Five things we like about the Nissan Pathfinder

The current Nissan Pathfinder has been on sale since late 2012. It’s one of the more popular seven-seat SUVs on the market, and with a price range of between $43,390 - $69,390 (plus on-road costs), one of the broadest ranging.

Available with petrol and petrol-electric hybrid drivelines, and with the option of front and all-wheel drive, the Pathfinder range offers something for everyone.

Four model grades mean plenty of choice, but it’s the V6-powered Pathfinder Ti (from $66,390) we’ll focus on here.

Depending on where you look in the seven-seat SUV market, the difference in rear-seat accommodation differs greatly. That’s fine if you’re only using the third-row seats occasionally, but for regular use we reckon the Pathfinder offers proper, family-friendly seating.

The seats fold easily to offer quick access in and out of the back-most row, the comfortable armrests and low window height – and panoramic glass roof – making the sixth and seventh seats an enjoyable place to be. And let’s not forget the rear-seat DVD screens!

Many newer seven-seat SUVs are tuned to offer a sporty ride. That’s a great thing if you plan on racing the kids to school, but it’s not so enjoyable on those long family drives. For the Pathfinder Ti – and in spite of its handsome 20-inch alloys – we find a comfortable ride from front row to back.

Calm suspension joins a quiet cabin and cossetting leather upholstery to make for a relaxed ride irrespective of your seat; the large window area and effective air-conditioning another bonus for car-sick-prone passengers.

On-demand all-wheel drive systems are really handy when the weather turns for the worst. Simply selecting LOCK from the Pathfinder’s 4x4i system enables extra low-speed traction for use in snow or mud – a hill-descent function handling the braking duties for you.

The AUTO setting is a better option for on-road all-wheel drive grip, leaving the Pathfinder’s computer to maximise traction on your behalf.

Perhaps best of all, however, is the dedicated 2WD mode. It means only the front wheels drive the car, and is perfect for dry conditions, urban commuting or longer highway trips where fuel economy is the primary focus.

Many of the Nissan Pathfinder’s seven-seat rivals offer compromised cargo space. With the third row of seats in place there are few that offer any boot room at all. Worst still, the sixth and seventh seats are often very close to the tailgate.

In the Pathfinder, however, we find an ample 453 litres of space behind the 50:50 split-fold third row of seats, and a generous cargo area of 1354 litres in five-seat mode. The second-row seats may be split 60:40 and allow through-loading of long or awkward loads.

Folded flat, the seats create a van-like floor in the Pathfinder’s rear – an impressive 2260 litres of cargo space overall.

It’s not much fun ferrying the kids around, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself once you’ve dropped them off. In the cockpit of the Pathfinder Ti we find a suite of technology aimed at making mum and dad’s life a little better.

Included is an electric sunroof, ventilated and heated seats, electric seat and steering column adjustment, radar cruise control, tri-zone climate control and, the piece de resistance, a 13-speaker premium BOSE audio system with sat-nav.

It’s the perfect place to enjoy a coffee and catch-up on your favourite Podcast – or just shut the tinted windows and practice your air guitar!