- The traditionally boxy Nissan Pathfinder is about to be replaced in model year 2013 by a much curvier model.
- The 2013 Pathfinder will be previewed as a concept at the Detroit auto show.
- The new Pathfinder goes on sale next fall.
DETROIT — The traditionally boxy Nissan Pathfinder is about to be replaced in model year 2013 by a much curvier model, judging from a teaser shot released Monday by Nissan. The 2013 Pathfinder will be previewed as a concept at the upcoming 2012 Detroit Auto Show and is slated to go on sale next fall.
Nissan says the new model "takes all of Pathfinder's traditional SUV hallmarks and wraps them in a new platform and dramatic new aerodynamic body."
The 2013 Pathfinder will seat up to seven, with "ample cargo room," according to Nissan.
The current Pathfinder went on sale in model year 2005. By the time the fourth-generation model arrives next fall at U.S. dealers, the current design will have been in production for eight years.
Inside Line says: Looks more like the rest of the Nissan crossover line.
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1919diesel says:
11:03 AM, 01/05/2012
openeyes1 said: "The Kuga offers 66.3 cubic feet of cargo space (seats down), verses the Pathfinders 48 cubic feet,"
Sorry, openeyes1, but the Pathfinder has 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the 2nd row seats up (seating 5), and if you fold that seat down (to make a similar comparison with the Kuga) you have 79.2 cubic feet. I drove a Pathfinder on a family vacation - a VERY capable vehicle on the road (drove like a sedan, never felt top-heavy or like a boat) and tons of cargo room without compromising passenger comfort. No comparison - we could not have carried all our suitcases for the week's vacation in a Kuga!
openeyes1 says:
09:23 PM, 12/21/2011
@al_bashir & cmike2780; This excerpt is from an Edmunds article written in 2009 titiled 'Cargo Weight and Rollovers: Know the Limits of Your SUV',
"SUVs appeal to consumers because of their greater cargo capacity and perceived go-anywhere capability. Compared to typical sedans and station wagons, it seems logical that a larger 4WD vehicle would offer both these advantages with few tradeoffs. This is despite the fact that many SUVs have a payload capacity (how much weight they can carry) that is considerably less than what buyers assume. Once an SUV is overloaded, the chance of a rollover increases dramatically.
The taller height of an SUV (which provides a commanding view of the road that many consumers love about their SUVs) also raises the chance of a rollover. Due to their higher center of gravity, SUVs are more prone to roll over than passenger cars that ride closer to the ground. Overloading an already top-heavy SUV not only raises the risk of rollover; it also places added stress on the brakes and can cause a tire blowout - especially if the tires are improperly inflated. Automakers have taken some steps toward improving the segment with a mix of new models and advanced technology."
al_bashir says:
05:56 PM, 12/21/2011
Looks like it will be a bigger version of the current Infiniti Ex-35. The waistline looks a bit different from the JX
@openeyes1 I'm yet to hear of current generation SUV's rolling over, left and right as you are suggesting. Yes! Suv's have a higher propensity to roll-over when compared to sedans but that does not mean that they are falling like dominoes.
wingsfan19 says:
10:31 PM, 12/20/2011
Looks like a Nissan version of the new Infiniti JX to me.
cmike2780 says:
10:59 AM, 12/20/2011
By going away from the body-on-frame construction, the overall weight is gonna drop significantly increasing gas effeciency and increasing interior room. Lets face it, most of these trucks aren't going to do a whole lot of off-roading. Besides, a unibody contructions can be just as strong if done correctly. That roll-over theory is about as usuful as tits on a bull. We haven't even seen the whole design yet and I doubt a topic like a roll-over test isn't going to be scrutinized.
To those wanting the old models, there's nothing stopping you from buying those. Although, they will be less powerful, not as safe, less interior room, less equipped, heavier, less effecient engines, etc. etc. etc. Also, I don't know were people are seeing "overloaded" SUV's all over the place. Most of the time, its just the driver. This goes for pretty much the whole spectrum of older cars vs new.
As for the Maxima, I've owned 3('92, '98, '04). Yeah it's gotten bigger, but so what. I personally like the new ones and looks far "sportier" than my old '92 ever did.
openeyes1 says:
08:00 AM, 12/20/2011
@j84ustin; Take a look at the Ford Kuga (The New Ford escape), it is an SUV that is more aerodynamic, offers safer handling, is more fuel efficient, seats 5 comfortable, and weighs in at about 3500lb's (that's 1,200lbs less than the Pathfinder). The Kuga offers 66.3 cubic feet of cargo space (seats down), verses the Pathfinders 48 cubic feet, all in a package that is less likely to roll than a Nissan Pathfinder.
The SUV design trend is moving into the direction of smaller and lighter is better, with space efficiency a new priority. Is it happening fast enough for those of us who drive cars on the roadways, No, but its an improvement.
j84ustin says:
06:47 AM, 12/20/2011
openeyes, it's hard to take what you say seriously since you in such vehement opposition to all things SUV.
gtrguy2012 says:
09:54 PM, 12/19/2011
Everyone is moving away from the tough offroad capability truck look to the more fluid crossover look.
cz_75 says:
07:46 PM, 12/19/2011
They ruined the Mxima by making it big, bulbous and unsporty and they've been doing the same with the Pathfinder, making it less a capable truck and more just a rugrat hauler, until, apparently, they've given up on the body-on-frame actual truck platform entirely. At least the Xterra and Atlima were both there to carry on (until they saddled the Atima with CVT-only trannies for the sedan). They'll probably kill the Xterra for those who want a Japanese alternative to the domestics with actual off-road capability that also has personality (i.e., not a Toyota).
openeyes1 says:
07:00 PM, 12/19/2011
"takes all of Pathfinder's traditional SUV hallmarks and wraps them in a new platform and dramatic new aerodynamic body."; Reads... Looks less like a shoebox, but will still be overweight and get crappy gas mileage...
"ample cargo room,"; Reads... You can go ahead and overload this vehicle, just like the majority of SUV owners do so with their vehicles, and put yourself at risk of a major rollover.