Yahoo Autos 2022 Nissan Pathfinder Adds New Features and Ditches the CVT
The new 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is redesigned with a new look inside and out.
It has the same 3.5-liter V-6 as before but a new nine-speed automatic transmission.
The 2022 Pathfinder will go on sale this summer, likely starting around $33,000.
Although nostalgia for old-school, body-on-frame SUVs is running high these days, Nissan's new 2022 Pathfinder is staying in the family-crossover milieu. Like its predecessor, this new version of the three-row SUV prioritizes cupholders over suspension travel, although it does looks a bit more rugged—and far more modern—than before. And if you're keen on nostalgia, know that Nissan has incorporated at least one subtle design cue from the original: the three slats at the top of the grille that hark back to the first-generation, truck-based Pathfinder.
The 2022 Pathfinder's wheelbase is the same as the old model's, and the new model is 1.5 inches longer, 0.6 inch wider, and 0.5 inch taller than before. There's slightly more cargo space with the third row raised but slightly less room with the second- and third-row seats folded.
The naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 engine is carryover, but its specs remain competitive enough in the three-row-SUV segment: 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. The biggest powertrain change is a nine-speed automatic from supplier ZF that replaces the continuously variable automatic (CVT) from before. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive optional on all trims, and AWD models get a set of driving modes meant for various terrains including snow, sand, and mud.