LOOKS

As part of the redesign, the exterior changes to the 2022 Pathfinder make it taller, wider, longer, and overall a much more muscular and visually appealing ride — and one that's far more likely to attract your attention than the previous version.

Wheels are sized at 20 inches, a sharp panoramic moonroof is available, as are roof rails. Other exterior features include well-designed LED headlights, daytime running lights, fog lights and tail lamps, which will extend your field of vision extremely far during night driving. There are also dual power-heated outside mirrors with LED turn signal indicators.

The interior of the Pathfinder is where it truly shines. Capacity is 8 passengers on all levels except for Platinum, which can fit 7 due to the extra comfy captain’s chair setup in the 2nd row. And there are more than enough storage spaces in the vehicle.

The Pathfinder is a pleasantly roomy vehicle for the most part. Front seats and the middle row are extremely comfortable with tons of leg room and head room. Be aware that the third row should be reserved exclusively for smaller children, as there is not much room to spare. To be fair, this is a common concern with three-row SUVs, and hardly a problem unique to Nissan's Pathfinder.

The vehicle's seating is also very versatile. So depending on your storage and cargo needs you can adjust the seats to fit more and larger cargo — Up to 80.5 cubic feet with the rear seats down.

And for a nonluxury vehicle, Nissan delivers high quality materials on the seating and throughout the Pathfinder's interior.  With prices of SUVs creeping up into the 40K and 50K range, it's essential that even nonluxury brands step up in terms of their quality. And Nissan has done just that with the 2022 Pathfinder.

Creature comforts are plentiful, including adjustable quilted semi-aniline leather-appointed seat with lumbar support, heated seats in the first two rows, and a heated steering wheel, tri-zone automatic temperature control, second-row door sunshades, and remote start.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is powered by a 3.5-liter, 6-cylinder engine, and paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission (Of note: Unlike many competitors, this is not a CVT transmission, which will make some people very happy.)

A manual driving mode via paddle shifters is also offered.

Official numbers are 284 horsepower and 259 lb.-ft. of torque, which are lesser numbers than some of the competition. There is a Drive Mode Selector offering Eco, Standard and Sport mode options. 

Eco is sluggish, but more fuel-efficient. Standard mode was decent but lacking compared to rivals. The Sport mode option is much better and worth writing home about, but lessens fuel economy. There was also a tow mode available for hauling.

On one hand, it is absolutely true that some of the rivals of the Pathfinder offer a more powerful and flashy driving experience. But it would also be wrong to say that the Pathfinder is disappointing. It's very much in the middle of the pack in the segment in terms of driver enjoyment, and offers a genuinely smooth and comfortable ride that most families will enjoy, even if it's not a hot rod. Zero to 60 time is under 7 seconds and I felt comfortable in all highway driving situations, and it handles very well for the class, is responsive to driver input, and road noise intrusion is minimal. It also received a suspension tune-up for 2022, which helps the overall experience.

FWD is standard on the Pathfinder, and AWD is optional. 

One other positive about the Pathfinder is that it can tow up to 6,000 pounds towing; which is among best in class among non luxury 3-row SUVs.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

First, let’s talk tech.

In my experience driving the Pathfinder, the Nissan Connect infotainment system worked extremely well, especially regarding voice commands. Changing radio stations with my voice was natural, and the Pathfinder understood my voice commands for navigation equally well. The vehicle also offered helpful on-screen tips for voice commands.

In addition, the touch controls for audio and climate were also very user-friendly and should be easy to understand for all drivers.

The NissanConnect system includes integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for phone mirroring, Nissan Door to Door Navigation, SiriusXM Radio, plus SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Links. The 9-inch color touchscreen display was bright, clear are responsive to input.

Other tech features include a WiFi hotspot, 12-inch Digital Dashboard, BOSE premium audio system with dual driver subwoofer, wireless phone charging pad, and multiple USB ports throughout the vehicle. There’s also a motion-sensing hands-free power liftgate.

Moving on to safety, this is an area where SUV makers can’t skimp out, as all families looking for this type of ride want a vehicle that achieves modern safety standards and will step up in dangerous on-road situations.

Nissan delivers in this regard, with a boatload of strong safety features to protect you.

Among the many features that help the driver stay safe are: Brake Assist, Intelligent Around View Monitor, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist, Rear Automatic Braking, Intelligent Lane Intervention, Blind Spot Intervention and Intelligent Forward Collision Warning.

With the Head-Up Display, the driver can keep their head up and focused on the road, instead of looking down at the speedometer.

And of course the Nissan Advanced Airbag System Includes front and rear supplemental air bags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, and more. For those with young kids, a LATCH system for child seats is included.

Rounding out the safety is the Pathfinder’s ProPILOT Assist steering assistance system, Intelligent Cruise Control and Traffic Sign Recognition.

MPG

The official fuel mileage numbers on the 2022 Pathfinder are: 21 city/26 highway/23 combined. Officially, these are some of the best numbers you’ll find among the myriad 3-row SUV options — including the Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride, Chevy Traverse, Ford Explorer, VW Atlas and more.

In real-life testing, my numbers were slightly lower, but keep in mind I drove in very cold weather, which can affect fuel economy, and also drove mostly in Sport mode.
 

PRICE

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder I tested was a Platinum model, the top trim level, and priced just under $50,000; Base price for the new Pathfinder starts around $34K, and trim levels include S, SV, SL and Platinum.

This is near the average price range for midsize 3-row SUVs.

BOTTOM LINE

The Pathfinder remains a comfortable, versatile and family-friendly option for three-row SUV shoppers, and with the redesign it looks better on top of it all. With excellent tech and safety features, improved fuel mileage and a smooth ride quality, the redesigned 2022 Pathfinder lives up to the brand’s name, and can remain competitive in a crowded SUV market.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.