2012 Nissan Pathfinder Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Nissan Pathfinder overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Pathfinder, and includes Nissan Pathfinder safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The 2012 Nissan Pathfinder is a seven-passenger midsize SUV powered by a V6 or V8 engine, and is offered with rear-wheel drive or one of two four-wheel-drive systems. A traditional SUV, the Pathfinder competes directly against the Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota 4Runner.

While key competitors have recently launched completely redesigned models, Nissan continues to soldier on with a Pathfinder that has changed relatively little since debuting in its current form in 2005. Updates for 2012 include the addition of Brilliant Silver to the list of exterior color options, a newly standard navigation system on the Pathfinder LE, and an available moonroof and rear entertainment system for the mid-level Pathfinder Silver variant. Rear- and four-wheel-drive versions continue to be available.

Nissan’s aging Pathfinder SUV is available in five trims, starting with the S. Behind that single-letter designation are standard features including a tilt steering wheel, cloth upholstery, cruise control, a Class IV tow hitch receiver, 16-inch alloy wheels, seven-passenger seating, keyless entry, and a manual lumbar adjustment for the driver. Basic niceties like power mirrors, power windows, and power door locks are also part of the deal.

A move up to the 2012 Pathfinder SV brings with it a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls, 17-inch alloys to fill the wheel wells, fog lights and automatic headlights, power-adjustable foot pedals, and running boards. Shoppers feeling underwhelmed by that list of features may be more impressed when they learn that the SV also comes to market with an eight-way power driver’s seat, a six-disc CD changer, a universal garage door opener, and a rear air conditioning unit with separate controls.

For the mid-level Pathfinder Silver variant, Nissan has reserved 17-inch polished alloy wheels, a Bose audio unit with XM satellite radio service and Bluetooth connectivity, a push-button ignition system, and a powered front passenger seat, which, like the driver’s, is heated. Options include a power moonroof and a rear entrainment package comprised of a DVD player, seven-inch monitor, a remote control, and wireless headphones.

The most upscale Pathfinder experience is available to those who purchase one of the LE models. Powered by Nissan’s popular 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine, the LE V6 ups the ante with a heated steering wheel, 18-inch alloy wheels, memory settings for the driver, and a navigation system featuring a seven-inch display screen and real-time traffic information. The rear DVD entertainment system is optional on the LE V6. A more powerful eight-cylinder version, aptly named the LE V8, includes standard four-wheel-drive but drops the LE V6’s moonroof. That particular feature, along with the rear entertainment system, is bundled into the LE V8 Value Package.

Power for the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder comes from one of two impressive engines. The first option is a 4.0-liter V6 that delivers 266 horsepower and 288 pound-feet of torque, as well as towing capacity that peaks at 6,000 pounds. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard. Rear-drive variants are expected to travel 15 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, while four-wheel-drive versions should achieve 14 mpg and 20 mpg, respectively. Premium fuel is required for this engine.

If that’s not enough grunt to get the job done, the Pathfinder’s available 5.6-liter V8 would be a better choice, though EPA estimates of 13 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway might be hard to swallow, especially since it needs premium gas. Nissan claims this engine generates 310 horsepower, 388 pound-feet of torque, and allows drivers to tow up to 7,000 pounds. Full-time four-wheel-drive is standard.

Every new vehicle needs to be safe, a point that takes on added meaning when you’re talking about a family-friendly ride charged with transporting life’s most important cargo. On that note, Nissan has equipped the Pathfinder with plenty of safety-related features, such as stability control, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, and a total of six airbags.

In the event that a collision is unavoidable, it looks like there’s room for improvement. According to crash-test results published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Pathfinder receives a Good rating for its performance in frontal- and side-impact tests, but gets a Marginal rating for rear-impact injury prevention and roof crush strength. That last score is particularly disappointing given the 3-Star rollover resistance rating given to the Pathfinder by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

For an evaluation of the Pathfinder’s reliability, we turn to J.D. Power and Associates and Consumer Reports. The latter predicts above average dependability from this particular Nissan, but the former hadn’t released its 2012 findings when this review was originally written. In 2011, J.D. Power predicted that Pathfinder reliability would be average.

When viewed against competitors such as the Toyota 4Runner and Dodge Durango, the Nissan Pathfinder earns a mid-pack ranking. Its cargo volume is average, its third-row leg room is tight, and its 7,000-pound maximum towing capacity puts it a full 2,000 pounds above the 4Runner, but 400 pounds shy of the Hemi V8-powered Durango.

With a top rating of only 22 mpg in rear-wheel-drive, V6-powered guise, the 2012 Pathfinder trails many of its family-friendly rivals, such as the four-wheel-drive Jeep Grand Cherokee (23 mpg), all-wheel-drive Ford Explorer (23 mpg), and the four-wheel-drive Honda Pilot (24 mpg).

Some of the 2012 Pathfinder’s chief competitors, such as the Ford Explorer, have recently been transformed into relatively refined, spacious and comfortable crossovers that are more about everyday versatility and less about occasional capability. The 2012 Nissan Pathfinder hasn’t made that leap, and continues to exist as a rugged, body-on-frame SUV that, when properly equipped, is ready to haul heavy loads and venture deep into the wilderness. If that’s what you’re looking for as a buyer, the Pathfinder is definitely worthy of your consideration. On the other hand, if you can sacrifice some off-road capability, we suggest focusing more attention on alternatives like the vastly improved Dodge Durango.

By Thom Blackett