2022 Nissan Pathfinder
Overview
Pathfinder fans have been eager for its redesign, and that moment has finally come: Nissan’s longstanding SUV (it was introduced in 1986) is all new for the 2022 model year. The rugged three-row is completely refreshed in its appearance, and more standard features than ever have been packed in. Some of its original elements have been brought back, including its black blister fenders and slanted C-pillar. But it’s clearly a state-of-the-art Nissan, with its modern floating roof, C-shaped LED headlamps, slim-line daytime running lights, available two-tone exterior, and beautiful V-motion grille, which is topped by the iconic three slots that have always defined the Pathfinder. It offers more power, efficiency, and technology than ever, along with a class-leading towing capacity of 6,000 pounds.
Trim Levels and Mechanical Specs
The 2022 Pathfinder’s four trims – S, SV, SL, and Platinum – all get a robust 3.5-liter V6 that makes 284 horsepower and 259 lb.-ft. of torque. Its partner in the powertrain is an all-new 9-speed automatic transmission. Nissan’s Intelligent 4WD has also been revised as well, and there’s now a Drive & Terrain Mode Selector with seven settings: Standard, Sport, Eco, Snow, Sand, Mud/Rut, and Tow. Beefy tires on confident-looking, large wheels complete the rugged look and provide sure-footed traction on and off the asphalt.
An Interior for Today
Nissan has brought the 2022 Pathfinder’s cabin fully up to date with elegant materials, large but sleek displays, and user-friendly controls all around. Among the available technology features are a 10.8-inch head-up display with navigation, a 12.3-inch digital dashboard, and a good-sized infotainment touchscreen positioned for prime visibility. The electronic shifter frees up some space, and there’s ample storage for smaller items in the bridge-style center console. Nissan has raised the serenity factor with added body insulation, thicker window glass in the second row, and an acoustic laminated windshield.
Passenger access is easy, whether the second row is configured as a three-person bench or a pair of captain’s chairs. With the bench setup, Nissan’s EZ Slide design makes it easy for passengers to get into and out of the third row, even if there are child seats in place. Of course, all of the sought-after comfort features – such as cooled front seats and heated rear outboard seats – are either standard on higher trims or available in packages.
Technology Features
Nissan involved its customers in the planning process for the Pathfinder’s redesign, surveying them on which features they value most. One result of this input is that smartphone integration (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay) is now standard fare – and a wireless version is available. Other standard or optional communication/entertainment technologies are onboard Wi-Fi, wireless smartphone charging, and a premium Bose sound system.
On the driver-assist front, Nissan’s ProPilot Assist is now available on the Pathfinder for the first time, providing semi-autonomous driving in select situations. The Platinum trim comes standard with ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, an advanced driver-assist system that debuted on the 2021 Rogue, another model that has just been overhauled inside and out. This stress-reducing technology uses artificial intelligence to “see” upcoming exits, curves, and turns and automatically reduce speed ahead of them. Nissan Safety Shield 360 comes standard on all ’22 Pathfinders, adding automatic high beams, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking. Intelligent forward collision warning (a class exclusive), intelligent driver alertness, and rear door alert are also slated as standard features, while blind-spot intervention, intelligent lane intervention, and traffic sign recognition will be available.
2022 Pathfinder Trims
S
The Pathfinder has always treated its occupants well, even at the base level. The S trim’s cabin can seat eight passengers in comfort with standard features like tri-zone automatic climate control and rear A/C vents, plus two USB ports, two USB-C ports, an overhead sunglasses holder, 12 cup holders, and four bottle holders. It also gets push-button ignition, automatic LED headlights, keyless entry, an LCD instrument cluster, 18-inch wheels, and side mirrors with turn-signal indicators. The interior is user-friendly and versatile, boasting the EZ Flex second-row seating system with latch-and-glide, two 12-volt power outlets, a 60/40 split fold-flat third-row seat, and an underfloor storage system.
The basic version of the infotainment system found on the S can be controlled using its 8-inch touchscreen or voice recognition. It has all of the essential features for today’s commute or road trip, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming, a six-speaker sound system, and SiriusXM satellite radio. This trim is also fortified with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite containing forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, reverse automatic braking, automatic high beams, and driver attention warning.
SV
The SV adds heated outside mirrors, black roof rails, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, and NissanConnect remote services. On the driver-assist front, it gets ProPilot Assist adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and blind-spot intervention. The optional SV Premium Package will supply a power liftgate, a panoramic moonroof, an enhanced transmission cooling system, a tow hitch receiver with a 7-pin wiring harness, second-row fold-down captain’s chairs (reduce seating capacity to seven), and a removable second-row center console with cupholders.
SL
The SL’s equipment list grows with LED fog lights, silver roof rails, and a power liftgate. The interior notches up the comfort factor with rear sunshades, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with a universal garage door opener, a power-adjustable front passenger’s seat, first- and second-row leather-appointed seats, a heated steering wheel, and three USB ports. Upgrades to the infotainment system include a 9-inch touchscreen, integrated navigation, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The SL adds driver-assist tech in the form of a surround-view camera system, front parking sensors, and traffic sign recognition, but its most exciting standard feature is ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, an advanced adaptive cruise control system that has special mapping technologies which are capable of anticipating events on the road. Buyers can add the SL Premium Package to get the features mentioned above in the SV Premium Package plus 20-inch wheels with all-season tires, heated second-row seats, a wireless smartphone charger, and a 13-speaker Bose audio system.
Platinum
At the top of the trim ladder, the Platinum has all of the attractions. In addition to the aforementioned optional features, it has power-folding and reverse tilt-down side mirrors, chrome exterior trim, a hands-free liftgate, a power steering column, ambient interior lighting, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a 120-volt power outlet, memory functions (for the driver’s seat, steering column, and side mirrors), upgraded leather seats with quilted inserts, ventilated front seats, a smooth leather-wrapped steering wheel, stainless-steel kick plates, a digital gauge cluster, a head-up display, and four USB ports.
Pathfinder vs. Chevy Traverse
It’s an exciting year for one of Nissan’s longest-running models, the Pathfinder. The beloved SUV has been completely redesigned for 2022, with improvements to its signature ruggedness and standard features. But the competition is stiff, and one of its main rivals is the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, another seven- or eight-passenger crossover that’s popular with drivers looking for space and versatility. Both offer more than ample room for passengers and cargo, but we knew there were plenty of other points to compare, so we took a closer look. Read on to find out what we found out about how they stack up against each other.
Fuel Economy and Towing Capacity
Although these two vehicles are not far off when it comes to fuel efficiency, the Pathfinder has a slight edge over the Traverse. With front-wheel drive (FWD), it returns 21 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, and its all-wheel-drive stats are essentially the same at 21 city/27 highway. The most-loaded version of the Pathfinder – the top-end Platinum trim with AWD – is EPA-rated for 20 mpg city/25 mpg highway. Meanwhile, the Traverse with FWD achieves 18 city/27 highway, and 17 city/25 highway with AWD.
Towing is critical for a lot of SUV drivers, and the Pathfinder comes out on top here. Even though the Traverse’s 3.6-liter V6 engine makes 310 hp and 266 lb.-ft. of torque, it can only tow up to 5,000 lb. The Pathfinder’s 3.5-liter V6 puts out a little less power – 284 hp and 259 lb.-ft. of torque – but it can tow a maximum of 6,000 lb.
Pricing and Noteworthy Features
While the base prices of each vehicle are neck-and-neck (the Pathfinder starts at $33,680 and the Traverse starts at $33,700), the Pathfinder is less expensive as you climb the trim ladder. For instance, the top-end Pathfinder Platinum has an MSRP of $46,540, whereas the range-topping Traverse High Country’s MSRP is $52,395. Despite the price difference, these two trims are similarly outfitted with deluxe features, like a panoramic moonroof, a hands-free liftgate, a wireless smartphone charger, and heated and ventilated front seats. What the Pathfinder Premium has that the Traverse High Country doesn’t, though, is an infotainment system with a 9-inch touchscreen, a 13-speaker Bose sound system, and a head-up display. The Traverse High Country’s infotainment system has a smaller touchscreen, plus it lacks a head-up display, and while it also has a Bose sound system, it only gets 10 speakers. If you’re looking to do some light off-roading, note that the Pathfinder has a more substantial terrain management system with six distinct drive modes: Mud/Rut, Sand, Snow, Tow, Sport, and Eco. The Traverse’s drive modes only consist of off-road, tow/haul, and snow.
Driver-Assist Features
Nissan supplies more standard safety features than Chevrolet. The base Pathfinder gets forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic braking, automatic high beams, and driver attention alert. The base Traverse doesn’t have standard blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, or reverse automatic braking. The higher-end Pathfinder trims come with a surround-view camera system and ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, too. ProPilot Assist with Navi-link is a unique adaptive cruise control system that works with the Pathfinder’s built-in navigation system and can better predict events on the freeway with its sophisticated mapping technologies. The Traverse is eligible for a surround-view camera system, but it only offers ordinary adaptive cruise control.