2023 Nissan Pathfinder detailed ahead of launch

Nissan's new Pathfinder eight-seat large SUV is poised for launch to tackle the Toyota Kluger and Hyundai Palisade.

17 May 2022 at 10:00 am

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Mike Costello

Senior Contributor

Mike Costello

Senior Contributor

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder will arrive at the back end of this year, rounding out an armada of fresh SUVs from the brand – alongside the new Qashqai and X-Trail.

That means that from 2023, Nissan Australia will go from having one of the oldest product line-ups among major brands, to one of the newest.

The fifth-generation Pathfinder large SUV fills a big void in the range, with stock of the previous-generation model having been exhausted in the middle of 2021.

Both seven- and eight-seat cabin configurations will be offered.

As with its predecessor, it’ll be sourced from the United States, just like its Toyota Kluger arch rival. Other competitors include the Mazda CX-9 and the Hyundai Palisade.

While Nissan Australia claims the new Pathie offers “go-anywhere capability” and is keen to call this version more “rugged” than its chief competitors, it’s not some body-on-frame 4×4 with low-range like the third-generation model sold between 2005 and 2012 (or, for that matter, a Ford Everest or Toyota Prado).

All models will be powered by a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine producing 202kW of power and 340Nm of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic with paddles. There’s no sign of either a hybrid or a diesel option.

Both front- and all-wheel drive will be available, the latter having seven various drive and terrain setting modes. It also comes with claimed underbody protection, but only on the flagship Ti.

Nissan also mentions the 2700kg braked-trailer towing capacity, and the specific vehicle tow mode and trailer-sway stability programming.

The new-generation Pathfinder has a more muscular appearance than before, a shorter front overhang, slimmer pillars, C-shaped LED headlights and a ‘floating’ roofline, which allows the use of two-tone paint for the first time on this model.

It also comes with nine airbags, including curtain ‘bags spanning all three seating rows, according to Nissan.

Nissan’s latest ‘Pro-PILOT’ branded semi-autonomous driving system also makes its debut on Pathfinder as a standard inclusion on the ST+ variant upwards.

Other new features available to the model include middle-row ‘EZ-FLEX’ individual captain’s chairs, rear sunshades, far crisper new displays, and a digital rear-view mirror.

The Nissan Pathfinder nameplate dates way back to the retro-cool, rugged 4×4 first-generation sold between 1987 and 2005, giving way to a softer second-gen sold between 1996 and 2004 (with a then-new AWD dial), and the D40 Navara-based third-generation sold between 2005 and 2013.

The rounder, softer previous version was sold between 2013 and 2021, and came with a hybrid option for much of its life cycle – albeit not a particularly efficient one.

Nissan Australia has not yet offered up 2023 Pathfinder pricing, but we do have the expected spec ‘walk’.