The Nissan Pathfinder has misplaced its cool reputation in current instances, with many individuals disparagingly referring to it as a mall crawler. Whereas it’s no 4Runner rival, the fifth-generation Pathfinder tries to convey the three-row crossover nearer to its roots as a body-on-frame off-roader that the family may nonetheless have the benefit of on a avenue journey.

No, the Pathfinder doesn’t share a platform with the model new Frontier, nonetheless it does have a Rock Creek Model that is far more suited to off-roading than the sooner model. In case you needed additional convincing, a stock Pathfinder Rock Creek even ran the grueling Rebelle Rally. Will the Pathfinder Rock Creek dethrone the Jeep Grand Cherokee as a result of the world’s premier off-road SUV? Perhaps not. Nonetheless can it maintain with rivals similar to the Ford Explorer Timberline and Honda Pilot Trailsport at a lots decrease price? You guess. The reality is, we predict the 2023 Pathfinder has turned the Rock Creek badge into one factor cool.

Exact Off-Freeway Styling

To completely admire Nissan’s efforts to make the newest Rock Creek into one factor cool, one need solely view it subsequent to the sooner model. First launched in 2019 as a $995 styling and instruments bundle deal, the distinctive Rock Creek Model didn’t even embody four-wheel-drive as customary instruments. Even the title felt disingenuous: Rock Creek isn’t an precise place similar to the Rubicon path – Nissan merely made it up.

With the fifth-generation Pathfinder, the Rock Creek is now its private trim stage, primarily based totally on the mid-level SV trim with additional rugged style. Changes to this trim are expansive, along with distinctive front-end styling, a 5/8-inch carry bundle, 18-inch beadlock-style wheels with all-terrain tires, an off-road-tuned suspension, and a roof rack. For the first time, the Rock Creek has the instruments to once more up its adventurous ambitions.

Nissan supplies six monotone colors and 6 two-tone combos for the Rock Creek, along with the epic Inexperienced Pearl/Great Black pictured proper right here. We moreover love Baja Storm Metallic (a khaki/brown hue), which can be had with or with out the black roof.

Home For The Fam

The Pathfinder is a family SUV first and an off-roader second, and it excels in that first house. An eight-seat format is on the market, nevertheless the Rock Creek will get the additional cozy seven-seat configuration with second-row captain’s chairs. These heart seats present a great deal of adjustment, and there’s a removable coronary heart console for less complicated entry to the third row. Speaking of the third row, the captain’s chairs spring forward with a single button press, making it simple for youngsters or adults to hop once more there. And positive, adults can match comfortably.

Folding the seats down for optimum storage is barely a lot much less helpful, though. The third row requires each headrest to be stowed manually sooner than the 60-40 seats could also be lowered, and the captain’s chairs can solely be stowed by strolling spherical to each side. As quickly as the entire seats are down, the Pathfinder supplies as a lot as 80.5 cubic toes of space. It is not crucial SUV inside the section, nonetheless it isn’t the smallest each.

A Precise Transmission

No matter how good (or unhealthy) the sooner Pathfinder regarded, we’d in no way forgive its lackluster powertrain: A 3.5-liter V6 paired to a continually variable transmission. The scarcity of a geared transmission on a regular basis made the Pathfinder actually really feel sloppy, an issue that no longer exists with the current model. Nissan launched once more the tried and true VQ assortment V6, now producing 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. Significantly for the Rock Creek, the engine can ship 295 hp and 270 lb-ft when working on premium gasoline, due to revised gasoline mapping.

Happily, that engine is now mated to a nine-speed automated that doesn’t sound choose it needs to be put down after every gear change. The Pathfinder could even tow as a lot as 6,000 kilos, which is 1,000 kilos higher than the Pilot can pull. Solely the Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee present the subsequent towing functionality on this section.

Catching Up On Experience

The Pathfinder may not have our favorite infotainment suite inside the enterprise, nonetheless it is to date improved over the sooner period, which didn’t even have Apple CarPlay. Lower trims (along with the Rock Creek) get a model new eight-inch touchscreen that does have CarPlay and Android Auto efficiency, though they’re every wired solely. A much bigger nine-inch show upgrades CarPlay to a wi-fi connection, nonetheless it is solely accessible on the SL trim and up. The Rock Creek does have a surround-view monitor, nonetheless it is faraway from the very best resolution accessible.

Stepping all the best way wherein as a lot because the Pathfinder Platinum supplies Infiniti-level experience, along with a 13-speaker Bose audio system, head-up present, panoramic moonroof, heated and ventilated entrance seats, and a digital gauge cluster.

Fully Priced

Is the Pathfinder the simplest off-roading family automotive money can buy? Hardly. Is it an infinite enchancment over the sooner attempt at an off-roading mannequin contained in the lineup? For constructive. And considering how Nissan has priced it, the Rock Creek Model is possibly the simplest value for money. You could nab a 2023 Pathfinder Rock Creek for merely $43,020, not along with $1,295 for trip spot. Other than a $395 two-tone paint job, there are not any additional decisions along with dealer-installed gear. That could be a reduction for a three-row, off-road-themed SUV.

For comparability, the Ford Explorer Timberline begins at $48,980 (and solely sits six people), the Honda Pilot Trailsport costs $48,700, and the recently-announced Volkswagen Atlas Peak Model could be priced over $45k. Just a few of those rivals present superior off-road performance and newer experience, nonetheless it is highly effective to argue with over $7,000 in monetary financial savings for choosing the Pathfinder. You’ll not uncover a three-row off-roader for a lot much less. Interval.