While you hear a lot about people sizing down their cars lately, some folks still want a lot of room and seating for 7 in their ride. That’s where the Nissan Pathfinder comes in as one of the stronger entries in the three-row SUV marketplace; I recently tested out a 2015 Pathfinder and I’m back with a full report.

LOOKS
The 2015 Pathfinder retains the attractive shape of the most recent redesign, a sleek design making it look less huge from the outside despite a roomy interior.
The three rows of seating allow for 7 to travel, though back row should be reserved for little ones since the leg room is minimal.
You will find limited cargo storage if all three rows are in use by people; but the Pathfinder is versatile in its design and you can fold down seats and have lots of room for cargo if it’s not full of people. Still, overall, it’s a big shy on space compared to some competitors in the segment.
Quality of interior materials, including option for leather-appointed seats, is excellent for a non-luxury model.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER
So how does this people-mover driver? Quite well, thanks for asking.
The power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 260 horsepower and 240 lb.-ft. of torque. Maximum towing capacity on the Pathfinder is 5,000 pounds.

The engine’s performance is not the best I’ve experienced, and it can be a bit whiny getting up to speed, but overall it gets the job done and works well one the acceleration has passed.
You can switch between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive modes, and you can take advantage of hill start assist and hill descent control.

Overall, my time in the Pathfinder gave me one of the smoothest rides I’ve experienced in a while. It’s quiet inside, as responsive as can be expected for a larger vehicle, and handled what the road had to offer with ease. Not an off-road car or anything like that, but if you’re a city slicker this vehicle will do just fine.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
In addition to the usual complement of airbags and other safety features (which led to some five-star crash test numbers), you have quite a bit going on tech-wise on this ride.
-- Best news is the arrival of blind spot warning system on the top trim levels, something that was missing in previous years.
-- You get Bluetooth capability, but it’s not included on the base model, which is a bit strange.
-- The Aroundview camera (which shows you everything around the vehicle when you back up) is standard on top trim level, and now optional on the level below. It’s really a nice feature and initially came from the Infiniti lineup.
-- Navigation is optional on the Pathfinder
-- A DVD system is offered on the top level
-- Overall the tech interface was easy to use and responsive to voice commands
-- Upper trim levels get an upgraded Bose 13-speaker audio system

MPG
I averaged about 20 mpg in the 2015 Pathfinder; Official numbers are 19 city/26 highway -- these are respectable (but not amazing) numbers considering the size of the vehicle.

PRICE
Base price on the 2015 Pathfinder starts just under $30K ($29,510). My test vehicle was a Platinum model and cost $44,170. This is almost the high end of the pricing, as the only thing I could have added was the DVD entertainment system. Overall this is competitive pricing in the three-row SUV segment, and beats some of the alternatives.

There are four trim levels (S, SV, SL and Platinum): At the S level you forego almost all the tech features (just keeping keyless entry and cruise control) and it’s quite basic. Same smooth ride but none of the features I had on my test ride.Rear parking sensors, Bluetooth phone calls and rearview camera come in at the SV level.
SL brings features such as Bluetooth audio streaming, power liftgate, blind spot warning and heated seats, and you can also opt for a sunroof at this point.
Finally, the Platinum level of the Pathfinder lets you add a rear-seat DVD system with two displays and wheels are boosted to 20-inches.

BOTTOM LINE
Combine its looks, adjustable interior design and smooth ride, and it’s pretty clear that the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder is one of the best three-row SUVs on the market. I’ve driven most of the vehicles in this segment, and I’d say it’s among the top two or three options available to consumers, with the Toyota Highlander and GMC Acadia being its strongest competitors.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.