This video is an excellent demo of the 2022 Pathfinder. The new Pathfinder even though tougher, better built, and of higher endurance than the previous Pathfinder models, is not a true heavy duty off road type vehicle. It is a great vehicle for back roads, and fairly rough type roads. It should be excellent for winter driving. It is not an all terrain vehicle as like the TJ, FJ, Xterra, and Rubicon. With these it is possible to add extended all terrain and off road modifications. I had a 1986 true off road Pathfinder that I bought new back in 86. I kept it for 18 years before I sold it. I needed the parking space and I was not doing any more off road. With the Pathfinder I tell people, if they do not take the 4WD option there is no point to buy an SUV. Better value for the money to buy a car than an SUV or any type of truck. I would only buy an SUV with 4WD and not with two wheel drive. I would not buy this type of vehicle for hard off road use. -- I bought the new 2022 Platinum 4WD Pathfinder. I am going to be using it for my everyday transportation and it will be great for snow conditions. I do not intend to use it for off road. I love this Pathfinder. I moved up from a 2016 AWD Platinum Murano. This was also an excellent vehicle. I wanted something larger and more heavy duty for snow conditions, and overall driving. For myself the Pathfinder 4WD Platinum is like a luxury type SUV. It is not a low cost SUV. It is very comfortable and the ride is fairly smooth and quiet for this type of truck. As for fuel usage the Pathfinder is about the same as the Murano. I found when using the ECO mode it is less touchy for city driving, and does save about 10% on fuel usage when driven properly. For normal driving I use the ECO mode. There is a menu display that can be used as a live virtual guide for showing the amount of pressure on the gas pedal. This assists for using less fuel. If you have the Sport option this allows for excellent acceleration and allows for more power to the wheels. It also makes the steering a bit tighter and have more responsive handling. The transmission will be working in higher ratios to allow for more torque to the wheels. In the Sport mode it will use more fuel which is normal. For the size and weight of the Pathfinder when used in the Sport mode it is impressive for its performance. As for how I see this Pathfinder is being demonstrated in this video, I would not be putting my Pathfinder through these types of roads. If I wanted to do true off road driving I would buy the 2 door 4X4 Rubicon with the manual transmission, and with the all terrain setup. As for using the 2022 Pathfinder 4WD as a normal street vehicle and for snow conditions this should be a very ideal setup. It is a terrific family vehicle, and you can carry a lot of things in the back of it.
Hopefully Nissan will receive your feedback and reprogram the awd modes. Nissan is really marketing this as a capable soft-roader. While, it’d do everything I’d throw at it; I can see many over landers and off-roady types being disappointed in these results. But I’m still really impressed in Nissan’s of today.
Yeah the Armada is an excellent platform for overlanding, just wish it had more of the Nissan patrol features. The R51 Pathfinder was also a great vehicle for overlanding and a pretty good offroader with a few mods.
Very impressive on the berm test, but essentially a fail on the hill. I was expecting first gear to be kind of hidden like on the Jeep Renegade and with the v6 it should have had all the power to climb. Not very disappointed really, it should be good for inclement weather and 17mph on the rough road was quite good. It might be time to retire the name though.
Tires are very important, but in this test they aren't as important as having a good power transfer system. If all 4 wheels are spinning at or near the same speed and it can't make the climb, then I'd blame tires, but when the vehicle is struggling to get power to the wheels with traction, then it is a vehicle issue.
Hello, I saw a report from Consumer reports He rated it 2 out of 5 in terms of reliability, and they say that it only has electrical problems. Do you agree with him?! Thank you very much for what you provide 🇸🇦🇺🇸
I don't have long term experience with most vehicles on my channel as they are media vehicles I use for a week. I do have a friend with a Pathfinder and they don't have any issues.
I think with off road tires things would be different. Regardless, as great as this new model is, I have one so I can attest to it, its not built for off roading and hill crawling and rock climbing etc etc. it will be very good in wintery and snowy conditions but thats about it. Maybe a slight mud or dirt road but nothing more. If u want real off road, take an armada or xterra or something
Thanks for watching and commenting! Having the right tires for the terrain you are on can make a big difference. However, in these tests two wheels are essentially in the air, which means the vehicle needs to be able to transfer power to the two wheels on the ground. That's where this vehicle (and most crossovers) struggled. It couldn't get enough torque to the 2 wheels that had traction to make the climb.
@@EngineAdventures yeah. I own one and trust me, its not for off roading. It just has the look. But I think most people buying these vehicles now, myself included, aren’t buying them to go off roading. Just everyday commute on hard pavement.
I know we opinions in the past, but take a look at Car Questions Pathfinder review....Its not hard to tell that something is wrong....Keep up the great work
What car question does is more similar to my small articulation hill than my steep hill climb. The Pathfinder performed great on the small articulation hill!
@@EngineAdventures Indeed its similar too your means and methods. I just wanted you to be more aware and informed that there is a significant problem. I actually want the QX60, but this is a huge deal breaker. I'm not going rock climbing, just need a vehicle that is more capable in all variable terrains if you get my drift
Yeah, I have the same sentiment. The Pathfinder is a great vehicle, and will handle well maintained dirt and gravel roads no problem, its just when things get rough that it will struggle.
@@ramoncarter6585 where’s two speed transfer case?, where’s locking differentials? This “pathfinder” is not a 4x4 unless if you consider driving over the stop and shop curb is off-roading
Nope, I'm hoping to get one, but it's harder for me to get vehicles anymore. Utah is a long way from any of the fleet managers so the manufacturers aren't sending as many media vehicles out this way.
Howdy. I have a new-to-me 1998 Nissan Pathfinder 4x4, automatic, 3.3L VG33E 4th VIN digit "A" motor, made 10/1997. It has one or more bad piston wrist pins, and a confirmed bad crankshaft due to excessive bearing failures from oil loss. Does anyone know if the pistons in a 1996-2004 Pathfinders, QX4, Frontier, or Xterras can be removed and reinstalled through the bottom of the motor (oil pan), with the motor still installed? I also have a bad crank so I have to have it removed and machined too. The rest of the motor is clean, no oil burning, and low miles (165,000). I hate to swap it for an unknown possible problem motor if I can do it this way instead. I haven't been able to find anyone online who has accomplished this, but maybe it's not possible due to clearance or whatever. Do ya know, or take a guess, if ya been under one of these models with the oil pan off and crank out? Thanks much!
So the all-wheel drive system is kind of useless on this, at least for offering, wife going to the grocery store with foul weather probably really good, do they make a two-wheel drive version of this which I'm guessing would be front wheel drive?
Front wheel drive is standard, but all wheel drive can be had on all trims. The AWD system is actually pretty good in how it works, the Pathfinder just doesn't have enough torque or low range gearing.
@@EngineAdventures it actually sounded like they were doing something to limit the power of the motor was putting out, retarding the engine, imagine if they turned it Loose
If you had toyo open county AT 3 255/50/20 it would help. I think you would do 30 mph if a T Rex was chasing you. I had a 2001 Infiniti QX4 it never got me stuck fron Daytona beach Florida to the Bronx New York. I am looking to buy now the 2022 pathfinder platinum 4wd ,everyone almost want $60.000 for it. Great video I never saw no one test it like that. Thanks.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Having the right tires for the terrain makes a big difference, however in this case the vehicle isn't getting the power to the wheels with traction. This test essentially puts two wheels in a near 0 traction state and the vehicle has to transfer power to the other 2 wheels to make the climb. Like most crossovers, the Pathfinder does this by using the ABS to brake the spinning wheels, this transferring power to the wheels with traction. This type of system requires a lot of torque and when climbing a 20° hill, it's too much for the vehicle to handle.
I was expecting more, especially with the 7 modes. That’s unfortunate, they look nice for the most part too. That’s a let down, I considered buying one in a few years when any redesign kinks were worked out if any. I had a 2010 Altima that I could fully turn off VDC and get out of anything for the most part and the traction control on was pretty good. I now have a 14 Malibu that can also fully turn off but also a 2018 Malibu that can’t be fully turned off, not a fan of new cars not allowing it to be fully turned off, I’ve gotten the 18 Malibu stuck on hills that it should’ve been able to go up in snow, that it would’ve made with traction fully off
It performed about on par with everything in this class. The test hill is more torn up than on my previous tests, but as far as front wheel drive based 3 row crossovers go, I think this is par for the course.
that is the problem right there that I think Nissan is ignoring.. with a 6,000 pound towing capacity, there is a chance i drive in with a RV trailer (or atv or whatever trailer) in a dirt road to go camping, and then it rains, then this vehicle does not seem up to the job of getting a 4-5,000 pound trailer back out of a dirt (now muddy) road full of ruts from the Jeeps having passed through all day.. I would love it they made an 'off-road' version that was the exact vehicle, just more articulation and locking diffs. (or at least a locking t-case) seems like a very close, but not quite good enough to trade in my traditional 4x4..
This climb is steeper than it looks on camera. Only a few crossovers have been able to make the hard line. However, towing a trailer does add a lot of stress to the system. Thanks for watching and commenting!
One more question, I’m trying to decide between this pathfinder and the Kia telluride. I actually like the exterior design better on the pathfinder and it checks all the boxes for me. The only thing I’m concerned about is ground clearance. I will realistically will not do any serious off-roading, mostly driving to a ski resort. I’m curious which of these two cars you would choose?
Personally I liked the Telluride more, but that doesn't mean you will like it more. See if you can test drive them back to back to get a good feel for which one you prefer.
After watching “real” 4x4’s, these electronically-controlled AWD’s are uninspiring. I’m still waiting for EA here to test the Bronco Sport Badlands on this hill ... I anticipate that it will be the exception to the rule and eat up this hill, even without a low range ...
I'm having a hard time getting any Ford's out here. There was a Bronco Sport and a Bronco in the media fleet, but they weren't able to fit us in the schedule.
I can't wait to get one out here on my test hill. Only a couple of vehicles without a low range transfercase have been able to make the hard line of the steep hill climb.
The Sorento is a little more compact and sits a little higher. Their AWD systems would perform similarly, so vehicle dimensions would be the deciding factor.
I'm in the 2022 pathfinder group on FB, the light on his dash then drove it to the dealer. The dealer said his new pathfinder needs a new transmission. His just under 4000 miles
@@EngineAdventures I want to purchase want that why I joined to their group to listen to their complaint about new-gen. Most of them are electrical and now the transmission. I might go with Honda Pilot 🙂
Tires are very important for the type of terrain you're in. However, they don't make a big difference in my testing. When two wheels are essentially in the air it doesn't matter how good your tires are, air won't give them traction. The ability of the vehicle to transfer power to the wheels with traction is what I'm testing. The Pathfinder just doesn't have enough low end torque to make the steep hill climb with two wheels losing traction.
Yes an engine with torque that comes on at a lower rpm would help, but a locking rear differential or low range transfercase would help even more. Brake based traction systems are great, but they require a lot of torque at the wheels to work.
Very impressed with the AWD system, for those yelling no 4 low, most people who lives in the city don’t do rock climbing. Besides, I wouldn’t never risk a Brand new car on the rocks
It performed just as well if not better than the average vehicle in this class, and it did better than my 2012 Honda Pilot which has taken my family camping on many forest and dirt roads.
I'd say about 50% of vehicles without a low range transfer case struggle on this hill. There are lots of reasons for it, the Pathfinder is larger and heavier, but in my opinion the biggest thing is not enough torque to the wheels, i.e. it needs lower gearing.
Hmm, I'll have to go back and check. Thanks for the tip. Edit: good call, the cross sport did make the hard line. I'd say the hard line was a bit easier back then, but I still doubt the Pathfinder would have made it.
Thanks for the support! I'm working on a little side project right now that might interest you, but it's still a long ways out. I bought an older vehicle known for it's reliability and I'm planning to make it a daily driver that's still capable off-road.
On diagonal test, it basicaly has a useless knob. It has a competent enough normal mode. But total deception on the incline, there should not be any suggestion to being off pavement in the brochure.
Thanks for watching and commenting! There aren't many vehicles without a two speed transfer case that can make the steep hill climb. I'd say the Pathfinder performed average for this class.
I've had a really hard time getting Subarus to test, and haven't had a chance to test an Ascent yet. Going off of my experience with the outback I'd say the Pathfinder would perform slightly better than the Ascent.
@@EngineAdventures thanks. I actually own an Ascent and cant stand this cvt anymore so i m looking for a replacement . The Path with its true auto iseems a good place to start, but i made the mistake of watching videos of the Defender and Grand Cherokee, so now im spoiled but they are more expensive. Thanks vor the helpful videos.
Thanks for watching. I did finally get a grand Cherokee to test, but that video won't be up for a while, I'm quite a ways behind. I'd love to test a Defender as well, but haven't had the opportunity yet.
My 2018 Equinox LT AWD has a whole inch more of ground clearance and can do much better off road than the Pathfinder, despite being a crossover. The Nissan is just a minivan pretending to be an SUV.
I haven't tested an Equinox, but my guess is that it isn't any better off road than the Pathfinder. This test hill is much harder than it appears on camera and only a couple of vehicles have been able to make the hard line without a low range transfer case or locking rear differential.
Man you upset 😢 me when you said a Pathfinder is a Minivan pretending to be a SUV 😲 because I just bought one and I love it , it doesn’t looks like a Minivan to me it’s a suv but this pathfinder is not supposed to go off roads that bad it’s good in snow or rain some muds . if you wanted to climb this road where he did a test get a Taco or something else real off road 😂
I’ve owned Nissans and the Pathfinder seems like a great car. I just feel SUV’s should be at least a little capable off road, so they can have some connection to their roots.
You mean the Isuzu Rodeo or the Honda Passport? The R51 has ABLS and would be much more capable (in stock form) than the 1st gen, however I do like the 1st gen as well!
@@EngineAdventures for the types of tests you were doing in this video, would you say the 7.1" clearance of the Pathfinder is limiting, relative to the other SUVs in this class (which have around 8" clearance)?
@@joshnlevinson no, not really. This course doesn't have many obstacles that need lots of ground clearance. It does help with the high speed section, because lower vehicles can hit the front if I'm not being careful.
Not regularly, but it's good to know what it's capability is in case you have to drive through some though weather or a washed out road when a storm hits engine camping.
This video is an excellent demo of the 2022 Pathfinder.
The new Pathfinder even though tougher, better built, and of higher endurance than the previous Pathfinder models, is not a true heavy duty off road type vehicle. It is a great vehicle for back roads, and fairly rough type roads. It should be excellent for winter driving. It is not an all terrain vehicle as like the TJ, FJ, Xterra, and Rubicon. With these it is possible to add extended all terrain and off road modifications. I had a 1986 true off road Pathfinder that I bought new back in 86. I kept it for 18 years before I sold it. I needed the parking space and I was not doing any more off road.
With the Pathfinder I tell people, if they do not take the 4WD option there is no point to buy an SUV. Better value for the money to buy a car than an SUV or any type of truck. I would only buy an SUV with 4WD and not with two wheel drive. I would not buy this type of vehicle for hard off road use.
--
I bought the new 2022 Platinum 4WD Pathfinder. I am going to be using it for my everyday transportation and it will be great for snow conditions. I do not intend to use it for off road. I love this Pathfinder. I moved up from a 2016 AWD Platinum Murano. This was also an excellent vehicle. I wanted something larger and more heavy duty for snow conditions, and overall driving.
For myself the Pathfinder 4WD Platinum is like a luxury type SUV. It is not a low cost SUV. It is very comfortable and the ride is fairly smooth and quiet for this type of truck. As for fuel usage the Pathfinder is about the same as the Murano. I found when using the ECO mode it is less touchy for city driving, and does save about 10% on fuel usage when driven properly. For normal driving I use the ECO mode. There is a menu display that can be used as a live virtual guide for showing the amount of pressure on the gas pedal. This assists for using less fuel.
If you have the Sport option this allows for excellent acceleration and allows for more power to the wheels. It also makes the steering a bit tighter and have more responsive handling. The transmission will be working in higher ratios to allow for more torque to the wheels. In the Sport mode it will use more fuel which is normal. For the size and weight of the Pathfinder when used in the Sport mode it is impressive for its performance.
As for how I see this Pathfinder is being demonstrated in this video, I would not be putting my Pathfinder through these types of roads. If I wanted to do true off road driving I would buy the 2 door 4X4 Rubicon with the manual transmission, and with the all terrain setup.
As for using the 2022 Pathfinder 4WD as a normal street vehicle and for snow conditions this should be a very ideal setup. It is a terrific family vehicle, and you can carry a lot of things in the back of it.
Thanks for the support and for sharing your experience!
2wd SUV's exist because people think vans are ugly.
constructive!
Thank you so much been waiting for a review like this! 👍 The 1000 other YT reviews painstakingly review the interior
Thanks for the support! Yeah this testing seems to bey niche, I do review videos as well, and I'm sure they are just as boring as everyone else's.
awesome review man. that’s what we like to see, the function of awd system in real life scenario. thanks again and keep it up!
Thanks for watching and for the support!
For a fwd based vehicle I’m pretty impressed with the towing capabilities
Depends where you are this vehicle does not exist as fwd in Canada it's only AWD here.
@@lSeKToRl fwd based not fwd
Awd on the pathfinder is fwd based
Hopefully Nissan will receive your feedback and reprogram the awd modes. Nissan is really marketing this as a capable soft-roader. While, it’d do everything I’d throw at it; I can see many over landers and off-roady types being disappointed in these results. But I’m still really impressed in Nissan’s of today.
Yeah the Armada is an excellent platform for overlanding, just wish it had more of the Nissan patrol features. The R51 Pathfinder was also a great vehicle for overlanding and a pretty good offroader with a few mods.
Great video. I love the Armada review as well.
I was deciding between the Pathfinder and Armada. I’ll go old school modern and go with the Armada.
Thanks for watching and commenting! I love the Armada, one of Nissan's best vehicles in my opinion.
Very impressive on the berm test, but essentially a fail on the hill. I was expecting first gear to be kind of hidden like on the Jeep Renegade and with the v6 it should have had all the power to climb. Not very disappointed really, it should be good for inclement weather and 17mph on the rough road was quite good. It might be time to retire the name though.
Overall I think it did really well for what it is, but all of your points are correct and I don't have anything else to add!
I wonder if it had all terrain tyres
Tires are very important, but in this test they aren't as important as having a good power transfer system. If all 4 wheels are spinning at or near the same speed and it can't make the climb, then I'd blame tires, but when the vehicle is struggling to get power to the wheels with traction, then it is a vehicle issue.
Hello, I saw a report from Consumer reports He rated it 2 out of 5 in terms of reliability, and they say that it only has electrical problems. Do you agree with him?! Thank you very much for what you provide 🇸🇦🇺🇸
I don't have long term experience with most vehicles on my channel as they are media vehicles I use for a week. I do have a friend with a Pathfinder and they don't have any issues.
def needs to address the computer attacking the throttle in the tough conditions. really hoping for more out of this machine. Great video review!
Thanks for commenting and for the support! This is a tough hill and not many vehicles in this class make the hard line on the steep hill
Excellent, thanks...
Thanks for watching!
Nissan: We give you the Rock Creek Pathfinder.
Reviewer: But your offroading capability will still be judged by the Platinum.
The rock creek wasn't available when I tested this one, and I haven't had a chance to test one yet. Hopefully I will get the chance!
Good review & great Nissan.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
I think with off road tires things would be different. Regardless, as great as this new model is, I have one so I can attest to it, its not built for off roading and hill crawling and rock climbing etc etc. it will be very good in wintery and snowy conditions but thats about it. Maybe a slight mud or dirt road but nothing more. If u want real off road, take an armada or xterra or something
Thanks for watching and commenting! Having the right tires for the terrain you are on can make a big difference. However, in these tests two wheels are essentially in the air, which means the vehicle needs to be able to transfer power to the two wheels on the ground. That's where this vehicle (and most crossovers) struggled. It couldn't get enough torque to the 2 wheels that had traction to make the climb.
@@EngineAdventures yeah. I own one and trust me, its not for off roading. It just has the look. But I think most people buying these vehicles now, myself included, aren’t buying them to go off roading. Just everyday commute on hard pavement.
I know we opinions in the past, but take a look at Car Questions Pathfinder review....Its not hard to tell that something is wrong....Keep up the great work
What car question does is more similar to my small articulation hill than my steep hill climb. The Pathfinder performed great on the small articulation hill!
@@EngineAdventures Indeed its similar too your means and methods. I just wanted you to be more aware and informed that there is a significant problem. I actually want the QX60, but this is a huge deal breaker. I'm not going rock climbing, just need a vehicle that is more capable in all variable terrains if you get my drift
Yeah, I have the same sentiment. The Pathfinder is a great vehicle, and will handle well maintained dirt and gravel roads no problem, its just when things get rough that it will struggle.
It might have a better transmission and better looks but its still a minivan if it doesn’t have a true 4x4 system built on a rwd platform
It’s a Subaru with Nissan printed on the side ...
It has a 4WD as well. I would buy the 2WD don't have fun like that ...just excited got one for my dream ride.
@@ramoncarter6585 where’s two speed transfer case?, where’s locking differentials?
This “pathfinder” is not a 4x4 unless if you consider driving over the stop and shop curb is off-roading
@@sking2173 Most fact free comment of the week.
have you tried the Rock Creek yet?
Nope, I'm hoping to get one, but it's harder for me to get vehicles anymore. Utah is a long way from any of the fleet managers so the manufacturers aren't sending as many media vehicles out this way.
is it a dual clutch transmission?? that would explain why it cuts that much power even with TC off, to prevent overheating...
Great observation, but this one isn't a dual clutch, just a traditional 9-speed auto.
You gotta get your hands on a Frontier.
I should have one in a couple of weeks, the video will probably be 6 weeks out
Howdy. I have a new-to-me 1998 Nissan Pathfinder 4x4, automatic, 3.3L VG33E 4th VIN digit "A" motor, made 10/1997. It has one or more bad piston wrist pins, and a confirmed bad crankshaft due to excessive bearing failures from oil loss. Does anyone know if the pistons in a 1996-2004 Pathfinders, QX4, Frontier, or Xterras can be removed and reinstalled through the bottom of the motor (oil pan), with the motor still installed? I also have a bad crank so I have to have it removed and machined too. The rest of the motor is clean, no oil burning, and low miles (165,000). I hate to swap it for an unknown possible problem motor if I can do it this way instead.
I haven't been able to find anyone online who has accomplished this, but maybe it's not possible due to clearance or whatever. Do ya know, or take a guess, if ya been under one of these models with the oil pan off and crank out? Thanks much!
So the all-wheel drive system is kind of useless on this, at least for offering, wife going to the grocery store with foul weather probably really good, do they make a two-wheel drive version of this which I'm guessing would be front wheel drive?
Toyota 4Runner still rules!
Front wheel drive is standard, but all wheel drive can be had on all trims. The AWD system is actually pretty good in how it works, the Pathfinder just doesn't have enough torque or low range gearing.
@@EngineAdventures it actually sounded like they were doing something to limit the power of the motor was putting out, retarding the engine, imagine if they turned it Loose
Yeah, even with traction control off it seemed to be reducing power.
If you had toyo open county AT 3 255/50/20 it would help. I think you would do 30 mph if a T Rex was chasing you. I had a 2001 Infiniti QX4 it never got me stuck fron Daytona beach Florida to the Bronx New York. I am looking to buy now the 2022 pathfinder platinum 4wd ,everyone almost want $60.000 for it. Great video I never saw no one test it like that. Thanks.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Having the right tires for the terrain makes a big difference, however in this case the vehicle isn't getting the power to the wheels with traction. This test essentially puts two wheels in a near 0 traction state and the vehicle has to transfer power to the other 2 wheels to make the climb. Like most crossovers, the Pathfinder does this by using the ABS to brake the spinning wheels, this transferring power to the wheels with traction. This type of system requires a lot of torque and when climbing a 20° hill, it's too much for the vehicle to handle.
20? tire might touch the mud guard specially when you rotate the steering wheel
Man, you have to do the Mitsubishi outlander, no hybrid!
I really want to, but haven't connected with Mitsubishi yet. Next year I'm planning on doing a little more with manufacturers than I have been.
Now compare it to the 23 Rock Creek edition.
I'll see if I can get one!
I was expecting more, especially with the 7 modes. That’s unfortunate, they look nice for the most part too. That’s a let down, I considered buying one in a few years when any redesign kinks were worked out if any. I had a 2010 Altima that I could fully turn off VDC and get out of anything for the most part and the traction control on was pretty good. I now have a 14 Malibu that can also fully turn off but also a 2018 Malibu that can’t be fully turned off, not a fan of new cars not allowing it to be fully turned off, I’ve gotten the 18 Malibu stuck on hills that it should’ve been able to go up in snow, that it would’ve made with traction fully off
It performed about on par with everything in this class. The test hill is more torn up than on my previous tests, but as far as front wheel drive based 3 row crossovers go, I think this is par for the course.
Amazing how manufacturers have emasculated these vehicles. Sad.
What people want and need changes over time, and the market adapts to what sells and what the government mandates.
Want to see crosstrek …..both 2.0 and 2.5
I'm having a hard time getting Subarus out here, but I'll see what I can do!
that is the problem right there that I think Nissan is ignoring.. with a 6,000 pound towing capacity, there is a chance i drive in with a RV trailer (or atv or whatever trailer) in a dirt road to go camping, and then it rains, then this vehicle does not seem up to the job of getting a 4-5,000 pound trailer back out of a dirt (now muddy) road full of ruts from the Jeeps having passed through all day.. I would love it they made an 'off-road' version that was the exact vehicle, just more articulation and locking diffs. (or at least a locking t-case) seems like a very close, but not quite good enough to trade in my traditional 4x4..
This climb is steeper than it looks on camera. Only a few crossovers have been able to make the hard line. However, towing a trailer does add a lot of stress to the system. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Based on your tests do you think this car will perform well in snow?
Yes, I think it will do a great job in the snow. Of course for snow and ice, tires are the biggest differentiator.
@@EngineAdventures awesome, thanks as always for the good info
Ultimate MallFinder
You're saying it should be called the "Paved Path Finder"?
One more question, I’m trying to decide between this pathfinder and the Kia telluride. I actually like the exterior design better on the pathfinder and it checks all the boxes for me. The only thing I’m concerned about is ground clearance. I will realistically will not do any serious off-roading, mostly driving to a ski resort. I’m curious which of these two cars you would choose?
Personally I liked the Telluride more, but that doesn't mean you will like it more. See if you can test drive them back to back to get a good feel for which one you prefer.
Telluride are super difficult to get. Pathfinders are all over the place
After watching “real” 4x4’s, these electronically-controlled AWD’s are uninspiring.
I’m still waiting for EA here to test the Bronco Sport Badlands on this hill ... I anticipate that it will be the exception to the rule and eat up this hill, even without a low range ...
I'm having a hard time getting any Ford's out here. There was a Bronco Sport and a Bronco in the media fleet, but they weren't able to fit us in the schedule.
I own a Bronco Sport Badlands and this hill is child play for it....
Maybe, I think you'd be surprised at how hard this hill really is.
@@EngineAdventures Yes i know it looks hard, but a BS Badlands with the falken wildpeak tires will do it no problem... i did worst with mine
I can't wait to get one out here on my test hill. Only a couple of vehicles without a low range transfercase have been able to make the hard line of the steep hill climb.
Nice
Thanks for watching!
Which one is better offroading sorento or pathfinder?
Thank you
Probably the Kia, but only by a little bit.
@@EngineAdventures Thank you, now I saw your reply and I was shocked that kia was better offroading than Nissan with same engine specs
The Sorento is a little more compact and sits a little higher. Their AWD systems would perform similarly, so vehicle dimensions would be the deciding factor.
I'm in the 2022 pathfinder group on FB, the light on his dash then drove it to the dealer. The dealer said his new pathfinder needs a new transmission. His just under 4000 miles
Interesting, I hadn't heard of any transmission problems with the new 9-speed.
@@EngineAdventures I want to purchase want that why I joined to their group to listen to their complaint about new-gen. Most of them are electrical and now the transmission. I might go with Honda Pilot 🙂
Best of luck to you on your next purchase, both should be great vehicles!
Does anybody know if it'll do well on beach sand?
Keep the speed/rpms up and it will do ok.
1st Post : Gimme Jelly Donut!
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Pathfinder Momentum Edition.
Tires.
Tires are very important for the type of terrain you're in. However, they don't make a big difference in my testing. When two wheels are essentially in the air it doesn't matter how good your tires are, air won't give them traction. The ability of the vehicle to transfer power to the wheels with traction is what I'm testing. The Pathfinder just doesn't have enough low end torque to make the steep hill climb with two wheels losing traction.
@@EngineAdventures So would a stronger engine fix the problem? Or does it need to be body on frame to do what you're talking about?
Yes an engine with torque that comes on at a lower rpm would help, but a locking rear differential or low range transfercase would help even more. Brake based traction systems are great, but they require a lot of torque at the wheels to work.
Very impressed with the AWD system, for those yelling no 4 low, most people who lives in the city don’t do rock climbing. Besides, I wouldn’t never risk a Brand new car on the rocks
It performed just as well if not better than the average vehicle in this class, and it did better than my 2012 Honda Pilot which has taken my family camping on many forest and dirt roads.
How did the rogue make it up the hill and the pathfinder failed miserably? What a joke.
I'd say about 50% of vehicles without a low range transfer case struggle on this hill. There are lots of reasons for it, the Pathfinder is larger and heavier, but in my opinion the biggest thing is not enough torque to the wheels, i.e. it needs lower gearing.
Pathfinder was a let down. Bummer.
I disagree, it performed just as well as anything in this class. It's pretty much on par.
@@EngineAdventures I recall either the Atlas or the Atlas Cross Sport doing much better on the steep hill.
Hmm, I'll have to go back and check. Thanks for the tip. Edit: good call, the cross sport did make the hard line. I'd say the hard line was a bit easier back then, but I still doubt the Pathfinder would have made it.
@@EngineAdventures Love your channel. Very informative. I'm still looking for that good combination of on road/off road/affordability.
Thanks for the support! I'm working on a little side project right now that might interest you, but it's still a long ways out. I bought an older vehicle known for it's reliability and I'm planning to make it a daily driver that's still capable off-road.
On diagonal test, it basicaly has a useless knob. It has a competent enough normal mode. But total deception on the incline, there should not be any suggestion to being off pavement in the brochure.
Thanks for watching and commenting! There aren't many vehicles without a two speed transfer case that can make the steep hill climb. I'd say the Pathfinder performed average for this class.
@@EngineAdventures thanks for clarifying. I m currently shopping . Would you say it is more capable than the Ascent?
I've had a really hard time getting Subarus to test, and haven't had a chance to test an Ascent yet. Going off of my experience with the outback I'd say the Pathfinder would perform slightly better than the Ascent.
@@EngineAdventures thanks. I actually own an Ascent and cant stand this cvt anymore so i m looking for a replacement . The Path with its true auto iseems a good place to start, but i made the mistake of watching videos of the Defender and Grand Cherokee, so now im spoiled but they are more expensive. Thanks vor the helpful videos.
Thanks for watching. I did finally get a grand Cherokee to test, but that video won't be up for a while, I'm quite a ways behind. I'd love to test a Defender as well, but haven't had the opportunity yet.
My 2018 Equinox LT AWD has a whole inch more of ground clearance and can do much better off road than the Pathfinder, despite being a crossover. The Nissan is just a minivan pretending to be an SUV.
I haven't tested an Equinox, but my guess is that it isn't any better off road than the Pathfinder. This test hill is much harder than it appears on camera and only a couple of vehicles have been able to make the hard line without a low range transfer case or locking rear differential.
Man you upset 😢 me when you said a Pathfinder is a Minivan pretending to be a SUV 😲 because I just bought one and I love it , it doesn’t looks like a Minivan to me it’s a suv but this pathfinder is not supposed to go off roads that bad it’s good in snow or rain some muds . if you wanted to climb this road where he did a test get a Taco or something else real off road 😂
I’ve owned Nissans and the Pathfinder seems like a great car. I just feel SUV’s should be at least a little capable off road, so they can have some connection to their roots.
Frontier pro4x should be much better than this. It's still very much an on-road SUV not like the old ones.
Absolutely
This Pathfinder is no Pathfinder no more.... this is sad...
It's much better than the previous Pathfinder, but not as capable as the R51 was. I miss the Xterra and R51
@@EngineAdventures First gen were the best
You mean the Isuzu Rodeo or the Honda Passport? The R51 has ABLS and would be much more capable (in stock form) than the 1st gen, however I do like the 1st gen as well!
Ground clearance 7.2 in. Its joke? Too small !
For an offroader that certainly isn't enough, but it's thing is a great all weather vehicle for staying on the road.
@@EngineAdventures for the types of tests you were doing in this video, would you say the 7.1" clearance of the Pathfinder is limiting, relative to the other SUVs in this class (which have around 8" clearance)?
@@joshnlevinson no, not really. This course doesn't have many obstacles that need lots of ground clearance. It does help with the high speed section, because lower vehicles can hit the front if I'm not being careful.
Who would drive any car like that?
Not regularly, but it's good to know what it's capability is in case you have to drive through some though weather or a washed out road when a storm hits engine camping.
Wrangler Rubicon wouldn't need to drive on the road 😆
True, but just because you can doesn't mean you should. Tread lightly! Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@EngineAdventures To be fair, a 1981 Delorean equipped with a flux capacitor wouldn't need to drive on the road either.
frustrating.
I was hoping for better but it's certainly on par with most other crossovers.
Nice
Thanks for the support!