Updated 2017 Nissan Pathfinder Arrives In March

by Jim Kem under News on 16 Feb 2017 06:13:13 PM16 Feb 2017

2017 Nissan Pathfinder36

Nissan Australia has announced the revised Pathfinder SUV will be on sale Down Under starting in March 2017, bringing with it new driver assistance tech, an updated VQ-series 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, tweaked looks, and some handling improvements as well.

The 2017 Pathfinder will be starting at $500 more than the outgoing car at $41,990 (plus on-road costs) for the base ST. Most of the variants subject to price increases too, mostly due to new standard features that were previously optional.

Arguably, the most talked about - though perhaps less significant - change here is the revised V6 mill. It’s displacement hasn’t changed but is now armed with direct fuel injection and mirror-bore cylinder coating to improve efficiency while boosting power.

There’s also new pistons, a revised combustion chamber design, a raised compression ratio, and a new intake manifold that result in an uptick in power 202kW (190kW previously) and 340Nm (325Nm previously). Nissan says that 50 percent of the V6’s engine components are new to the model. Fuel economy enjoys only a minor improvement, however.

For hybrid Pathfinders, the powertrain is carried forward unchanged, meaning a 2.5-litre supercharged four-cylinder petrol motor augmented by an electric motor to deliver a combined system output of 188kW and 330Nm while returning a claimed 8.6-litres/100km.

Of course, Nissan’s Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) also makes a return for all Pathfinders, handling the transfer of power from the engine to the wheels with or without the all-wheel drive system.

The entry-level ST gains new 18-inch alloys, LED daytime running lights, voice recognition, and the Advanced Drive-Assist Display which is an LCD display nestled between the speedometer and tachometer.

The mid-range ST-L and higher, however, gains those aforementioned driver-assistance tech which includes intelligent cruise-control, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, satellite navigation, and its 360-degree camera has gained Moving Object Detection.

In addition to those niceties, the most expensive TI variant, though, receives new 20-inch alloy wheels, full LED auto-levelling headlights, a motion activated tailgate, and a new 2nd row dual-screen entertainment system with support for wireless headphones.

Nissan has also made the suspension slightly firmer than before in an effort to improve handling. Outside, there’s the new V-Motion grille up front, a more aggressively styled bonnet, new front bumper and fog lamps. There are also a pair of new tail lights and rear bumper design.

“During the last 30 years, close to 70,000 Pathfinders have been sold in Australia, making it one of Australia’s most popular SUV models,” said Richard Emery, Managing Director and CEO of Nissan Australia. ”And for 2017, we have packed it with more safety, technology and user-friendliness, making it an even more compelling choice for work, play and family adventures. This updated Pathfinder boasts enhancements in style, performance and safety, matched with competitive value that closely mirrors 2016 pricing.”

Pathfinder ST