The Nissan Pathfinder ST-L is close to being the perfect family car… it just needs one major change. 

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Introduction Running costs
Price and specification Energy use
Interior space and comfort On-road assessment
Connectivity and infotainment Summary
Safety Next steps

2024 Nissan Pathfinder ST-L AWD

The Nissan Pathfinder large SUV has been lumbering around Australian roads in various iterations since it launched here in 1986. 

Despite its consistent presence Down Under, the three-row Pathfinder is often overlooked in favour of its smaller, top-selling sibling, the Nissan X-Trail, or the larger Nissan Patrol, with its cult-like following and revered off-road capabilities. 

However, a 2023 facelift saw the Pathfinder get a little more competitive with boxier, more modern styling, additional safety and technology, and a more appealing powertrain that saw the existing 3.5-litre petrol V6 paired with a nine-speed automatic. 

Adding to the Pathfinder’s appeal is the fact Nissan recently reintroduced some more affordable options into the mix after they were deleted for roughly 18 months due to stock shortages. 

One of these options is the entry-level Nissan Pathfinder ST-L, which has eight seats, is offered in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, and provides a sub-$60,000 entry point into the family SUV range for the first time in months. 

To find out whether this newly returned budget hero is your best way into a seven-seat family SUV without compromise, I put it to the test with help from my toddler, in-laws, and jam-packed working parent schedule.


How much is a Nissan Pathfinder?

The Nissan Pathfinder ST-L AWD I’m reviewing here is priced from $64,170 before on-road costs.

While a cheaper ST variant was previously offered in the line-up, it has yet to return, meaning the ST-L variant is currently the cheapest way into the Pathfinder range. 

That means the intelligent 4×4 system commands a $4500 premium over the front-wheel-drive ST-L (which is priced from $59,670 plus on-road costs). 

The Ivory Pearl paint shade on my ST-L AWD also adds $750 to the price, bringing the total drive-away price of my test car to $65,843 (in Melbourne, pricing may by location). 

Price-wise, the Nissan Pathfinder sits in the middle of some of its key competitors. 

A whopping five variants of the rival Kia Sorento slot in under the Pathfinder’s $59,670 starting price – but it’s worth noting the Sorento only offers seven seats. 

Meanwhile, the more upmarket seven-seat Mazda CX-90 starts at $74,550 plus on-road costs for a base-spec, all-wheel-drive petrol variant. 

If you’re set on an eight-seater, there’s the Hyundai Palisade, which starts at a more comparable $66,800 plus on-road costs for an entry-level, front-wheel-drive variant, but exceeds the $70,000 mark if you want all-wheel drive. 

Otherwise, there’s a surprising dearth of eight-seater SUVs on the Australian mass market, making the Pathfinder quite a rare offering, unless you’re open to a people mover. 

Standard equipment on the Pathfinder ST-L grade is surprisingly comprehensive for an entry-level car and somewhat justifies the elevated price point. 

As standard, the ST-L scores eight seats (arranged in a 2:3:3 configuration), 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, wireless Apple CarPlay, tri-zone air conditioning, an intelligent around-view monitor, a 9.0-inch touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display. 

A few things on that list – namely the heated seats, head-up display and around-view monitor – are typically things I’d expect to find on a higher-grade car. 

The entire Pathfinder range has the same powertrain – a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with peak outputs rated at 202kW of power and 340Nm of torque. 

Key details 2024 Nissan Pathfinder ST-L
Price $64,170 plus on-road costs
Colour of test car Ivory Pearl
Options Pearl paint – $750
Price as tested $64,920 plus on-road costs
Drive-away price $65,843 (in Melbourne)
Rivals Hyundai Palisade | Kia Sorento | Mazda CX-90

How big is a Nissan Pathfinder?

The Pathfinder is a big, comfy couch of a car. It’s a touch over five metres long, just under two metres wide and roughly 1.8 metres high. 

Based on exterior dimensions alone, the Pathfinder is bigger than the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-90, but smaller than the Patrol. 

Boot space on the Pathfinder is also competitive in person, though figures suggest otherwise with 205 litres when all three rows are in place, 554L when the third row is folded, and up to 782L with the second and third rows folded. Nissan appears to side with a different measurement standard compared to rivals.

In real-world terms that means that even with the third row in play, the Pathfinder offers a solid hatchback-sized boot with enough room for my folding pram (a BabyZen YoYo) to lie flat, alongside some fully packed shopping bags. 

If you fold the third row flat, there’s a roomy wagon-sized boot with enough space to stow long objects in their entirety, or do a really big supermarket shop. 

And if you fold the second and third rows flat, you might even be able to help your mate move house. A power tailgate is standard on the ST-L grade. 

On paper, the Pathfinder’s boot figures are actually smaller than the Toyota Kluger (241L with all the rows, up to 1150L with seats folded), Hyundai Palisade (311L/1297L) and Mazda CX-90 (257L/2025L), all based on manufacturer claims, which may vary.

Still, I was never left wanting for boot space, and the Pathfinder deserves points for squeezing in an extra seat compared to its rivals. 

The Pathfinder’s third row folds in a 60:40 split, is able to recline, and even has ISOFIX tether points and a top tether on one of the outboard seats, meaning the Pathfinder can theoretically accommodate up to four child seats at once, courtesy of four top-tether points and three ISOFIX-equipped seats. 

Getting into the third row is made easy with the Pathfinder’s wide-opening doors and ‘EZ FLEX’ seating system, which allows you to hit a single button to make the outboard seat fold and glide forward in a single seamless movement. 

Third-row leg room is limited unless you slide the middle row forward and eat into leg room for those occupants, but it’s nice to be able to have the flexibility to fiddle with the proportions.

On one particularly hilarious outing in the Pathfinder, I had to fit my toddler, husband, mother-in-law and father-in-law into the car for a short trip out to dinner. 

My mother-in-law and I got to enjoy the front seats, which are heated, with power adjustment on the driver’s seat and manual adjustment on the passenger seat, while my husband and toddler were able to fit comfortably in the middle row, and my poor father-in-law drew the short straw and got into the third row. 

My father-in-law had just enough head room but very little leg room, forcing him to sit side-saddle to accommodate his legs. 

Still, with air vents, cupholders and tall windows all the way to the third row, the Pathfinder feels like a comfortable three-row car that works for all occupants without too much compromise. 

Even in its most basic form, the Pathfinder offers a separate strip of climate controls for back seat occupants that allows them to control temperature and fan speed, but can be easily controlled by the driver as well. 

Meanwhile, the front-seat climate controls are super easy to use thanks to sizeable traditional buttons and dials, and easy-to-read displays.

The middle row also features two cupholders in both doors, which were a game changer for me because my son was able to easily reach his drink bottle, which saved me from having to hand it to him while driving like I normally would. The extra lights above the doors also helped when hunting for toys and snacks stuck down the sides of child seats. 

One of the only giveaways that the ST-L is a base-grade car is that the seats are finished in black cloth rather than leather. I own a car with fabric seats, so this didn’t bother me, but if you want leather-look seats, you’ll have to opt for the Ti grade, which offers blended real and synthetic leather seats. 

By far my favourite feature on the Pathfinder ST-L was its proximity unlock feature. Unlike other cars that require you to touch a door handle with the keys in your pocket to unlock the car, the Pathfinder automatically unlocks itself when you’re within a metre of the vehicle, provided you have the keys on your person. 

Similarly, if you walk away from the car with the keys in your pocket, the car will auto-lock without requiring any physical interaction.

For someone like me, who so often has her hands full and typically keeps her car keys at the bottom of a fully stocked handbag, this system was a dream. The car somehow knew exactly when I needed it to unlock and lock, and meant that I wasn’t standing on the side of the road or in a busy parking lot scrambling around in my bag.

2024 Nissan Pathfinder ST-L
Seats Eight
Boot volume 205L to third row
554L to second row
782L to first row
Length 5004mm
Width 1978mm
Height 1802mm
Wheelbase 2900mm

Does the Nissan Pathfinder have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

Once again, the Pathfinder is well appointed for an entry-level model – particularly in the infotainment stakes.

The 9.0-inch touchscreen isn’t huge, but in my opinion, it’s all the screen you’ll need and comes standard with satellite navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, voice recognition, digital radio and a six-speaker sound system.

The graphics are basic but effective, and the whole system offers my favourite quality of any infotainment system: simplicity. 

The wireless CarPlay worked flawlessly for me, which isn’t always a given with similar wireless systems. It didn’t drop out or lag once like I’ve experienced in cars from other manufacturers. 

For me, the only notable omission from the infotainment line-up was a wireless phone charger, which would have paired well with the wireless CarPlay. 

Still, you can charge your phone via any one of the four available USB ports in the car – with a USB-A and USB-C port offered in both the first and second rows. 

Meanwhile, a 7.0-inch driver’s display is almost rendered redundant by the impressively large 10.8-inch head-up display, which I relied upon for live speed limit information and a digital speedometer.

Unlike some of its rivals, Nissan is yet to offer app connectivity on its cars, meaning functions like vehicle tracking and remote access aren’t available. 


Is the Nissan Pathfinder a safe car?

The Nissan Pathfinder received a five-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) when it was tested in 2022. This rating is valid across all Pathfinder variants until December 2028. 

The Pathfinder received an 86 per cent score for its ability to protect adult occupants, 78 per cent for its protection of vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists, and an 85 per cent score for its safety assist technology, like autonomous emergency braking, seatbelt reminders and lane-keeping support. 

Importantly for family buyers, the Pathfinder scored highest for its ability to protect child occupants, rated at 93 per cent thanks to its inclusion of multiple child restraint systems and airbags all the way to the third row. 

2024 Nissan Pathfinder ST-L
ANCAP rating Five stars (tested 2022)
Safety report Link to ANCAP report

What safety technology does the Nissan Pathfinder have?

In good news, regardless of which Pathfinder variant you buy, you’ll receive the full buffet of Nissan active safety features – even the more advanced ones.

The list of standard safety features offered on the ST-L is extensive and includes a forward collision warning with junction assist, emergency braking, a driver attention alert, active blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning and lane-keep, rear cross-traffic alert, intelligent cruise control, and traffic sign recognition.

Particular highlights include the digital around-view monitor, which offers a bird’s-eye view of the car in addition to a reverse camera, meaning what is a pretty large car is surprisingly easy to park.

Bonus points are to be awarded, too, for the very accurate front and rear parking sensors. 

Nissan’s ‘ProPilot’ semi-autonomous driving system is fantastic. Once engaged, it basically does the heavy lifting of freeway driving, from braking and accelerating, to keeping you in your lane, and maintaining a set speed – basically like advanced cruise control.

I also appreciated the interplay between ProPilot and the traffic sign recognition system, which will prompt you to lower the set speed on your cruise control the second it detects a change in speed limit. 

The lane-keep system can be assertive, aggressively tugging you back into your lane the second you veer slightly to the side, but I didn’t find it to be bothersome and appreciated the backup. 

The live speed limit information is also eminently visible in the giant head-up display, leaving you no excuse for missing a school zone. 

Nine airbags are standard on the Pathfinder range, with curtain airbag coverage all the way to the third row.

Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) Yes Includes cyclist, pedestrian and junction awareness
Adaptive Cruise Control Yes Includes traffic jam assist
Blind Spot Alert Yes Alert and assist functions
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert Yes Alert and assist functions
Lane Assistance Yes Lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centring assist
Road Sign Recognition Yes Includes active speed limit assist
Driver Attention Warning Yes Driver fatigue monitoring
Cameras & Sensors Yes Front and rear sensors, 360-degree camera

How much does the Nissan Pathfinder cost to run?

Servicing the all-wheel-drive Pathfinder variants can be a couple of hundred dollars more expensive than servicing front-wheel-drive versions, depending on the interval. 

Nissan offers owners the choice of capped-price servicing for six years or prepaid servicing for five years, the latter of which offers additional savings if you’re happy to pay upfront. 

Your car will require a service every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Each service visit ranges in price from $352 for the most affordable initial visit, up to $1635 for the sixth visit. 

If you opt for prepaid servicing, you’ll pay $2333 over five years, while capped-price servicing will cost $2592 over five years, representing total savings of 10 per cent if you choose the prepaid plan. 

While it can’t compete with the comically affordable Toyota Kluger – which costs just $1325 to service over five years – the Pathfinder’s service costs are comparable to the Kia Sorento ($2575 over five years) and Hyundai Palisade ($2445 for five years, prepaid), and cheaper than the Mazda CX-90 ($3469 over five years). 

Nissan’s warranty covers the Pathfinder for five years and an unlimited number of kilometres, with five years of 24-hour roadside assistance thrown in for good measure.

Comprehensive insurance for the Nissan Pathfinder ST-L AWD will cost you roughly $1933 per year, based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

The same coverage under the same conditions for the Hyundai Palisade will cost $2151, while the Kia Sorento will cost $1698 to insure annually. 

At a glance 2024 Nissan Pathfinder ST-L
Warranty Five years, unlimited km
Service intervals 12 months or 15,000km
Servicing costs $1439 (3 years)
$2592 (5 years)

Is the Nissan Pathfinder fuel-efficient?

The Nissan Pathfinder has a whopping great 71-litre fuel tank which, mercifully, only requires 91 regular unleaded. 

It’s a good thing too, because the Pathfinder is not a frugal car when it comes to fuel.

Nissan quotes a combined fuel consumption figure of 10.5L/100km for the all-wheel drive, or 14.7L/100km for just city driving.

As always, my driving was mostly around town, with a couple of longer freeway drives. 

I’ll start with the good news first: on the freeway, the Pathfinder comes close to equalling – and even besting – its 10.5L/100km claim. The lowest figure I saw was 8.2L/100km after a trip out past the airport.

Now for the bad news: if you’re a city dweller like me, you’ll be spending a fair bit of time at the petrol station if you purchase a Pathfinder. 

My final fuel consumption figure clocked in at a whopping 18.1L/100km after a couple of particularly bad days of stop-start traffic, but I typically sat around 15–16L/100km for the majority of my week with the car. 

To be fair, I’ve never been the most economical driver, but I’d imagine a lot of other potential Pathfinder owners are going to be doing the school run at peak hour. 

For reference, previous reviews of the Pathfinder have seen fuel readings of 10.5L/100km, 11.5L/100km and 9.5L/100km – but all of these reviews featured far more freeway driving than my week with the car. 

It’s a big car with a V6 engine, so a double-digit fuel reading isn’t totally out of the question, but the Pathfinder could certainly benefit from some hybrid assistance, or at the very least an idle-stop system (which isn’t offered at all). 

If Nissan decided to apply its e-Power tech to the Pathfinder, that would be a smart move, given Kia, Hyundai and Toyota are all transitioning to hybrid powertrains on large SUVs like the Sorento, Santa Fe, and Kluger. 

It also wouldn’t be unheard of, given Nissan previously offered a hybrid powertrain on the Pathfinder back in 2014. 

Given most families are already feeling the cost-of-living crunch and are equally concerned with keeping their emissions down to protect the planet their kids will inherit, a hybrid Pathfinder seems like a no-brainer to me. 

Fuel efficiency 2024 Nissan Pathfinder ST-L
Fuel cons. (claimed) 10.5L/100km
Fuel cons. (on test) 18.1L/100km
Fuel type 91-octane unleaded
Fuel tank size 71L

What is the Nissan Pathfinder like to drive?

The Nissan Pathfinder is surprisingly easy to drive for such a large car.

All-round visibility is good, but obviously becomes a bit compromised if you’ve got third-row occupants. Even with the third row empty, the sizeable headrests can eat into your view. 

Being so high up is always a help, and the driver positioning and ground clearance on the Pathfinder meant I was confident mounting kerbs and relaxed about parking in tight spots. 

Refinement is great, with minimal engine and tyre noise reaching the cabin and the car feels solid, impenetrable from outside aggravations like wind noise or other drivers’ sound systems. 

The 18-inch wheels offered on the Pathfinder ST-L do a good job of absorbing shocks and bumps and giving you the sense you can truly tackle anything. 

I didn’t put the all-wheel-drive system to the test on anything other than paved roads, but in some particularly unpleasant wet weather, it was a reassuring companion. 

The steering was perfectly matched to the car – not too light, not too heavy – and it felt responsive and direct. I was particularly surprised with how well the Pathfinder handled some very narrow city streets, with its 11.8m turning circle feeling far smaller.

The big V6 engine feels gutsy and is particularly at home on freeways, where it cruises happily along and has the grunt required to overtake as needed. 

On the flip side, the weight of the car can mean it feels a little sluggish when getting moving from a standstill. 

I noticed a lag when accelerating from a standstill to city speeds, which made slipping into a busy roundabout or darting out into a break in traffic a bit more challenging. 

Once moving, however, the nine-speed automatic transmission is smooth and compliant, with ample power and torque proving more than effective at hauling the hefty Pathfinder up hills. 

One small gripe I had was that such a compact, low-profile gear shifter feels incongruous with a car of this size. I occasionally went to reach for it and found myself swiping the air, forgetting just how small it really was. 

Unlike other large SUVs I’ve driven, the Pathfinder doesn’t have a lurching sensation under sharp braking, which contributes to an overall sense of controlled calm while on the road. 

Ultimately, I was sad to hand the keys back, given how easily the Pathfinder slotted into my daily driving life. 

Key details 2024 Nissan Pathfinder ST-L
Engine 3.5-litre V6 petrol
Power 202kW @ 6400rpm
Torque 340Nm @ 4800rpm
Drive type All-wheel drive
Transmission 9-speed torque converter automatic
Power-to-weight ratio 98.4kW/t
Weight (kerb) 2052kg
Spare tyre type Temporary
Tow rating 2700kg braked
750kg unbraked
Turning circle 11.8m

How much weight can a Nissan Pathfinder tow?

All Pathfinder grades can tow up to 750kg unbraked, or up to 2700kg unbraked.

That braked figure is notably more than some key rivals, with most large SUVs capped at 2500kg. 

While that extra 200kg can make a difference, if you’re after a proper, full-blown towing vehicle, you’re better off looking at the Nissan Patrol, which can tow up to 3500kg braked. 

Fitting a towbar to your Pathfinder via Nissan’s genuine parts service will cost roughly $1477, and you’ll have to buy a tow ball separately for $41, while the towbar D shackle is priced at $33 fitted. 

Should I buy a Nissan Pathfinder?

The Pathfinder ticks so many boxes for family buyers.

Highlights include its capacious, practical interior with convenience features in all three rows, a driving experience that’s well suited to both city living and freeway driving, and a standard equipment list packed full of safety and driver assistance technology. 

Where the Pathfinder is let down is its fuel economy, which is particularly inefficient around town. Those regularly conducting long-haul freeway driving and touring may find this manageable, even frugal, but if you spend your time in traffic like I do, you’ll likely feel the pinch at the petrol station. 

A hybrid Pathfinder, however? Sign me up. 

How do I buy a Nissan Pathfinder? The next steps.

As long as you’re comfortable with fabric seats, you don’t have to spend extra to get into a top-spec Pathfinder – the entry-level ST-L is all the Nissan you’ll need.

Depending on your lifestyle, it might be worth saving some additional money and opting for the more affordable front-wheel-drive ST-L, especially if the majority of your driving happens around town. 

The next step would be to check the Nissan website for stock of the Pathfinder variant you’re after – as well as check Drive Marketplace for cars for sale near you.

We’d strongly recommend a test drive before you take the plunge and you can locate your nearest Nissan dealer at this link.

As mentioned, take stock of the fuel economy on the Pathfinder and make sure you factor fuel costs into the ongoing ownership equation. 

If you want to stay updated with everything that’s happened to the Pathfinder since our review, you’ll find all the latest news here.

The post 2024 Nissan Pathfinder ST-L review appeared first on Drive.



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