The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Cavernous cabin
- Decent towing capability
- Diverse lineup
- Clever second-row seating options
- Plenty of safety features
Dislikes
- No hybrid option
- Transmission hesitant to downshift
- Some cheaper cabin materials
- Potential to get expensive
Buying tip
features & specs
For 2024, the Nissan Pathfinder offers excellent family hauling capability and tons of clever touches.
What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder? What does it compare to?
The 2024 Nissan Pathfinder goes up against numerous other three-row crossover SUVs such as the Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer.
Is the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder a good SUV?
Yes. Despite some flaws, the 2024 Pathfinder’s massive family-friendly cabin and smooth V-6 powertrain offer compelling value. Nissan offers plenty of safety tech, as well. It earns a TCC Rating of 7.0 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder?
The Pathfinder carries over unchanged for 2024, except for small price increases across the lineup.
Outdoorsy styling elements accent the Pathfinder’s chunky lines for a look that leans modern but occasionally goes retro, such as the unpainted fender flares or raked C-pillars. Inside, it’s all family business, with upper trims offering near-luxury look and feel.
A 3.5-liter V-6 paired with a 9-speed automatic supplies 284 hp to the front or all four wheels. The powertrain offers decent acceleration and is generally refined, except for the transmission’s occasional hesitation. The Pathfinder offers a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds.
The vast cabin welcomes occupants with spacious front seats, a sliding second row, a cozy third row, and plenty of cargo room. The base 8.0-inch touchscreen includes wired Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. A 9.0-inch touchscreen is available.
Nissan includes a long list of crash-avoidance features typical for the class, and offers the ProPilot Assist system that helps reduce driver fatigue by taking over some steering, accelerating, and braking duties.
The IIHS rates the Pathfinder a Top Safety Pick+, and the NHTSA awards five stars overall.
How much does the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder cost?
For 2024, the Pathfinder S with cloth upholstery starts at $37,145, including a $1,335 destination fee. All-wheel drive is another $1,900. For heated front seats and more safety features, consider the Pathfinder SV, which costs $41,865 equipped with all-wheel drive.
Where is the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder made?
In Smyrna, Tennessee.
2024 Nissan Pathfinder Styling
With a chunky profile and some rugged accents, the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder nails the modern SUV cut.
Is the Nissan Pathfinder a good-looking car?
Yes, it’s stylish for a big SUV. A car-like interior balances out the more aggressive exterior profile, both good for a point here to a 7.
The blocky exterior approaches with big chrome trim bookending the square grille. The headlights swoop into the fenders, a subtle nod to some of Nissan’s sportier models. The two-tone roof and unpainted fender flares combine for rugged good looks, though the back end goes a dash more upscale with broad badging. The Rock Creek model adds about a half inch to the ride height, mutes some of the chrome, and tops it all off with a chunky roof rack.
Inside, a curved dashboard frames an 8.0- or 9.0-inch touchscreen with physical controls underneath. The flat-bottomed steering wheel feels good, but doesn’t quite fit the overall aesthetic.
2024 Nissan Pathfinder Performance
The 2024 Nissan Pathfinder is a competent and comfortable family hauler, combining a smooth V-6 engine and a compliant suspension.
Competitors offer more advanced turbocharged and electrified engines, but the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder’s smooth, strong V-6 gets the job done. The Pathfinder is a 7 here, with points for the engine and the well-tuned suspension.
Is the Nissan Pathfinder 4WD?
While the Pathfinder comes standard with front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive is optional for $1,900 across most of the lineup, save for the Rock Creek, where it’s included. The Pathfinder boasts a rear limited-slip differential to aid traction on slippery surfaces, though overall this SUV is more surefooted on snowy roads than on a slick trail. A center console dial provides access to several drive modes, including a tow mode to aid with the maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds.
How fast is the Nissan Pathfinder?
Though speed takes a back seat to overall capability, the 3.5-liter V-6 engine makes the most of its 284 hp, and is able to accelerate without drama. A 9-speed automatic transmission is generally smooth despite the occasional hesitation to downshift.
The Pathfinder’s 114.2-inch wheelbase makes the most of its length with a softly-tuned suspension. It’s able to glide over bumps with ease, even when riding on the optional 20-inch wheels. Electric power steering gives little feedback but enough heft for an enjoyable drive.
2024 Nissan Pathfinder Comfort & Quality
The massive, thoughtfully executed cabin makes the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder perfect for families.
The 2024 Nissan Pathfinder offers tons of space and thoughtful touches. It’s a 9, with points for spacious and supportive front seats, a generous second row, impressive cargo space, and a high level of overall refinement.
Textured cloth upholstery lends a utilitarian feel to S and SV models, and SL and Platinum trims each wear their own grade of leather. Rock Creek features an eye-catching combination of cloth and synthetic leather.
The base Pathfinder S disappoints with a manually-adjustable driver’s seat, though that’s rectified across the rest of the lineup with a 10-way power-adjustable seat for the driver. Move up to SL to get the same seat for the front passenger. Regardless, the front seats offer accommodating bolsters and supportive padding.
In row two, the middle bench or optional captain’s chairs slide forward and back to offer easier third-row access and more space, with no need to remove child seats. Three adults can fit across the middle-row bench, but the third row behind it is more kid-sized.
The rear liftgate reveals a 17.0-cubic-foot cargo hold, which opens up to a total of 80.5 cubic feet with the third and second rows folded. There’s plenty of small item storage throughout.
The 2024 Pathfinder offers a serene ride thanks to generous sound insulation and thoughtful use of soft-touch materials and surfaces.
2024 Nissan Pathfinder Safety
The menu of safety features impresses, and crash-test scores improve for 2024.
How safe is the Nissan Pathfinder?
Overall, the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder is a safe pick, particularly now that it’s achieved a five-star NHTSA rating.
It earns a 9 here, with points for the 2023 model’s IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating, the NHTSA five-star mark, and for the standard and available safety features such as a surround-view camera system and a limited hands-free driving system.
The Pathfinder S includes blind-spot monitors, active lane control, automatic emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alerts. Nissan’s ProPilot Assist package comes on every trim above the S, enabling steering, braking, and acceleration assist on highways. ProPilot Assist generally works smoothly and makes the Pathfinder a good option for road trips, though frequent warnings and prompts may be distracting.
2024 Nissan Pathfinder Features
The 2024 Pathfinder presents competitive value across the lineup.
We award an 8 for the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder’s big infotainment screen, good standard features, and value-oriented lineup.
The base Pathfinder S starts at $37,145, and all-wheel drive adds $1,900. Features include an 8.0-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cloth upholstery, tri-zone automatic climate control, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Nissan’s standard 3-year/36,000-mile warranty meets basic expectations, but nothing more.
Which Nissan Pathfinder should I buy?
The SV with all-wheel drive at $41,865 presents strong value with a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, the Nissan ProPilot driver-assistance package, and roof rails. Another $2,200 or so adds captain’s chairs, a moonroof, and a power tailgate. For $45,565, the SL brings leather upholstery, a surround-view camera system, and front parking sensors.
How much is a fully loaded Nissan Pathfinder?
The top-tier Platinum, with second-row captain’s chairs, costs $52,015.
2024 Nissan Pathfinder Fuel Economy
The Pathfinder falls short of hybrid competitors.
Is the Nissan Pathfinder good on gas?
Not especially. With many rivals going hybrid, the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder falls short in terms of fuel economy. Most trims have comparable EPA ratings, regardless of the drive type.
Front-wheel drive Pathfinders check in with estimates of 20 mpg city, 27 highway, 23 combined. According to the EPA, all-wheel-drive models are surprisingly slightly more efficient at 21/27/23 mpg.
With bigger wheels and more heft, SL and Platinum models come in at 20/25/22 mpg, while the Rock Creek’s roof rack and ride height result in ratings of 20/23/21 mpg.
