SPY PICS: Next Nissan Pathfinder to up style quota
Ageing people-mover to be replaced by smarter large SUV that will bring back some of the original off-roader’s toughnessOur first glimpse of the 2021 Nissan Pathfinder has emerged in the forms of a heavily disguised mule that was spotted testing in the US.
These fresh spy shots show a camouflaged Pathfinder prototype that’s believed to be near to production, despite appearances.
According to our sneaky snappers, the mule pictured isn't all that it seems as plenty of additional panels have been added to conceal the look of the fifth-generation Pathfinder.
The takeaway is that the finished item won't look anywhere near as staid as the model it replaces, or as boring as the wrapped pre-production model suggests.
Instead, the next Nissan Pathfinder will borrow some of its style and visual panache from the Ariya concept that was unveiled at the Tokyo motor show in October.
That means a healthy amount of "Timeless Japanese Futurism" will be injected into Nissan’s answer to the Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Kluger and it should involve the Pathfinder gaining cleaner lines and more rakish rear-end styling.
At the front of the car, expect a development of the Ariya's nose and for the new Pathfinder to pinch styling elements from the 2017 IMx electric crossover concept.
As well as looking better, beneath the skin the next-gen Pathfinder will keep its car-like underpinnings, by sharing its new platform with both the Infiniti QX60 and the Nissan Maxima, neither of which are sold in Australia.
There's no word on powertrains but expect the current car's naturally-aspirated 3.5-litre V6 to be downsized to a turbocharged four-cylinder.
Despite being more efficient, the next Pathfinder should be capable of matching the current car's 2700kg towing capacity.
The big SUV will also come equipped with the car-maker's latest ProPilot 2.0 driver aid system that, in some markets with high-definition 3D geomapped roads, can steer, brake, accelerate and change lanes on highways without any driver input.
Nissan has not announced when it plans to reveal the fifth-gen Pathfinder but it's expected to be unveiled later this year.
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