2014 nissan pathfinder drivers#
2014 nissan pathfinder full#

The lithium-ion battery pack fits under the rear deck, there's no compromise in storage space or packaging. This engine runs on standard gasoline.įuel efficiency of the new hybrid model is estimated at 26 mpg combined (25 mpg city, 27 mpg highway), and the Pathfinder Hybrid can be ordered with optional all-wheel drive. It's all in the name of fuel economy, although we note that there's quite a delay for quick bursts of power for passing. The standard engine and CVT combination offers a wider range of engine-to-transmission ratios than the earlier Nissan units-and a sturdy chain instead of a belt-giving both strong, smooth acceleration and lower revs when cruising. But today's reinvented Pathfinder offers front-wheel drive as standard, and happily sacrifices some of its previous towing and rough-terrain abilities for family-friendly comfort features that center it squarely in the mid-size utility vehicle segment.

2014 nissan pathfinder full#

The big news this year is that new hybrid model, the first in the Pathfinder's history, which puts the Toyota Highlander Hybrid squarely in the Pathfinder's cross-hairs, although we don't think Nissan's mild hybrid system is as satisfying as the full hybrid offered up by Toyota in its own seven-seat crossover.

Power output from the combined system is 250 hp, just 10 hp shy of the V-6 output. That nonetheless actually makes it roomier than most third rows, which are really kids-only accommodations.įor the new model year, the standard 260-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine and continuously variable transmission (CVT)-last year's only powertrain option-gain a new alternative: a hybrid model that pairs supercharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a 15-kilowatt (22-hp) electric motor sandwiched between engine and CVT, with a clutch on either end. That's good for headroom for growing teens, but it's still marginal for an adult. That third row has short, flat, van-like cushions that sit surprisingly low. It also has a complex sliding-and-folding mechanism for access to the back row that lets parents leave their child seats locked in place even while the seat partially collapses-truly a parent-friendly feature. The bench seat in the second row slides back and forth, giving more legroom if the third row is empty. The bulk of the added metal goes into the cabin, which gives the Pathfinder not only two usable rows of seating, but a more accessible and useful third row than any of its competition. While it has the cross-section of its competitors, more or less, it's considerably longer than the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, or Toyota Highlander-about the length of a Mazda CX-9. The Pathfinder has clearly been designed to prioritize elbow room and comfort for passengers.

2014 nissan pathfinder drivers#

Behind the wheel, though, drivers will likely forget they're driving a seven-seat crossover utility vehicle.

Inside the Pathfinder, there's some influence from the Infiniti luxury division, but the cabin still feels conservative due to a limited selection of just two colors and otherwise unremarkable fabrics and plastic surfaces. The same family design language used in the rest of the Nissan range will be familiar here.The Pathfinder leads with a bold chrome grille and heavily sculpted front fenders, and the accents on the rear fenders give it a hint of 'shoulder line' that makes its overall look more fluid than many other tall wagons. Only close up to you realize how large it is, and the adjective 'rakish' can fairly be applied even to this tall wagon. The curvaceous exterior lines do a good job of disguising the Pathfinder's height and bulk. And it offers more flexibility and interior volume than some competitors in the mid-size utility category, including the Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, and Honda Pilot. Among crossovers with three rows of seats for people and all their stuff, the Pathfinder-now in its second year-has quickly established itself in a new persona: the suburban family's seven-seat crossover utility vehicle. The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder is a competitive package that's both well thought-out and attractive, with carefully calibrated features and trim levels that provide just what families who want a mid-size crossover really want.