Nissan provided a sneak peek at the 2013 Pathfinder to some local auto scribes this week, and what we saw is very different from the Pathfinder that we’ve come to know over the past 25 years or so. It has become a car-like, unibody crossover that seats seven. It’s much more focused on being a family vehicle than a rugged, off-roading truck. It has a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. In fact, it’s now very similar to sister luxury brand Infiniti’s JX35.
It has a 114.2-inch wheelbase, just like the JX35, and an overall body length of 197.2 inches. The engine makes 260 horsepower and is mated to a continuously variable transmission.
Front- or four-wheel drive is available, and if you choose the latter, you can pick front-drive for maximum economy; automatic operation, which monitors conditions and gives torque to all four wheels when necessary; or four-wheel-drive lock for when the vehicle is facing some serious traction challenges.
Trim levels range from the S and SV to the higher end SL and the highest level Platinum. Inside, there are eight cup holders and six bottle pockets throughout, so families won’t go thirsty.
On lower trim models, 18-inch wheels are standard; the Platinum has 20-inchers.
The Pathfinder starts at around $29,000 and ranges to about $41,000.
We’ll have more to report on it after we get behind the wheel for a few days.
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