2022 Nissan Pathfinder Review

Key Features:

• Improved transmission and suspension
• 7- or 8-passenger seating
• Standard all-wheel drive

Direct Competitors:

• Honda Pilot
• Subaru Ascent
• Toyota Highlander

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is redesigned into its fifth generation, and the automaker has wisely kept what was already good on this midsize SUV and then made improvements to the rest of it. 

It rides on the same platform and keeps its 3.5-litre V6, but it gets a new transmission, along with suspension and steering enhancements, and a better all-wheel-drive system.

Expands to an 8-seater SUV

The previous model could only hold seven occupants, with three in the second row and two in the third. The new, wider third row now holds three, for a maximum of eight people; and seven-passenger is still available thanks to the Pathfinder offering second-row captain’s chairs for the first time. 

Photo: Nissan 

Here are ten other 7-seater SUVs topping our list.

The new model is slightly larger overall than the last generation, it’s handsomely restyled, and it contains a number of new features and technologies.

2022 Pathfinder Canadian pricing

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder starts in S trim at $44,838. That level includes such features as emergency front and rear braking, blind-spot collision prevention, lane departure assist, ProPilot highway driving assist, LED headlamps, heated front seats and steering wheel, tri-zone automatic climate control, and automatic high-beam headlamps. 

The trim levels move through the SV at $47,950; SL at $51,398; SL Premium at $53,198; and finally, Platinum at $55,498. That top trim’s items include 20-inch wheels, power-folding mirrors, quilted-leather seats, heated and cooled front seats, wireless charger, and premium stereo.

Pathfinder price compared to the competitors

By comparison, some rivals such as Subaru’s Ascent are priced lower, between $37,295 and $51,795; while the Toyota Highlander in gas-only (it also comes as a hybrid) is $44,750 to $55,490; and the Honda Pilot is pricier at $46,920 to $58,420.

2022 Nissan Pathfinder interior

Photo: Nissan 

The Pathfinder’s new cabin is stylish and with a number of thoughtful features, such as the storage space under the console that’s now opened up thanks to an electronic shifter. The nine-inch touchscreen is well-integrated into the dash, where it provides the necessary information without being so large that it overwhelms the design. 

Pathfinder Platinum gains new second-row captain’s chairs

The new second-row captain’s chairs are only added to the top Platinum trim, and they come with a removable centre console between them. In all trims, the first- and second-row seats are supportive and comfortable. 

The widened third row does accommodate three people, but it’s a tight fit. The cargo volume is 470 litres behind the third row. Those seats fold 60/40 for extra space, and there’s up to 2,421 litres of cargo volume when those and the second row are folded.

Cabin connectivity

Photo: Nissan 

All trims include two USB-A ports and two USB-C ports, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and trial access to a NissanConnect subscription, which includes in-car connection to roadside assistance or emergency services if necessary, and remote smartphone functions such as finding the vehicle in a parking spot, locking or unlocking it, or notification if a driver who’s borrowed it has gone beyond a pre-set boundary or is speeding.

New Pathfinder’s performance & drive impressions

Gone is the CVT transmission for 2022

All trims use a 3.5-litre V6 engine that makes 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque that carries over from last year’s model. That outgoing Pathfinder previously used an automatic continuously-variable transmission (CVT) but now employs a conventional nine-speed automatic transmission. 

While the engine’s power doesn’t change, the new transmission makes it feel more responsive, especially on highway passing. There’s also slightly better fuel economy, rated at 10.5 L/100 km in combined city-highway driving.

Updated suspension and up to 6,000 lbs. towing capacity

The suspension has been tweaked for a smoother ride, and the steering is improved for quicker response and better feel. It drives very well, with less body roll on corners than expected and comfortable performance on the highway, especially with extra sound absorption that makes the cabin quieter. The base S trim can tow up to 3,500 lbs, but other trims can go as high as 6,000 lbs.

Redesigned AWD system and ProPilot Assist are now standard features

Photo: Nissan 

All Pathfinder trims come standard with all-wheel drive, and the system is redesigned for 2022. It still sends most of its power to the front wheels, and can transfer up to 50 per cent to the rear axle, but the new system works proactively to prevent loss of traction, while the old one only reacted when the front wheels lost their grip. 

For the first time, ProPilot Assist is standard on all Pathfinder trim levels. It combines adaptive cruise control with lane centring, keeping the vehicle in its lane. It depends on its ability to recognize lane markings, rather being a pre-mapped system like GM’s Super Cruise or Tesla’s Autopilot, so you can’t drive with your hands off the wheel, but it’s intended to reduce fatigue on longer highway drives. 

But the SL and Platinum trims bundle it with a navigation link, so when necessary, it can reduce speed slightly for upcoming sharp curves or if you’re coming up to a highway exit on your nav route.

Verdict: is the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder worth it?

The Pathfinder isn’t the least-expensive of the three-row SUVs out there, but it contains a lot of features even in its base trim, including a full suite of driver-assist technologies. It looks good, it’s comfortable, and it drives very well. Nissan has done an excellent job of updating this model. 

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