Used 2020 Nissan Pathfinder

#13 in Best Midsize SUVs for 2020

When it was introduced in 2013 as an all-new model, the Nissan Pathfinder impressed us with its strong and standard V6, good fuel efficiency and easy-access 3rd-row seats. Unfortunately, that was seven years ago, and by 2020 standards Nissan’s 3-row crossover SUV hasn’t kept up with fresher, better competitors.

Unlike the amazing new Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, not to mention longtime benchmarks such as the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander, the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder lacks technology like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and active safety features like lane-departure warning. Surprisingly, these features can be found in a sub-$18,000 Nissan Versa subcompact sedan, but you can’t get them in a premium Pathfinder family SUV. Also unlike competitors, the Pathfinder is limited to 7-passenger seating, and is not available with 2nd-row captain’s chairs.

Among the Pathfinder’s highlights are a standard V6 and 6,000-pound towing capacity.

If there’s one trait we still appreciate about the Pathfinder and the way it drives, it’s the standard V6 engine. With 284 horsepower, it’s has a good amount of power. If there’s one thing that we still aren’t hot on, it’s the use of a CVT (continuously variable transmission), a type of automatic with no set gears. Simply put, competitors offer better powertrains. The Kia Telluride also comes with a standard V6, and it is both more powerful and connected to a slick-shifting 8-speed automatic.

For what it’s worth, Nissan’s CVT does a decent job replicating a traditional automatic, and it attains up to 27 mpg. All-wheel-drive Pathfinder models include a full-lock setting for rough or slippery surfaces, making the vehicle suitable for light off-roading. In the usual around-town environments, the ride is composed, but not particularly smooth.

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All 2020 Pathfinder models have a 3-row/7-passenger setup. Unlike competitors, however, the Pathfinder does not offer the choice of replacing the 3-passenger 2nd-row bench with a pair of captain’s seats. That sort of setup enables both more comfort for those in the second row and easy access to the third row. That said, Nissan’s standard EZ Flex seating system does offers easy, tip-up access to the third row. Also unlike competitors, the Pathfinder doesn’t offer an 8-passenger option.

The Pathfinder’s interior is plush but, as with all its other aspects, feels dated. The front console is a bevy of buttons for audio and climate controls, and an 8-inch touch screen is standard. If you’re coming out of a truly old vehicle, say a decade or more, the 2020 Pathfinder might impress. But compared to fresher competitors like the Kia Telluride or 2020 Toyota Highlander, the Pathfinder’s age easily shows.

As for utility, luggage space behind the third row is a useful 16 cubic feet, expanding to 47.8 behind the second. With both rows folded flat, maximum cargo area is 79.8. These specs are good, but again, not as good as a Kia Telluride or Honda Pilot.

The Nissan Pathfinder’s exterior remains handsome if unassuming. Like the Pilot, the Pathfinder has a softly rounded shape vs. the tougher and blockier image projected by the Kia Telluride, Ford Explorer and GMC Acadia. The optional dual-pane moonroof on SL and Platinum models brings airiness to the whole cabin, while the gesture-controlled tailgate in those trims is convenient when your hands are full.

The new-for-2020 Pathfinder Rock Creek edition aims to bolster the Pathfinder’s ruggedness with a black grille, roof rails, door handles and other aesthetics, plus a standard tow hitch and splash guards.

REAR-DOOR ALERT
Standard on every 2020 Pathfinder, this feature reminds the driver to check the rear seat for their most precious human cargo before exiting the car. The system takes note if a vehicle’s rear-passenger door was opened at the beginning of a trip, but not at its conclusion.

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Many new vehicles have this feature as standard. But it’s no less welcome because of that. Using a network of sensors, the Pathfinder reads the distance to the vehicle in front, gives audible and visual alerts if that distance is reducing rapidly, then applies the brakes if the driver hasn’t responded in time.

The Nissan Pathfinder is available in four trims: S, SV, SL and Platinum. The least expensive 2020 Pathfinder S model includes cloth upholstery with 6-way manual-adjust driver’s seat, tri-zone automatic climate control, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, and an 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system with 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio with Bluetooth streaming and USB inputs.

As we mentioned, the Pathfinder is among the rare new cars that doesn’t offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration. If you’re truly set on buying one of these, we’d suggest stepping up to at least an SV trim, which adds 8-way-power driver’s seat, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, fog lights and remote-engine start.

Continuing the trim climb, Pathfinder SL models add navigation and Nissan Connect services with emergency call and stolen-vehicle locator, surround-view monitor, leather seats for the first and second rows, LED headlights, heated front and 2nd-row seats, and heated steering wheel.

Top-line Nissan Pathfinder Platinum trims bring a 13-speaker Bose audio system, heated and cooled front seats, wood-grain interior, and dual-panel panoramic moonroof.

All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional on all trims. The new Rock Creek package is optional on SV and SL trims, and adds unique exterior aesthetics and 2-tone interior. The Pathfinder Platinum can be further spruced up with a rear-seat DVD entertainment system. Unlike almost every competitor, you can’t even get the latest safety features such as lane-keeping assist and road-departure mitigation on a Pathfinder. On better, more recommendable crossover SUVs like the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, Ford Explorer and Subaru Ascent, that kind of active safety system comes standard.

All new Nissan Pathfinder models use a 3.5-liter V6 engine. It makes a good but not class-leading 284 horsepower. The only transmission is a CVT — a continuously variable unit that tends to drone. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is the basic setup, but AWD is available across the board. If there’s one bright spot with the Pathfinder, it’s the ability to tow 6,000 pounds — which is about 1,000 more than rivals. The Pathfinder also returns good fuel economy, up to 27 mpg on the highway.

3.5-liter V6
284 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
259 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/27 mpg (FWD & AWD), 19/26 mpg (AWD, Platinum trim)