2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid at the 2013 New York Auto Show
- Competes with: Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango and Chevrolet Traverse
- Looks like: A Pathfinder. Only a badge and LED taillights differentiate the hybrid version from the regular Pathfinder.
- Drivetrain: Supercharged 2.5-liter gasoline engine and a 15-kW electric motor paired with a compact lithium-ion battery; continuously variable automatic transmission
- Hits dealerships: Late summer
For model-year 2013, Nissan’s Pathfinder underwent a radical change from trucky SUV to family-friendly crossover. Model-year 2014 brings more changes to its lineup — Nissan unveiled the Pathfinder Hybrid at the 2013 New York International Auto Show with promises of 27 mpg and uncompromised interior space from the seven-passenger crossover.
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Nissan’s first hybrid crossover, the front- or all-wheel-drive Pathfinder Hybrid, uses a new supercharged 2.5-liter gasoline engine and a 15-kilowatt electric motor paired with a compact lithium-ion battery. A CVT is the sole transmission. Nissan puts total power output at 250 horsepower and 243 pounds-feet of torque and says it will be able to tow 3,500 pounds when properly equipped.
Fuel-economy gains will be modest. The automaker estimates that the hybrid crossover should get 25/27 mpg city/highway. The gas version’s 260-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 is EPA rated at 20/26 mpg (front-wheel-drive models).
“With this innovative design, there is no reduction of passenger-seating capacity, second- or third-row legroom or cargo space. And, with the flat rather than raised floor, entry and exit to and from every row is as easy and convenient as the non-hybrid Pathfinder models,” Pierre Loing, Nissan North America vice president of product planning, said in a statement.
