2020 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder drives on its frugal motor that belts out one of the best MPG figures in the market and has an amazing 6000lbs towing capacity. Underneath the hood of the 2020 Pathfinder is a 3.5L V6 motor that shells out 284hp and 259lbs.-ft. of torque. With the EPA ratings of 23MPG, the pathfinder offers a terrific range with its massive 19-gallon fuel tank.

Available in a total of 4 trims- S, SV, SL, and Platinum, the Pathfinder can be had in both 2WD and 4WD configurations. For 2020, Nissan is also offering a Rock Creek Edition in the SV and SL trims and adds some cosmetic updates to the same. Prices for the Pathfinder range from $31,530 to over $44,000, depending on the trim and number of options chosen.

Pricing of the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder starts at $31,680 for the base S trim which includes adequate standard convenience and safety features. The next-in-line SV begins at $34,470, SL costs $38,090 while the top-of-the-line Platinum costs $42,920. Moving up the trim ladder adds more comfort and safety tech inside. The 2020 Pathfinder uses a single V6 powertrain across its four trim levels: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. The Nissan is front-wheel-drive with an option to upgrade to an all-wheel version for $1,690.

Moving up to midrange SV, you can add the Rock creek Edition package for $995 and can also opt for a Technology package for $980 for a navigation system, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated side mirrors.

The top-spec SL and Platinum add more luxuries, including amenities like genuine leather upholstery, heated front- and second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, a hands-free power liftgate, and LED headlights. The most loaded Pathfinder Platinum features a ventilated front seat, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a tow hitch.

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The SL trim is the most valuable trim, packs in premium features like Leather Upholstery, LED Headlights, and Heated Seats as part of its standard features list. Hence, this is the trim that is worth shelling out the extra bucks on.

The Pathfinder manages to find the middle ground quite well with a torquey engine and friendly daily driving dynamics- Edmunds.com

Powering the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder is a 3.5L V6 motor that belts out 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet Of torque. In the real world, this motor provides just enough grunt to pass through Cars on the motorway and in the cities. The X-Tronic CVT transmission, paired to this motor offers very little 'Rubberband' effect that we associate with CVT's and does fine in shifting through gears, mostly.

With a time of 7.4 seconds to do the 0-60 dash, the Pathfinder is the slowest of the lost, when compared to its other adversaries. The 15.7 second time for doing the quarter-mile, also doesn't aid Nissan's cause and makes Nissan, the slowest among its rivals. One of the standout features of the Nissan's package is its towing capacity. The 6000lbs capacity is the best among its rivals and the engine feels at ease towing weights like those. The main rivals of the Nissan can muster just 5000lbs.

The Ride Quality and the Handling of the 2020 Nissan pathfinder is composed for the most part but it isn't exactly the comfiest or smoothest among its adversaries. In lieu of reducing body roll and favoring sportiness, Nissan stiffened the suspension of the Pathfinder and that has caused the ride, to be stiffer than what many would expect from an SUV in this category.

The AWD system with a Full Lock setting allows for superb grip off-road and aids in spirited driving. Drive over a speed hump at City Limit speeds and the Nissan won't disappoint but take it over the same at higher speeds and you will feel the stiffness of the suspension. The Sportiness in the dynamics of the Pathfinder can be also related to its braking performance as well. The Nissan stops from 60-0MPH in just 124 ft, making it stand tall among the rest of its competitors.

The Brakes offer superb feel and feedback and aren't spongy or jittery in operation. The Noise from the ABS during panic braking is quite prominent and so is the Dive from the SUV. The Ford Explorer stands tall in terms of braking performance with its optional tires.

Being the Slowest among its adversaries does give the Nissan Pathfinder some bragging rights in the Fuel Efficiency department. The Pathfinder excels on this front and delivers a superb 23 MPG in mixed driving conditions. What sweetens the deal is the massive range on both the city and on the highway, courtesy of a massive 19.5-gallon fuel tank.

The AWD-equipped models manage 19 MPG city, 26 MPG highway, and 22 MPG combined. Surprisingly the top-spec Pathfinder Platinum is the only all-wheel-drive equipped with bigger wheels and is rated at 19/26/21 mpg (city/highway/combined).

The American Duo of the Ford Explorer and the Chevrolet Traverse, come in as the most fuel-thirsty among all the SUVs here and offer the least MPG figures. The Toyota is tied for the top spot with the Nissan on the same front and the Honda comes in a close 2^nd.

The Nissan Pathfinder has evolved from a full-size brute to a family-friendly '8ute. Families will appreciate its size and cargo capacity, which has been improved since its early days. - TheCarConnection

The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder can ferry 7 people with itself without much fuss. What is even more impressive is the fact that the Nissan offers plenty of room for passengers inside, with a special highlight being the space on offer in the 3^rd row. The Ventilated front Seats are comfortable on the whole and feel cushy while offering a sense of premium feel, courtesy of the all-leather seats.

Overall don't find the design of the interiors to be impressive and rather feels dated than some of the other SUVs in the segment. The build quality feels solid and exudes luxury on the whole. The Nissan Pathfinder has one of the biggest 3^rd rows in its class and hence has compromised on its cargo capacity for the same. The 16.2 cu. ft. of Space on offer, ranks at the bottom half of the cargo capacity chart when compared to other SUVs in the segment.

While all the SUVs in today's comparison offer a tremendous sense of space on the front row, the Toyota Highlander comes in short when talking of space for the 2^nd and 3^rd row. The Toyota however, scores high in terms of the comfort on offer and is closely matched by the Honda Pilot SUV. Talking about the best SUVs in the segment that offer the most space in the back, the Chevrolet Traverse tops the charts here with its massive 23 cu. ft. of space.

Ingress and Egress in the 3^rd row are the easiest in the Nissan when compared to other adversaries in the segment. Every 2020 Nissan Pathfinder comes with a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system along with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Android Auto and Apple Carplay integration are missing, which is one downside as compared with the rivals. Also, the touchscreen graphics aren't crisp.

The SL and Platinum add standard Navigation. For audiophiles, Nissan offers a six-speaker stereo along with SiriusXM satellite radio, however, Platinum adds Bose Premium audio system with 13 speakers, including acoustic waveguide technology and DVD playback system.

Interior Features

• Push Button start
• Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control
• 10 Way Power Adjust driver seat with memory and 2-way power lumbar adjust
• Heated Second Row and Climate Controlled Front row seats
• Perforated Leather-Appointed seats for 1^st and 2^nd row
• 4 Way Power adjust passenger seats
• Heated and Power Tilt/Telescopic Steering Column with memory and illuminated controls
• Front Power Windows with One-Touch Up/Down

Infotainment System

• 8' Touchscreen Display
• 6 USB Ports and AUX connectivity
• SiriusXM Radio, Traffic and Travel Link
• Rear SONAR System
• Around View Monitor
• Speed-Sensitive Volume Control
• 13 Speaker BOSE Audio System
• Bluetooth, HD Radio, and MP3/WMA CD playback

No longer the squared-off utility vehicle it used to be, the latest-gen Pathfinder is more about windswept curves and rounded edges.- Kelley Blue Book

The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder's design, won't actually find a lot of attention from the onlookers and passerby's, courtesy of its typical 3 row SUV styling. Though the design of the current-gen Pathfinder is a big departure from the old-gen model, it still feels like Nissan could have done better here.

The Front end resembles Nissan Cars/Hatchbacks and is both a good and bad thing as it lacks the SUV presence from the front. Its ginormous proportions, however, give it a commanding presence from the side and enhances the sense of space on the inside. The 7.0' of ground clearance on offer is just decent and Nissan could have souped up the same for added water wading capability.

Talking purely in terms of figures, the Chevrolet Traverse comes in as the longest SUV in this comparison and is then matched by the Pathfinder and the Explorer. The Explorer is also the widest of the lot while the Traverse is the tallest by the smallest of margins. The Toyota Highlander offers the most ground clearance among its adversaries.

Exterior Features:

• 20' Aluminum Alloy Wheels
• LED Low-Beam projector headlamps with LED DRL's and Auto On/Off Headlights
• Foglamps
• Body-Colored Rear Spoiler and Roof Rails
• Dual Power Heated ORVM with LED Turn Signals and Reverse Tilt-Down feature
• Dual panel panoramic moonroof

The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder is a safe car certified by the NHTSA and IIHS. The NHTSA gave Pathfinder five out of five-star overall safety ratings. The IIHS named the similar 2019 Pathfinder Top Safety pick.

Every Pathfinder comes with standard safety and driver assistance features including automatic emergency braking, tire pressure monitoring system, rear-view camera, parking sensors, airbags, LATCH, and front and rear crumple zones. The Pathfinder SV and above gets additional features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alerts. If you buy the SL and Platinum trim you will also get a standard surround-view camera system.

Available Safety Features on 2020 Nissan Pathfinder:

• Blind Spot Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Adaptive cruise control
• Surround-view camera system

2020 Nissan Pathfinder vs. 2020 Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer comes with a wide variety of engine options and has something for everyone. It sure looks better than the Pathfinder and houses a more modern design and longer feature list with it. However, the Nissan is cheaper than the Ford and is definitely, runs around the Ford in terms of build quality.

The Nissan also comes with the more efficient power train and will be much more reliable in the long term than the Ford.

2020 Nissan Pathfinder vs. 2020 Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot is one of the most well-rounded packages in this class. It offers a good blend of power and performance and is high on practicality and space as well. Both the Pilot and the Pathfinder are at a level playing field in terms of pricing and both will be equally reliable in the long run.

The Nissan on the other hand trumps the Honda in terms of power and MPG figures and has a slightly better infotainment system than the Honda as well. There is no clear winner here but if we were to pick one, we would give the edge to the Nissan here.

2020 Nissan Pathfinder vs. 2020 Chevrolet Traverse

The Chevrolet Traverse traverses long distances in ensuring that it fills the needs of the average American. The Traverse offers tons of loads of space on the inside and has the most powerful engine among its adversaries. It looks better than the Nissan as well and packs in a lot of tech inside it.

The Traverse, however, can't match the Nissan's impeccable build and frugality. The Nissan offers a terrific range with a full tank and tows in a lot more than the Chevy as well. If you aren't a tech lover guy who just wants performance, then the Nissan is the logical choice to go for.

The Nissan Pathfinder, finds itself in the middle of a crowded Mid Size SUV market where each SUV offers something better or unique than the other. The Pathfinder, though not be as powerful as some of its adversaries, offers superb space, driving range and driving dynamics. It also comes in with an amazing Towing Capacity and can ferry 7 people, easily. Add to that, a sturdy build and a healthy set of safety features and you have on your hands, an SUV that will stand the test of time and perform in the same way as now, 15 years down the line.

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2020 Nissan Pathfinder FAQs

Do the 2020 Nissan Pathfinders have transmission problems?

As per the reports, the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder has a good transmission setup. Talking of the previous generations including the 2005-2007 Pathfinder, the problem of coolant leaks into the transmission was significant.

Does the 2021 Nissan Pathfinder's Rock Creek Edition add to the performance and Towing?

No, the Rock Creek Edition is a special edition appearance package that only adds unique aesthetics including a black grille, roof rails, door handles, and other aesthetics, plus a standard tow hitch and splashes guards. 

How much can the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder tow?

The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder is able to tow up to 6,000 lbs, which is a pretty respectable number and well above the segment average.