Ten cup holders and six bottle holders
- 12-way power driver’s seat with 4-way power lumbar
- Memory outside mirrors with reverse sync
- Driver seat memory
- Steering wheel position memory
- Second-row Captain’s Chairs
- Second-row removable center console
- Quilted semi-aniline leather-appointed seats
- Climate-controlled front seats (heated and cooled)
- Heated second-row seats
- Premium leather heated steering wheel
- Bose premium audio system with 13 speakers including dual driver subwoofer
- Siri Eyes-Free/Google Assistant voice recognition
- SiriusXM Satellite Radio
- Android Auto
- Wireless Apple CarPlay
- Wireless charging pad
- Vehicle Dynamic Control with Traction Control System
- Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian & Cyclist Detection
- Rear Automatic Braking
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Traffic Sign Recognition
- Blind Spot Warning
- Blind Spot Intervention
- Haptic steering
- High Beam Assist
- Intelligent Forward Collision Warning
- Intelligent Lane Intervention
- Lane Departure Warning
- Active Brake Limited Slip
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System with Easy-Fill Tire Alert
Final Thoughts
I’m glad Nissan has decided to make the new Pathfinder look more like the original, with a boxy design and a tougher look. The previous generation Pathfinder looked too soft and strayed too far from the original design.
The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is a modern looking SUV, it’s comfortable, has loads of interior space, and is powerful enough for what most people will use it for. It’s not a body on frame like the original Pathfinder, but even the might Ford Explorer and Range Rover are now unibody configurations.
For more information on the Pathfinder and other Nissan vehicles, visit Nissan’s official website.
