12 Best Family Cars: two thousand seventeen Nissan Pathfinder

A repeat winner in our annual Best Family Car competition, the two thousand seventeen Nissan Pathfinder moves from strength to even greater strength thanks to a comprehensive mid-cycle redesign. This 3-row midsize SUV now boasts a bolder, more contemporary appearance complemented by an engine upgrade that brings extra power and even better overall spectacle. Identically significant, this versatile Nissan also gains an enhanced suite of safety/driver-assist features that add a greater degree of confidence and security no matter where your travels lead. What hasn’t switched in the transition is the Pathfinder’s exceptional combination of real-world convenience, accommodation and capability, key factors that ensured it retained a spot on our list of best family vehicles.

Playing a fine inwards game

One of the most critical factors when considering a family-focused vehicle is its capability to please the people it carries. The Pathfinder scores high marks in that area thanks to a well turned-out and invitingly roomy cabin that’s designed to facilitate quick, convenient transitions. Arguably the most notable feature on that front is Nissan’s benchmark EZ Ripple and Slip System. Standard on every model, it permits a child seat latched to either the Pathfinder’s second-row split-bench or captain’s chairs to remain in place when they’re slipped forward, greatly assisting access to the third-row bench.

While the Pathfinder’s seat count does max out at seven and not eight like the Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander, its 2nd row has one more trick in its tracks thanks to Five.Three inches of fore-aft travel. That adjustability can make life far better for anyone occupying its somewhat modestly scaled innermost seating tier. Like any first-rate SUV, the Pathfinder’s aft seats all fold plane to expand the basic 16.0 cu ft of cargo space into an enormously usable 79.8 cu ft mini-cave. Fresh this year, SL and Premium versions of this Nissan hauler add a motion-activated power liftgate to their lengthy roster of standards, a list that also includes a class-exclusive 360-degree Around View monitor system. But even the Pathfinder S and SV have tri-zone climate control, an 8.0-inch color touchscreen infotainment display for the Nissan Connect with Voice Recognition system, a 2nd USB port and a freshly upgraded Advanced Drive-Assist Display in the main instrument cluster.

More power to please

There’s good news underhood, as well. Nissan’s award-winning Trio.5-liter V6 common to all Pathfinder variants has undergone a major redesign and gains a fresh, more efficient direct fuel injection system that helps boost horsepower from two hundred sixty to two hundred eighty four and raise peak torque from two hundred forty to two hundred fifty six lb-ft. Whether front-drive or fitted with All-Mode 4×4-i intelligent AWD, the engine is backed by Nissan’s Xtronic CVT transmission with logic that can simulate seven “virtual gears” like a conventional automatic. That combo enables the two thousand seventeen Pathfinder to supply quicker acceleration and stronger passing spectacle while maintaining its existing EPA fuel economy ratings. As an added bonus, the maximum towing capacity of a decently tooled Pathfinder has risen to a best-in-class 6,000 pounds – 1,000 more than in 2016.

A dynamic driving practice

The Pathfinder has a well-deserved reputation for solid treating, and Nissan used this chance to further burnish that enviable status. The key switch involves revised spring rates that improve roll control when you’re cornering and further limiting pitch and bounce motions on rough paved surfaces or while off-roading. Last but far from least, with its sturdy core structure and available driver assists that include Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Forward Emergency Braking, the two thousand seventeen Nissan Pathfinder also earns top marks in passenger protection from both NHTSA and IIHS.

More two thousand seventeen Nissan Pathfinder

To learn more about the two thousand seventeen Nissan Pathfinder, you can read our utter review. If you’re ready to take the next step, build and price your own Pathfinder to unlock its Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own and more. And if you want to see everything the segment has to over, head over to our Midsize SUV Buyer’s Guide.

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