- suv 69,014
- 3,638 below average
- 14,950 great
- Des Moines, IA
- 5 years
- autoshopper.com
- 3,638 below average suv 69,014 gasoline silver automatic
2013 nissan pathfinder review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. It's a maturation process that has entailed several zigs and zags. Like so many of the vehicles that came along in the mid-'80s suv boom, that first generation was a body-on-frame design based on nissan's compact pickup truck. That, and much higher chassis rigidity, is the benefit of unitbody construction. At 114. 2 inches, the new pathfinder's wheelbase is 2. 0 inches longer than the 2012 model, overall length stretches 4. 6 inches to 197. 2, and width expands from 72. 8 to 77. 2. The only dimension that shrinks is height: 69. 6 inches, down 2. 4, in part because ride height and ground clearance (6. 5 inches) is similar to that of an everyday sedan. this isn't surprising, since the 2013 pathfinder's architecture based on front-wheel drive is shared with the nissan altima sedan and the new infiniti jx sport-utility. Everything in the new pathfinder went on a diet. Nissan claims best in class for the front-drive highway rating. All 2013 pathfinder models come with the same 3. 5-liter v6 and continuously variable transmission. Pathfinder comes standard with front-wheel drive; all trim levels offer the option of intuitive 4wd all-wheel drive 1600). walkaroundthe all-new 2013 nissan pathfinder's dimensions have expanded, but it's hard to see at a glance, thanks to smooth styling that's a little more streamlined and a little less utilitarian than the previous generation. The modest fender flares and wide stance suggest muscle, which is an overstatement, but the body has been carefully sculpted for aerodynamics (as noted, 0. 34 cd), as well as suppression of wind noise. thin a- and d-pillars, plus a low beltline, give the cabin an airy feeling, and the wide chrome grille is unmistakably nissan. Nissan also worked to make third row access easier, including times when child seats may be occupying the middle row. Flip the seatback forward, child seat and all, and there's plenty of room to climb into the rearmost seats. easy access doesn't make that third row much more habitable, though. Like most it's pretty snug, especially for adult-size people, though reclinable seatbacks help some. like all suvs, the pathfinder's second- and third-row seats fold flat to expand cargo volume, to almost 80 feet cubic feet. There's 16 cubic feet behind the third row seatbacks and small storage well beneath the floor. the relaxed-fit front seats are comfortable, with only modest lateral support, though this isn't likely to matter since no one will confuse this vehicle with a sports car and lower bolsters make getting in and out easier. The front seats offer both heating and cooling function, and there's heating for the middle row. Leather is available in upper trim levels, though the basic model's seats are clad in a high grade cloth. with pricing that crosses the $40,000 threshold, the pathfinder's inventory includes a broad array of features, an excellent 13-speaker bose audio, eight-inch center dash color display screen, the panorama sunroof, a user-friendly navigation system with real-time traffic info, and nissan's new around view security camera prominent among them. Unfortunately, all of them are optional: standard features are minimalistic, particularly in the lower trim levels, s and sv. safety features are industry basic: rearview camera, front and front seat-mounted side airbags, curtain airbags covering all three rows, antilock braking, and traction control. conspicuous by its absence is the infiniti jx assist system that alerts the driver to cross traffic or pedestrians during back-up maneuvers, and if the driver ignores the warning will actually stop the vehicle. Nissan provides no really compelling answer for the system's absence in the pathfinder inventory. around view, as noted, costs extra. Shared with the infiniti jx, nissan characterizes this as an industry first, although both lexus and range rover offer similar systems. But it's definitely a first for this segment, and is likely to save the lives of a good many small dogs, cats, big wheels, and cozy coupes. beyond content issues, the pathfinder's attractively furnished cabin has an open feel, as noted earlier, even without the big sunroof, thanks to the low beltline. The slender front and rear roof pillars contribute to good driver sightlines, particularly looking forward, and the center stack includes an intelligent mix of buttons and knobs, in contrast to the all-digital touch controls becoming popular elsewhere. driving impressionthe new pathfinder's 3. 5-liter v6 doesn't have the thrust of the 4. 0-liter six that powered the third generation, particularly in the torque department, but with its reduced mass the power-to-weight ratios work out about the same, as does acceleration from a standing start: expect 60 mph to come up in about 7. 5 seconds. there's also enough thrust to make two-lane highway passing a reasonable exercise, even with family occupying all the seats. on the other hand, while throttle response is prompt, putting the pedal to the metal doesn't always produce maximum haste. Blame the cvt for this. Nissan has done more with cvt development than any other carmaker, to exploit the virtues of this transmission type in terms of fuel economy. but big throttle demands will still provoke a bit of the asthmatic wheezing that's been a cvt characteristic, as well as the sense of slipping clutch as the transmission's belt mechanism catches up to the engine. steering is another soft suit. Like most carmakers, nissan has adopted an electric power steering system, a fuel economy measure. Also like most, the system varies power assist as a function of speed: the higher the speed, the lower the assist. However, in the pathfinder, the system is basically numb, providing almost no tactile information to the driver. As a consequence, the driver finds him or her self making tiny adjustments during cornering maneuvers, matching intention to the vehicle's actual response. a relatively slow steering ratio, 3. 3 turns lock to lock, doesn't do much to enhance the experience. still, if the pathfinder's dynamic persona is all but devoid of fun, it has other virtues. The suspension tuning, for example, strikes an excellent balance between ride comfort and limited body roll in hard cornering. There's enough compliance to smooth out nasty patches and freeway expansion joints, with enough roll stiffness to provide decisive responses in situations requiring quick. Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Navigation System
14,950 Des Moines, IADes Moines, IA 5 years at autoshopper.com