Nissan Pathfinder ST-L

By Alex Forrest

This current generation Nissan Pathfinder has been around since 2013, and although it’s been significantly updated since then, you might still kindly refer to it as ‘proven’.

However, it also has a lot of what will always be popular in a large SUV, such as space, a smooth ride, a powerful engine, and a good suite of safety gear.

It has a clever interior that includes seven seats, thoughtfully placed storage spots and a gigantic boot. It also has a powerful but quiet V6 engine and in the mid-spec ST-L variant we tried, a great sound system.

But the Pathfinder also has some serious competition, such as the good-handling and fuel-efficient Mazda CX-9 and the new Hyundai Santa Fe that was launched in 2018.

The Pathfinder we tested was the ST-L N-Sport, which is a special edition designed to sharpen-up its looks. It gets black 20-inch wheels, black external mirror caps and a black front grille.

Though it’s called the N-Sport, the Pathfinder could only ever be sporty by having a lot of sports gear and players crammed into it. It’s much better at being an SUV than a sports car.

The two seats in the third row have ample head room for anyone under six feet tall. There’s even some legroom back there, and the two cupholders on either side of the third row will be useful on long trips – one cupholder for the drink and the other for the coloured textas.

Apple Carplay and Android Auto would be welcome additions though, as would a powered tailgate in this mid-spec variant.

There’s also a secret storage space under the boot floor, which in the ST-L is partially occupied by the amplifier for the 13-speaker Bose sound system.

The Pathfinder is not the most fuel-efficient large SUV, and neither does it have the longest warranty or the best resale value in its class.

Still, the Pathfinder is a very practical SUV that does its core job well. It’ll take you down south as easily as it’ll haul a load of wood, tow a trailer or accommodate a herd of kids and all their bags for the school run.

Nissan Pathfinder ST-L specifications