Pathfinder Gets Lighter, Better Mileage; No More V-8

NEW YORK – Nissan's fourth-generation Pathfinder sheds body-on-frame construction and now features a unibody that makes it 500 lbs. (227 kg) lighter than the current model.

The slimmed-down vehicle, which also has a lighter engine, transmission and seat structure as well as more high-strength steel, will boast segment-leading fuel economy among V-6s, while retaining many of the capabilities of a truck-based SUV, company officials say.

The ’13 Pathfinder goes on sale in the U.S. in late October and will base at $28,270 for the entry-level S trim. Pricing, which will be comparable to the current model, could escalate to the low $40,000s for the top-of-the-line SL, expected to account for nearly 20% of volume.

The SV version will be the volume model, forecasts Josh Clifton, a Nissan North America spokesman. Pathfinder pricing will be “very competitive” with rivals such as the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Chevrolet Traverse and Toyota Highlander, he says.

Nissan believes sales volumes will climb dramatically and challenge the Ford and Honda models for segment leadership. In 2011, Nissan delivered 25,935 third-generation Pathfinders, compared with 135,704 Ford Explorers and 116,297 Pilots, according to WardsAuto data.

The ’13 Pathfinder addresses the main concern of current owners: fuel economy. Environmental Protection Agency ratings are 20/26 mpg (11.8-9.0 L/100 km) city/highway for the front-wheel-drive model and 19/25 mpg (12.4-9.4 L/100 km) for the all-wheel-drive version.

That's 30% better than the current models, says Adam O'Shaughnessy, Nissan North America senior planner-truck and SUV.

Nissan predicts the AWD model could account for more than half of total purchases, driven mainly by sales in the northern half of the country.

Nissan’s claim of segment-leading fuel economy applies only to available V-6s, although 4-cyl. engines are increasingly available in midsize SUVs and CUVs.

The Explorer, for instance, offers a 2.0L turbocharged EcoBoost I-4 that does slightly better on the highway, rated at 20/28 mpg (11.7-8.3 L/100 km).

But an updated version of Nissan’s 3.5L 260-hp “VQ” V-6, the sole engine available in the Pathfinder, actually tops another 4-cyl. in the segment, the Highlander’s 2.7L I-4, rated at 20/25 mpg (11.7-9.4 L/100 km).

Helping with the Pathfinder’s fuel economy is Nissan’s new Xtronic continuously variable transmission, which also is used in the ’13 Altima. A 5.6L V-8 was available in the ’12 Pathfinder but is being discontinued.

The new model can tow 5,000 lbs. (2,268 kg) compared with 6,500 lbs. (2,948 kg) for the ’12 model. Still, Nissan says the new vehicle will lead the segment in towing capacity.

The vehicle’s AWD system has selectable modes, featuring a locking 4-high gear with an auto mode sensor that detects and corrects wheel slip. There's no locking 4-low mode. The FWD system is available for conventional cruising and optimal fuel economy.

Nissan also hosted media this week at its technical center in Farmington Hills, MI, in rolling out the Pathfinder. Tom Smith, director-Pathfinder marketing, says the migration to a unibody architecture was the proper strategy because most utility vehicles stay on pavement.

If Nissan customers are interested in heavy-duty off-roading, the body-on-frame Xterra SUV can do the job, Smith says.

The Pathfinder’s timing is right on, Smith says, because the Explorer has been in the market for a year and the Highlander and Pilot will not be renewed until next year.

Current Pathfinder owners also expressed a desire for easier access to the second and third rows. The new model provides that with an innovative EZ Flex seating system featuring user-friendly fold-and-slide access to the rear areas.

The revamped Pathfinder delivers more cargo space, what O'Shaughnessy says is comparable to that found in a fullsize SUV.

The auto maker is winding up production of the ’12 Pathfinder at its Smyrna, TN, plant. The same factory will produce the ’13 model.

Nissan says about 1.4 million vehicles were sold in the U.S. last year in the Pathfinder’s competitive set. It expects industry volumes to increase about 15% over the next six years to 1.6 million units.

The Pathfinder is one of five vehicles Nissan is launching over a 15-month period that extends into 2013. The Altima and Sentra also are all-new this year, and the Versa hatchback arrives early next year. The fifth model is yet to be named.

– with Tom Murphy, in Farmington Hills