Long-serving Nissan Pathfinder updated

Over four generations and 33 years the Nissan Pathfinder has earned a place in 75,771 Australian driveways.

The current R52-series Pathfinder – which first debuted in 2013 – has now been updated with several new features, a new ST+ model grade (pictured in white) and price increases of up to $1900.

It’s the third time the seven-seat Pathfinder SUV has been updated locally. The range received a Hybrid version in 2014 and the line-up was again fettled in 2017 with new driver assistance technologies, modest styling tweaks and a revised V6 petrol engine.

Now, the long-serving Pathfinder range is refreshed again.

For 2019 the four-variant range adopts numerous safety and convenience technologies on the entry-grade Pathfinder ST (priced from $43,390 plus on-road costs).

Autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning and blind-spot warning joins the lower-ranked variant, alongside rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and Type C USB ports in the second row.

The Pathfinder ST range is available with petrol and petrol-electric hybrid drivelines and the option of front- or all-wheel drive.

Stepping up to the new second-tier Pathfinder ST+ (from $44,590 plus ORCs), there’s a 360-degree camera with Moving Object Detection and satellite-navigation on top of those features found on the Pathfinder ST. The V6 petrol-only variant is available in two- and all-wheel drive format.

For the Pathfinder ST-L (from $54,890 plus ORCs) the changes are limited to auto-levelling LED headlights and the range continues to be offered with petrol and hybrid motivation, and in front- or all-wheel drive formats.

Finally, for the range-topping Pathfinder Ti (from $62,890 plus ORCs, pictured in red), updates are restricted to rear seat heaters, remote engine start and Nissan’s potentially life-saving rear door alert.

Like the Pathfinder ST-L, the high-grade Pathfinder Ti is available with petrol and hybrid drivelines and the option of 2WD and AWD.

As standard, and across the line-up, the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder scores an 8.0-inch colour touch-screen with Advanced Drive Assist technology, Bluetooth telephony and audio streaming, and voice control. The top-spec Pathfinder Ti adds a premium 13-speaker BOSE audio system.

Nissan continues to offer the option of 3.5-litre V6 petrol or 2.5-litre four-cylinder supercharged hybrid motivation across the range despite miniscule sales of the latter (one per cent of all models sold). Both are mated to a continuously variable transmission.

The V6 offers 202kW/340Nm and a combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 9.9L/100km (10.1L/100km with AWD), while the hybrid makes 188kW/330Nm and uses 8.6L/100km (8.7L/100km with AWD).

Cargo space continues to prove a standout for the Nissan Pathfinder with 453, 1354 and 2260 litres of space available between its various seating modes. Braking towing capacity is rated to 2700kg.

Nissan backs the Pathfinder range with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and roadside assistance program. Service intervals are set at six months/7000km for hybrid models and six months/10,000km for petrol models.

A capped-price servicing program covers the Pathfinder for its first six services. In total servicing tallies $2029 for Hybrid 2WD, $2052 for Hybrid AWD, $2197 for V6 2WD and $2240 for V6 AWD models.

The Nissan Pathfinder received a five-star ANCAP safety rating when tested back in 2013 and competes in the 27-strong Large SUV under $70,000 segment locally.

To the end of February 2019 it found just 374 homes for a 2.2 per cent market share. It is topped by a significant margin by rivals including the Hyundai Santa Fe (1083 sales), Mazda CX-9 (905) and Toyota Kluger (1945).

How much does the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder cost?
Pathfinder ST 2WD V6 — $43,390 (+$1400)
Pathfinder ST AWD V6 — $46,890 (+$1400)
Pathfinder ST 2WD Hybrid — $46,390 (+$1900)
Pathfinder ST+ 2WD V6 — $44,590 (new)
Pathfinder ST+ AWD V6 — $48,090 (new)
Pathfinder ST-L 2WD V6 — $54,890 (+$515)
Pathfinder ST-L AWD V6 — $58,390 (+$15)
Pathfinder ST-L AWD Hybrid — $61,390 (+$15)
Pathfinder Ti 2WD V6 — $62,890 (+$700)
Pathfinder Ti AWD V6 — $66,390 (+$200)
Pathfinder Ti AWD Hybrid — $69,390 (+$200)
Metallic Paint — $550 (no change)