Modest Increase but Better Equipment

What’s slightly more expensive to start than a Kia Telluride, a Honda Pilot, or a Ford Explorer? That’d be Nissan’s all-new 2022 Pathfinder. As you’d expect in a segment as competitive as this, the margins separating these contenders are razor-thin. The new Pathfinder starts at $34,560—sliding in just above those other three segment stalwarts by about a grand. For those curious about how that compares to the old Pathfinder’s MSRP, the 2022 model is just under $1,500 more expensive than its predecessor.

Nissan has pared the new Pathfinder lineup down, dropping the Rock Creek off-road trim available on SV and SL models last year, leaving four core variants: The Pathfinder S, Pathfinder SV, Pathfinder SL, and range-topping Pathfinder Platinum. All four see their prices rise by $1,255 to $3,025; all-wheel drive, which is optional on all Pathfinders, now costs $1,900, compared to $1,690 before. Every Pathfinder comes with the same carryover 3.5-liter V-6 engine.

Explaining the price increases is easy: The Pathfinder is new. Beyond that oversimplification, the 2022 Pathfinder (even the S) comes with more stuff standard, namely Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 active safety features, with its attendant forward collision warning and automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams.

There is also an additional belted spot inside, shoehorned into the third-row bench seat, which previously sat two but now accommodates a third (small) person, bringing total passenger capacity to eight. The old Pathfinder’s continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) has been replaced by a nine-speed automatic, and the optional all-wheel drive now includes seven drive modes (Standard, Sport, Eco, Snow, Sand, Mud/Rut, and Tow), and in fact, Nissan seems intent on showing off the new SUV’s off-road prowess than it did with the old version. LED headlights are standard across the board, as well.

Many of the 2022 Pathfinder’s new headline features are limited to the top-dog Platinum trim, including the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, head-up display, 120-volt rear-seat power outlet, third-row USB ports, motion-activated power tailgate (a regular power tailgate is available on lesser trims), and a power-adjustable steering column. However, even regular Pathfinders come with an 8.0-inch touchscreen (SL and Platinum upgrade to a 9.0-inch unit), a 7.0-inch driver information display, and 18-inch wheels.

Two large option packages are offered; the first, the $2,170 SV Premium package, is only available on the SV trim and adds a panoramic sunroof, power liftgate, tow hitch, extra transmission coolers (upping tow capacity from 3,500 pounds to 6,000), second-row captain’s chairs, and a removable console for the second row. Pathfinder SL models are available with the $2,900 SL Premium package, which mirrors the SV’s kit but adds 20-inch wheels, a 13-speaker Bose audio system, heated rear seats, and a wireless charging pad.