Once the terrain of Jeep, Subaru and Land Rover, a majority of manufacturers now have an oar in the water or a boot on the sand for an adventurous variant of a dutiful SUV or pickup.
Jeep just added the Gladiator Mojave (a desert-rated version of its Rubicon line of new pickups). Honda is getting dirty with its port and a new Off-Pavement Adventure Portfolio. Ford has what it calls a rock-crushing Tremor kit for its Super Duty Pickup and its brought-back Bronco SUV will debut sometime this spring. Chevrolet will debut the Trailblazer ACTIV, a new subcompact SUV, also later this spring. Toyota has long leveraged its TRD (racing development) off-road models and says its 2020 RAV4 TRD Off-Road is the next logical step in that evolution.
Nissan’s Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition is a rugged appearance kit, priced at $995 and available on the SV and SL trim levels, in two- or four-wheel drive. The SV Rock Creek starts at $36,560 with front-wheel drive or add $1,690 for four-wheel drive. The SL Rock Creek starts at $40,180 and $41,870 4WD; pricing includes the $1,095 freight charge from Smyrna, Tenn.
The SL 4WD tester was $45,475, including $395 for pearl white paint; the Rock Creek package, $2,110, which added a power panoramic moonroof and 13-speaker Bose audio system. A floor and cargo mat added $310 and welcome lighting was $395. (Not a necessity, but the lighting is cool at night when walking up to the Pathfinder and underbody lights shine at the doors.)
Rock Creek features include dark 18-inch wheels with 18-inch 255/60 all-season tires, black mesh grille, black roof rails, black door handles and outside rearview mirrors, black front and rear fascia accents, black molded overfenders, splash guards and “Rock Creek” badging. Interior changes include metallic trim elements and special two-tone upholstery, badging and contrast stitching on seats, door, console lid and steering wheel.
Powertrain
All Pathfinders have one powertrain: a 284-horsepower, direct-injection V-6 with 259 foot-pounds of torque at 4,800 rpm and an Xtronic continuously variable automatic transmission. Fuel economy ratings with 4WD are 20 mpg city, 27 highway and 22 mpg combined, on the recommended 87 octane. That’s about the same as the V-6 Toyota Highlander, but two clicks better than V-6 versions of the Ford Explorer and one click better than the Honda Pilot.
I was averaging 18.8 mpg in around-town driving. The 19.5-gallon tank allows a good trail-riding range.
For the added $1,690 for 4WD, there’s not much incentive for two-wheel drive, which has nearly identical mileage ratings as 4WD, except for the combined rating of 23 mpg — a 1 mpg improvement.
With a 4WD curb weight of 4,475 pounds, the V-6 gives strong acceleration, but the CVT has no personality in putting power to the axles. Still, I had no trouble keeping pace in the commute and preventing interlopers from diving carelessly in front of me.
Safety
The Pathfinder rates well in the government five-star safety ratings: the top five stars for overall vehicle score; four/five stars for driver/enger in a frontal crash; five stars driver/gner in side crash; and four stars for rollover. Standard features include six air bags, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert and automatic emergency braking.
Pathfinder cred
While the features of the Rock Creek Edition are cosmetic, they build upon the Pathfinder’s grit as an SUV.
As a three-row, seven-seat SUV, the Pathfinder is a glorified family wagon, but within its homogenous confines are levels of details that also work well to the intrepid traveler. It’s not at the level of overlanding, but what makes the Pathfinder a traveler’s companion also makes it a good family wagon.
For short hauls, the third-row space is kid-class, but there are air vents and cup holders.
The second row is more comfortable for large engers, with a flat floor, but still not overly long on legroom, though there are a few inches of fore-aft slide (more to benefit cargo) and some seatback recline (for sleeping children). Amenities include heated window seats, two USBs (one is a type C), a 120-volt, 150-watt household plug and door s with three cup-can-bottle holders.
The raised bench with the optional panoramic moonroof are inviting for engers. And the fan and temp controls are welcome assets, which also help to reduce motion sickness.
Driver area: The front seat and driver area are strong command positions, except for hideous blind spots at the base of the broad side mirrors and outstretched windshield pillars. The driver gets first-class 10-way power adjustable seat, but the front enger gets just a four-way seat and no height adjustment — unacceptable for a $45K vehicle.
The dual-level armrest box has a 12-volt plug, auxiliary and video inputs, two USBs and an SD map-card slot. An e-bin just ahead of the console shifter has two charging ports, but there is no option for wireless charging.
The center stack of cabin controls is a four-tier arrangement. The 8-inch touch screen is at the top. Next lower is the controller level to select the main vehicle settings (navigation, phone, apps, etc.), with a band of audio controls below and then the controls for heat-temp-AC. I had no confusion to access the various levels and switches, but the touch screen is prone to sunlight fade and glare.
4WD: I’ve heard praise from an owner for Nissan’s four-wheel-drive system that has delivered his family through much badass weather in the Sierras, including being snowed in, and not once did the AWD break loose. The Pathfinder’s electronic 4WD system can be set for two-wheel drive, automatic all-wheel drive and there’s a differential-lock mode for difficult terrain. The standard hill-start assist and descent control are always helpful in the dirt.
Around View monitor: This system includes a front and top view that is useful when trail riding to check your line and what might lie over the next peak on the trail — or when parking at the mall. And there’s a unique curb view to guard against scraping a wheel. And, of course, there is a rear view.
Tires: The all-season Continental Cross tires aren’t what I’d choose for off-road traction, but the stock 18-inch 255/60 have an XL (heavy weight) rating and a fat sidewall for cushioning among rocks.
Brakes: Four-wheel vented disc brakes have 12.6-inch rotors front, 12.1-inches rear.
Cargo: There is great flexibility in three zones for packing too much gear. The opening is wide at 4 feet with 31 inches of entry height. There is decent grocery-shopping space behind the third row, at 16.2 cubic feet with four tiedowns, and about 2 cubic feet of basement storage or maybe 3 cu. ft. without the big Bose subwoofer. Fold the second row for 47.4 cu. ft. and about 3½ feet of cargo length. Or fold both rows for 6½ feet of length or 79.5 cu. ft. But with both rows folded the space is not contiguous or completely flat, which isn’t ideal for sleeping.
Map stash: Off-roaders still rely on paper because there isn’t Internet mapping everywhere in the wilderness and not everybody has a satellite connection — though I would be a subscriber to satellite radio. There’s map-stash capacity in the door s (with bottle holders), in the big, lockable glove box and even in shallow cutouts along the shift console.
Tow capacity: Whether 4WD or 2WD, both models can tow a 6,000-pound home away from home travel trailer. A tow hitch and wiring harness are standard.
I wouldn’t challenge my Jeep friends with a run on the Rubicon Trail, but the Pathfinder Cross Creek will be at home on just about any national park trail, a spring wildflower excursion to the backcountry or a cross-country road trip.
2020 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition 4WD
- Body style: midsize, 7-seat SUV crossover
- Engine: 284-hp, direct-injection V-6; 259 lb.-ft. torque at 4,800 rpm
- Transmission: Xtronic CVT AWD
- Fuel economy: 19/26/22 mpg city/hwy/combined; 87 octane
- Tow capacity: 6,000 lbs.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Fuel tank: 19.5 gal.
- Cargo space: 16.2-47.4-79.5 cu. ft.
- Front head/leg room: 41.1*/42.2 in. *42.2 in. w/o moonroof
- 2nd row head/leg room: 38.5/41.7 in.
- 3rd row head/leg room: 36.5/30.7 in.
- Length/wheelbase: 198.5/114.2 in.
- Curb weight: 4,475 lbs.
- Turning circle: 38.7 ft.
FEATURES
- Standard equipment includes: smart-key locking and push-button ignition, around-view camera system, rear sonar, 8-way power driver seat, 4-way power front enger seat; heated front seats and heated steering wheel, intelligent cruise control, LED headlights and running lights, 4 USB type A charging ports and 2 type C USBs, fog lights, power side mirrors with turn signals, motion-activated liftgate, 6-speaker audio system, 8-inch NissanConnect touch screen, Bluetooth phone and audio, navigation system with 3 years of traffic service
- Rock Creek kit, includes: black roof rails, black molded overfenders, dark 18-inch wheels with 255/60 all-season tires, black roof rails, front silver skid plate, black door handles and outside rearview mirrors, black front and rear fascia accents, Rock Creek Edition two-tone seat design, trailer tow hitch
- Safety features include: 6 air bags, hill-start assist and descent control, brake-force distribution, brake assist, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, dynamic stability and traction controls
PRICING
- Base price: $41,870, including $1.095 freight charge; price as tested $45,475 (with package discount)
- Options on test vehicle: pearl white paint $395; roof-rack cross bars $395; SL Rock Creek package, $2,110, includes power panoramic moonroof and 13-speaker Bose audio system; floor and cargo mat $310; welcome lighting $395
- Where assembled: Smyrna, Tenn.
