2017 Nissan Pathfinder Review: First Impressions
CARS.COM — Americans just can’t get enough SUVs, with 2016 sales through the roof in just about every segment. Nissan’s Pathfinder, however, hasn’t been following the trend — sales are down this year as the aging 2016 model isn’t proving popular with buyers. Nissan hopes to change that slide with the revised 2017 model, which will arrive in showrooms in September.
Related: 2017 Nissan Pathfinder: First Look
On the outside, it’s not all that different. It wears a new front and rear end and a new hood that Nissan hopes will convey a more masculine, trucky appearance. Inside, it’s not all that different either, with a new center console design and a few new materials, plus the same slick folding second-row that makes for seriously easy third-row ingress. You still wouldn’t want to put an adult in the third row, but if they do need to be there, it’s not difficult for them to get in or out. First- and second-row occupants have a much more comfortable environment, but a lack of toe room underneath the front seats means second-row legroom is a little tight.
The biggest difference for 2017 is the Pathfinder’s new multimedia system, which looks and feels updated and modern. The automaker switched to an icon-focused system instead of a menu-based one, allowing you to reconfigure the screen as desired. As multimedia systems go, this one seems top-notch, with big icons, clear graphics and good contrast for clear visibility in bright conditions. We’ll have to test it before we can rate its speed or ease of operation but, at first glance, it looks like a winner.
As for how it drives, stay tuned; we’ll have a full road test of the new 2017 Pathfinder later this month.
