2016 Nissan Pathfinder consumer reviews

A little about me: I have owned 3 GM cars and am a two-time Explorer owner. I am a first time foreign-car buyer. This car is probably the nicest car you've never given a second glance, unless perhaps you are a Nissan/Infiniti fan. I traded in a 13' Ford Explorer limited for a 16' Pathfinder platinum. I will attempt to review this new car while also comparing to Explorer. As for looks, the Explorer runs away with the prize. Easily. However, the Pathfinder is not a bad looking car in the platinum trim. The large grill flanked by expansive chrome pieces underpinned by a chrome bar in the lower dam are all nice. The sides also get accented by the chrome along the rocker panels and then onto the lift gate. Whereas the Explorer seems like designers started with a shape of angles and molded them into a car-like design, the Nissan team seems like they started with a jelly bean and added flowing lines and soft angles to complete the design. My only real disappointment is the light housing with its extremely dated(if well executed) design. My wife's 2010' Taurus has projector beams but my 16' Pathfinder doesn't? Argh!! Still, it's a very well put together car with tight gap-tolerances and a high build quality to the body. Inside, the interior shows where all the true thought and attention went. The layout is simple and controls very intuitive. I was able to sync my phone, program stations and work the Nav system while the financing department was still working on the deal! Also, I love having actual knobs/buttons to complete functions so you don't get the infotainment screen dirty. That screen is huge btw and toggling is pretty easy to deal with as well. One really cool feature is the all-around camera system. When in reverse, the screen shows you an aerial view of everything around the car, this is perfect for ensuring you don't scratch your rims or run over something laying in your driveway. The voice recognition technology is world's better than in the Ford too. While I like the simplicity of the white-on-black numbering in the speedometer and tachometer, I think they missed an opportunity to provide more info than the scant few details that screen in between the two meters provides. The seats are very supportive, supremely comfortable and the first 2 rows are heated with the driver and passenger are also cooled. 4-wheel drive setup is exactly like Explorer. The way the 2nd row folds, you do not have to remove the car seat to access the third row. This is a huge consideration for those of us with small children and growing households. The car operates in 2 wheel drive but can be put into intelligent mode which sends power to the rear wheels if slippage occurs or locked mode which keeps all four wheels turning continuously for those treacherous snowy/heavy rain situations. Finally, the drive. I think this car drives and handles very much like a car -a good thing. It soaks up bumps well, turns and corners with little body roll and keeps most of the noise out. The engine is extremely responsive and the steering feels light but right. The brakes don't have all the solidity that I would hope for though and that wonderful heated steering feels a wee bit small in my average-sized hands. This is my first experience with the CVT transmission and I found so many bad professional reviews that I was nervous at first. However after 3 months of ownership I can say I am a fan. The car almost always feels 'punchy' and I say that to mean it always feels like you could press down a bit more and get even more power than you need. As well, I have not heard any whining or groaning noises which many complained of. I understand it's been tuned to mimic the shift points of a traditional transmission and it feels very near to that in many respects. Car enthusiasts may be displeased but for average folks like myself it is more than adequate and is velvety-smooth when driven in most situations. Final word: When comparing with the Explorer there are some tradeoffs, mainly with the exterior styling. However, when you get down to driving dynamics, creature comforts and build quality, I think it's a really compelling car. It won't likely draw many elongated stares or impromptu compliments, but it does its job in a very unassuming, dutiful way. I believe that works well for many, including myself.

Great family car ... SV...bought almost brand new/ 3000 miles/ we jumped from rogue to pathfinder and...wow..!!nothing but roomy and comfy even if u need to use third row,still bigger than mdx! 18 miles/city- 26miles/highway