2014 Nissan Pathfinder: A New Crossover Personality For A New Era In Family Transportation

The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder marks both the beginning and the end of an era for the Japanese automaker. Until 2013, the Nissan Pathfinder represented one of the few remaining mid-size body-on-frame SUVs available from the land of the rising sun, a vehicle that was rugged enough for off-road fun when not lugging around a hefty load of passengers or cargo.

Times change, however, and along with them so do the wants and needs of the general driving public. The all-new 2013 Nissan Pathfinder trades in its truck-like credibility for smoother on-road character, better fuel mileage, and increased interior volume. The end result is a more family-friendly hauler that moves with the times instead of resisting the inevitable flow of progress. Will we miss the old Pathfinder? Probably not. Do I like the new one? You bet.

• Also: 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid: Sophisticated but Disappointing

Crossing Over

The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder is a clean-slate design when compared against the previous generation of the SUV, but broadening the engineering scope shows that it shares its platform with the smaller Nissan Murano, stretching out its sibling's front-wheel drive, unibody underpinnings in order to accommodate seven passengers instead of five. Yes, that's right - the Pathfinder doesn't just lose its truck-based frame, but it also shifts from rear-wheel to front-wheel drive.

What's gained by this category shift is a significant increase in compliance out on the road and a hefty drop in weight (227 kilograms). The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder eagerly rolls over potholes and broken pavement without the harshness associated with the 2012 edition, and it now handles much more like a big car than a large truck… until you try to park it. It's then that the additional length of the Pathfinder makes itself known by demanding that the driver make use of its rearview camera to edge into tighter spots or make 90-degree reverse turns.

All-New Drivetrain

Accompanying the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder's new platform is the introduction of a fresh VQ-series V-6 engine under the crossover's hood. Ubiquitous throughout the Nissan line-up, but a first for the Pathfinder, the 3.5-litre version of this mill generates 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. A continuously-variable automatic transmission is paired with the six-cylinder engine, and it feels well-matched to the motor's power band, toiling away unobtrusively in the background until a stab of the gas pedal calls forth additional ponies for passing power. Those seeking to head off-road will have to look somewhere else, as low-range four-wheel drive has been replaced by an on-demand four-wheel drive system that worked seamlessly to provide traction whenever needed while cruising wet, cold roads. Towing capacity, however, has been preserved at a hefty 2,200 kilograms.

An upshot of the CVT's presence is better fuel mileage when compared to the older technology that was available on 2012: the Pathfinder is now rated at 10.5 l/100 km in city driving and 7.7 l/100 km on the highway. During my time with the truck it consumed fuel at a far thirstier rate, most likely due to a heavy mix of city driving. Locking out four-wheel drive using the console-mounted dial would also have probably lowered my gas bill at the end of the week.

Bold On The Outside, Huge On The Inside

Although last year's Pathfinder was far from a shrinking violet, the 2013 edition trades in the model's squared-off proportions for smoother, yet still buff sheet metal that fits in well with the big crossovers in its class. This is especially true up front thanks to the large Nissan corporate grille and jutting bumper that suggest - incorrectly, but nonetheless - that the Pathfinder is ready for the rough stuff. A special treat for this test driver was the lack of running boards along the side of the vehicle, which made stepping in and out that much easier as I did not have to swing my short legs quite as far to avoid the obstruction.

Inside, the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder offers copious amounts of passenger room for those seated in the first two rows. The second set of accommodations even slides forward and backwards in order to provide additional comfort to whoever is trapped in the sixth and seventh positioned at the very rear of the vehicle. These seats - designed primarily for children - are fine in a pinch when hauling adults, but I kept them folded forward to improve on the vehicle's cargo space when hauling groceries home. The interior is also relatively quiet for such a large vehicle, with none of the 'booming' that can be associated with large, empty SUV-style space when traveling over rough roads.

The model I drove for a week's time was loaded with amenities, including heated seats, a power rear tailgate, a heated steering wheel, automatic climate control, a top-notch entertainment and communications system, and active safety equipment such as a blind spot monitor and parking assistance. Nissan does an excellent job of laying out their interior features, and with the exception of a row of buttons hidden on the bottom left side of the dashboard, behind the steering wheel, I had no trouble finding all of the controls I needed.

An Affordable Minivan Alternative

The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder exists to give minivan holdouts the chance to purchase an alternative to that most lifeless of transportation boxes. In this respect, it performs well: although it might be less frugal at the fuel pump than a minivan, and is not quite as easy to park, the Pathfinder is unquestionably more stylish and makes more than a token effort in the cargo and passenger room departments. It also enjoys four-wheel drive versatility, which is a rarity in the minivan segment, and the kind of ground clearance needed to plough through deeper snow should the elements conspire against it.

When held up against its own large crossover competitors, the Pathfinder fares equally well. It might not be as brash as the Dodge Durango, not as buttoned-down to drive as the Chevrolet Traverse/GMC Acadia twins, but it's a viable option in an area of the market where comfort and capability are increasingly found hand-in-hand. Given that the MSRP for the Pathfinder ranges from just under $30,000 all the way up to $42,098, buyers will almost certainly discover a model that fits their particular needs at a price they can afford.