In a world where almost everyone wants to have a piece of the all-wheel drive (AWD) pie, crossover SUVs rule supreme. While there’s absolutely no dearth of crossover SUVs to pick and choose from, some make slightly more sense than others and of these, not all come with the highly-coveted “all-wheel drive” or “AWD” badge. One of the few that manages to break through the ice in this regard and establish itself as a reasonable buy is the Nissan Pathfinder. The Nissan Pathfinder first went on sale in the late 1980s, and as of 2019, it’s currently in its fourth generation avatar. Eventually introduced as a proper SUV with a truck-based platform, the Pathfinder of today is a completely different car and gladly enough for most buyers, does indeed come with all-wheel drive.
The new-generation Nissan Pathfinder is primarily a front-wheel drive platform and as such, is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive variants. The all-wheel drive variants are equipped with Nissan’s “All-Mode 4x4-I” system that works in tandem with the Pathfinder’s various driving modes. Depending on the mode that’s chosen by the driver, a vast array of sensors detects and monitors various parameters such as the position of the throttle, steering angle, engine rpm, wheel spin etc. The on-board computers are then tasked with processing the mountain of inputs and data that are sent by the sensors every second, over and over again. Depending on the position of this drive mode selector, the computers send out the appropriate solutions to generate the best outcome. This is done by altering the throttle response, modifying the transmission logic, and by varying the response and behaviour of the anti-lock braking system, vehicle stability control and traction control system. And the end result of all this back and forth between the sensors and computers? Well, you get the best traction possible on almost any type of terrain and inclement weather conditions.
The Nissan Pathfinder’s all-wheel drive system is a flexible one which means that it’s entirely up to you to decide. This means that if you don’t want the extra traction from all the four corners, you can choose to solely power the front wheels only by putting the drive mode selector into “2WD” mode. However, if you have are expecting some kind of a challenging terrain up ahead, you’ve the ability to lock the Pathfinder’s AWD system, in which case the torque from the engine is split between all four wheels for maximum grip. In case you’re unable to make up your mind and don’t want any fuss, simply turn the knob into “AUTO” mode and leave the rest to the on-board computer. The Nissan Pathfinder’s selectable all-wheel drive system doesn’t penalize you with higher fuel consumption, which is common among SUVs and crossovers that use a permanent AWD system.
In-charge of power production is the tried-and-tested 3.5-liter naturally-aspirated V6 petrol engine. This motor also features direct injection technology and as a result, produces 271 hp and 340 Nm of torque. And as with their other models, the new Pathfinder is also equipped to Nissan’s Xtronic CVT. Even though I’m not a fan of this gearbox and its annoying whine when pushed, it actually does its job rather admirably for the most part. The Pathfinder is no dragster, but it still manages the 0-100 km/h sprint in a respectable 7.6 seconds. Even better, this large, seven-seat crossover SUV is capable of achieving up to 9.0 L/100 km, which better than most of its competitors. In the UAE, the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder Midnight Edition (with all-wheel drive) retails for AED 161,900.
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