First Drive: 2013 Nissan Pathfinder 2.5 dCi SE

The last news we heard of the Nissan Pathfinder was of the all-new generation being shown on the manufacturer’s Facebook page back in March 2012, before being shown off in New York City last August. None of this matters though, because South Africa won’t be receiving a new Pathfinder until around 2016, when a newer, tougher, version will be released, which Nissan S.A. say will follow in the more rugged footsteps of the current SUV. Thus, the current Nissan Pathfinder, which was first launched in 2005, is set to remain a familiar sight on our highways and byways for some years to come and Nissan S.A. are hoping to keep the wheels turning with a new entry-level offering.

Let’s get straight to the point. There are no fundamental changes to the car itself, just less equipment amounting to less rands and cents. R470 900 is the official asking price for the new specification Nissan Pathfinder 2.5 dCi 4×4 AT SE, which is some R124 000 ‘friendlier’ than the existing ‘NAV LE’ specification equivalent. If you’re willing to forego the automatic transmission in favour of a 6-speed manual, you can save a further R20 000.

So the obvious question is, what does the SE specification go without in favour of its 20 percent fairer financials, when compared to the NAV LE model? In short, the list of standard equipment has been shrunk quite substantially and reads as follows: no third row of seats; no electric front seat adjustment; no heated front seats; no leather upholstery; no front fog lamps; no tonneau cover; no sunroof; no anti-dazzle rear-view mirror; no electrically adjustable and folding side mirrors with reverse gear synchronisation; no intelligent key; no 9-speaker Bose sound system, 9.3GB HDD music storage, 40GB HDD satellite navigation system and 7-inch colour touch-screen; no rear view camera; and finally, no iPod connectivity. The removal of some items hasn’t necessarily been a bad thing either, specifically the third row of seats, which has freed up a valuable amount of cargo space in the boot area.

The SE badge therefore signifies a revision solely in the SUV’s level of specification, while the mechanics remain entirely unchanged and are founded in the Pathfinder’s all-steel ladder frame chassis, turbo-diesel engine and four-wheel independent suspension.

The Nissan Pathfinder SE is powered by a torquey 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel, which offers 140 kW and 450 Nm, and is available with either a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. Over the combined cycle Nissan claim the Pathfinder consumes only 8.5 and 9.0 l/100 km for the manual and auto respectively, while CO2 emissions of the former are 224 g/km. Like its Navara stablemate, the Pathfinder has a towing capacity of 3-tons.

Apart from the engine, the new SE spec retains Nissan’s ‘All-Mode’ four-wheel drive system, that offers four drive modes: ’2WD’ that sends power to the rear wheels only; ‘Auto’ which manages power between the front and rear wheels through a range of 100% rear bias to 50% front-to-rear bias; ’4H’ which locks the differentials into 50/50 front-to-rear power split for loose surfaces and light off-roading; and finally ’4L’ mode that selects a low ratio for maximum traction in more extreme off-road conditions.

We reviewed the Pathfinder in 2010 and found that despite a ground clearance of 232 mm, the SUV fell a little short when it came to off-roading. Two elements were chiefly responsible, the decorative running boards and the lack of torque, as well as engine response, in the low rev range. The automatic transmission alleviates the lack of initial access to torque somewhat, by managing the clutch action for you, however, nothing has changed in this respect, which means pedaling the manual ‘box Pathfinder off-road can be busy affair. Navigating obstacles can either be done aggressively with plenty of throttle or delicately with plenty of clutch slip, but the Pathfinder isn’t happy when asked to crawl along.

By the same token, if you don’t bite off more than you and the vehicle can chew, the Pathfinder will happily allow you and your passengers to explore dirt roads and bush tracks in great comfort, thanks to the rigid chassis and independent suspension. A smooth ride has always been the Pathfinder’s forte, which is down to independent double-wishbone suspension front and rear, along with coil over shock absorbers in front and multi-link with coil springs at the rear.

On the road, the Pathfinder 2.5 dCi cruises comfortably, with the engine spinning between 2 000 r/min to 4 000 r/min, where it develops peak torque and power. The ride is supple, and levels of road and wind noise are muted. The power-assisted steering is light when it needs to be a slow speeds, but could stiffen up a little more at high speeds, especially when experiencing cross-winds.

Apart from, the luxuries that have been removed, there remains a good level of standard equipment, some of which includes: automatic dual-zone climate control; cruise control; multi-function steering wheel; Bluetooth and Aux-In connectivity; as well as rear privacy glass. Important to note, is that the SE models retain the highest levels of safety equipment available in the Pathfinder range, namely: ABS; EBD; Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC); Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS); dual front, curtain and side airbags, side impact protection beams; as well as Hill Start Assist (HSA).

Overall, the new Pathfinder SE is a no frills and no fuss exercise in making a large, comfortable, SUV, more accessible to more people.

Pricing includes a 3-year/100 000 km warranty, 3-year/90 000 km service plan and roadside assistance.

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