NISSAN PATHFINDER SV ROCK CREEK EDITION

The Nissan Pathfinder SV Rock Creek is the latest version of one of the most popular brands in the Nissan stable. Introduced as a new vehicle in 2013, it is still viable as a capable, well-equipped SUV. The fact that it can now carry seven passengers and tow up to 6,000 pounds makes it even more capable than ever before.

Napleton.news had a chance recently to put the Nissan Pathfinder SV through its paces. Come along and buckle in as we hit the town.

WHAT IS THE NISSAN PATHFINDER ROCK CREEK ?

The Nissan Pathfinder is a seven-passenger, four-door mid-sized SUV that is available in rear and intelligent all-wheel-drive. Power comes from a 3.5-liter Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) V6 engine that delivers 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to the brand’s award-winning Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with D-Step Logic Control, which does its part to simulate the shift function. Our Nissan Pathfinder SV Rock Creek edition was outfitted with Nissan’s available Intelligent 4×4 four-wheel-drive system.

AND FROM THE OUTSIDE?

Confident, and handsome are two adjectives we would use to describe the new Nissan Pathfinder. The Pathfinder features soft edges where they count most, giving the vehicle a more gentile look than some of its boxier competitors.

The new for 2020 Rock Creek edition package helps to dress the Pathfinder up even further by adding a black V-Motion grille, roof rails, door handles, badging and more. The package also includes a standard tow hitch and splash guards. The Nissan Pathfinder lineup is available in four trim levels, starting with base S, SV, SL and Platinum trim levels. The Rock Creek edition is available on top of these trim levels.

WHAT ABOUT LOOKING IN?

The inside of our Nissan Pathfinder SV offered tons of creature comforts that will make this a worthy chariot regardless of where you want to go. Take the kids to school? Piece of cake. Head to the home improvement store? Easy peasy. Go road-tripping? Offroad-tripping? Done, and done. The point is, inside the Pathfinder, you can do it all. The front seats are familiar to those who have ever been in a Nissan before. They offer good support for long haul trips, regardless of length. Our Rock Creek version included unique seating cushions with high-contrast stitching and embroidering throughout.

It also included an eight-inch color display with NissanConnect services by SiriusXM and Nissan Navigation. Stream your smartphone through the audio system for those rare times you need a respite from the Satellite radio.

Seating for seven comes from two front seats, a three-wide second row and a two-passenger third-row seat. Behind the 50:50 third row, there’s room for 16 cubic feet. Fold those forward, and cargo space expands to 47.8 cubic feet. Finally, folding both will convert your Pathfinder to a cargo hauler with room to carry up to 79.8 cubic feet.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Power from the 3.5-liter Direct Injection V6 is smooth and uh, direct. With 284 horsepower and nearly 260 lb-ft of torque, it is good to go with a payload of 6,000 pounds hanging off the ball hitch at the Pathfinder’s rear. In fact, it’s so stout it didn’t even feel like it was breathing hard.

We found the CVT transmission both smooth and innovative in the sense that it tries to simulate the feeling of shifting gears. That’s a cool feeling from these relatively high-mileage gearboxes, especially when under the best circumstances, the Pathfinder can deliver up to 27 miles per gallon.

Another cool feature we loved about the Pathfinder is the over-the-top surround-view monitor, which is literally just that: Over the top. Through photo-stitching software, the Pathfinder stitches together the view from cameras located all around the vehicle, giving you the ability to see the entire field of view. This way, you can ensure there are no little ones around you as you are backing up.

To find out more about this Nissan Pathfinder and other members of the Nissan family of vehicles, contact Napleton St. Louis Nissan today.