Taking a Closer Look at the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder ST AWD

The Nissan Pathfinder was initially released in 2013 in Australia. Unless they are total lemons, most cars have a lifespan of around seven years. This means that the latest Pathfinder is around the halfway point in its lifecycle. This is a significant milestone, but seven years in a long time in car design. At this point, one starts to see model begin to age and manufacturers have to implement new features to keep things relevant and fresh. I’m happy to report that the Pathfinder received a significant upgrade and it is well worth taking a closer look at.

The 4th Generation Pathfinder Revisited:

The 2016 Nissan Pathfinder ST is the latest incarnation of this vehicle. It was initially the first Nissan SUV that had a unibody construction like its rivals and heralded a move away from being a Navara pickup with extra seats. The Pathfinder range has both front and AWD options available as well as three grades of trim. The Pathfinder ST is the entry level model for the AWD range. The lineup was originally designed for the North American market, and in fact, the R52 Pathfinder is built there. It has rugged good looks and utility that have made it a hit with American drivers. Given its American roots, it should come as no surprise that the Pathfinder is a big car, it comes in at just over five metres long and almost two metres wide. This makes the Pathfinder larger than the Kluger, but it’s a little shorter than the Mazda CX-9.

The Entry Level AWD Experience:

As an entry level effort, one would expect a lot of compromises on display, but the equipment levels are surprisingly comprehensive. There are plenty of useful features, such as keyless entry, keyless start, tri-zone air conditioning, a powered driving seat and a rear view camera. The seats are covered with soft fabric, but there is no leather on show at this specification. There are cup holders and storage cubbies all over the place and seven seats to enjoy. There is plenty of legroom and in a five seat configuration, the second row seats can be slightly reclined. There is a 1353 litre capacity boot. If you use all seven seats this drops to 453 litres and if you get rid of the second and third row seats you have a virtual van with a whopping 2259 litre capacity.

The Powerplant:

The engine is a VQ35 3.5 litre V6 unit that generates 190 kW of power and 325 Nm of torque. It is punchy off the line for a vehicle of this size and the power peaks out at around 6400 rpm. The driving response is excellent around town, but out on the highway, you need to work to get the most out of it. The Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) automatic gearing works well in urban environs, but it is more elastic when touring.

If you’re interested in purchasing a 2016 Nissan Pathfinder contact us here at Duncan Nissan We have a wide selection of new and demo cars available for sale including the Pathfinder. We would like to invite you to join us for a no obligation test drive at your convenience. Our sales team would be delighted to advise you on the latest Nissan Pathfinder price and answer any other questions you may have.

Daniel N is a writer across several reputed industrial web posts. He writes for many online journals and portals that are related to Nissan car dealers.