2023 Nissan Pathfinder tackles winter with family

Pathfinder is Nissan refreshing the model, shifted gear Towards 2022.

But the three-row family competition is already fighting back toyota highlander Refreshing with Hyundai Palisade and kia telluride We also accept updates.

Pathfinder’s TCC rating of 6.7 out of 10 It lags behind these rivals, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

After spending a week of snowy winters with the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder, I was reminded of why it’s worth considering for so many families. Here’s a hit and miss place.

Hit: V-6 Power Hold

2023 Toyota Highlander ditched the V-6 engine Favor the Turbo 4 with similar power. Traditionalists who appreciate naturally aspirated power delivery and a little more guts to their ears will appreciate his Pathfinder’s 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 284 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque . A smooth operator that gains power as the revs increase. There’s no business in having a turbo kick in and suddenly pushing the vehicle forward.

2023 Nissan Pathfinder

Miss: 3 Zone Climate Sync Chaos

Pathfinder features 3-zone climate control, a handy feature when kids, lovers and drivers all need different temperatures. However, pressing the sync button on the dashboard does not fully sync all three zones. The complex process for synchronizing all three zones is to press the ‘rear button’ to enter the rear climate control settings, then press sync. This will sync the rear to the front. If someone changes the temperature in the rear, they will have to go through this process again. To sync his two zones on the front, he has to press the sync button once.

2023 Nissan Pathfinder

Hit: Well-tuned safety technology

Most new vehicles are equipped with advanced safety features through cameras and radar sensors. In bad weather, if the sensors are covered with snow or ice, these sensors will quickly go offline. When you go offline, your dashboard lights up like a Christmas tree and yells “System offline!” In Pathfinder that doesn’t happen. Nissan did a commendable job of tuning the system so it didn’t run wild during the blizzard.Both Subaru and Honda should take note.

2023 Nissan Pathfinder

Hit and Miss: Snow mode calibration

I played around with different modes during the Minnesota blizzard, but Pathfinder’s Snow mode is impressive. This is because my $54,785 platinum model was on his 20-inch wheels wrapped with Bridgestone Allenza tires. These tires are premium truck tires meant to be quiet and comfortable on the highway. With the exception of the Pathfinder, they are usually terrible in snow and ice. Switching the Pathfinder’s powertrain to snow mode recalibrates the transmission, throttle, and stability control system, causing the wheels to slip dramatically. I never did.
But Snow Mode programming goes too far. The power is neutralized enough that the throttle needs to be thrust deep to move the Pathfinder. The Honda Pilot’s snow mode is better tuned in terms of power delivery while stepping into the white slippery stuff.

2023 Nissan Pathfinder

Miss: Heated steering wheel has no memory

The top-spec Platinum Pathfinder had a heated steering wheel that really helped keep my hands warm. But unlike the seat heaters, which return to the same setting as when you parked the car, the steering wheel heater had no such memory. Other cars, including my wife’s 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, remember both the heated seats and steering wheel and return to last used state upon key cycle. Pathfinder needs this.

2023 Nissan Pathfinder

Bonus Hit: 2nd Row Slide and Tilt

Regardless of the winter weather, I can’t help but reiterate in my Pathfinder review that this is one of the few vehicles on the market with sliding and tilting second row seats. Title the 2nd row and slide forward to give him access to the 3rd row without removing the booster or child seat. What was installed in the previous generation Pathfinder is installed in the latest model. Ford Expedition has this feature.

The Pathfinder isn’t quite as flashy, trendy, or luxurious as the Telluride or Palisade, but its snow performance and useful features make it worthy of a three-row SUV to be on your list.

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2023 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum 4WD

Base price: $36,295, including destination
Price tested: $54,785
Power train: 284 hp V-6, 9-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
EPA Fuel Economy: 20/25/22mpg
Hits: V-6 power, well-tuned safety tech, snow mode, slide and tilt second row seats
Miss: 3-zone climate out-of-sink heated steering wheel memory, snow mode