If you’re old enough, you might remember that the Nissan Pathfinder once was an SUV in the old sense of the word: muddy, brutish, and vaguely threatening. It looked like it drank diesel for breakfast and head-butted boulders for fun. And then, in 2013, Nissan transformed the Pathfinder into a rolling apology. It swapped its steel-toe boots and Carhartt jacket for loafers and a cardigan. Any sense of purpose evaporated thanks to former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, who managed to upset enthusiasts, dealers, and several governments simultaneously. That, quite frankly, is talent, even if a bit misguided.

Nevertheless, since its 2022 redesign, the Pathfinder winks at its rugged past like a middle-aged man in leather pants at a high school reunion. It’s got some tougher looks, a proper automatic instead of that abysmal CVT, and terrain modes that lend it pretensions of capability. But underneath, it’s still a front-wheel-drive SUV with a V-6 rather than a true body-on-frame bruiser with a howling V-8.

Nissan, so it seems, decided that the best way to improve its three-row rugrat wagon is not to give it more power, more ability or more of anything that would make grown men grin. No. They’ve taken it to a plastic surgeon. What it receives instead is a nose job: a redesigned grille, new front and rear bumpers, fresh lighting elements and, because this is the modern car industry, a new set of wheels, presumably because the old ones were no longer on trend. Inside, there’s a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto and a wireless smartphone charging pad with integrated cooling.

In short, it hasn’t gone on a diet, learned a new language, or taken up weightlifting. It’s had its face done, bought some new clothes and redecorated the living room.

The Pathfinder’s 3.5-liter V-6 distributes its 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque through a nine-speed transmission to the front wheels. Tick the right box and it’ll drive all four, which immediately makes it feel like it’s put on boots instead of Crocs. There’s a terrain system with Sport, Eco, Snow, and Tow modes and a 3,500-pound towing rating if you’re only powering two wheels. Go all-wheel drive, though, and suddenly it considers itself an off-road hero, adding Sand and Mud/Rut modes and doubling down with a 6,000-pound towing limit.

Power is perfectly adequate. Put your foot down for an overtake and there’s a brief pause while the gearbox consults its diary and decides how it’s feeling before downshifting. Sport mode sharpens the steering and wakes up the throttle, but leaves the shift logic exactly as lethargic as before. Best grab the paddle shifters and do it yourself, which feels satisfyingly racy.

The steering is light and the body doesn’t suddenly flop over. Instead, the lean builds progressively, giving you plenty of warning. You notice bumps, but they don’t punch you in the spine, as the suspension has been softened just enough to survive the occasional excursion off the tarmac. That said, it’s very clear this thing prefers asphalt to adventure. Once the road turns to dirt, its wide turning circle, very much a front-wheel-drive Nissan trait, makes it feel like you’re turning around a ferry in a canal.

Still, point it down a gravel track and it’ll cope without complaint, provided you’re not attempting anything that involves boulders, winches, or a YouTube channel. Throughout all of this, it remains impressively quiet inside, with road noise kept at bay.

Visibility is generally good, unless you look directly out the back, where a forest of headrests blocks your view. The seats are comfortable and the second row is properly spacious. The third row is tighter, although there’s enough room for three normally proportioned adults, assuming they’re friendly. Getting back there is easier than most, and the captain’s chairs are split by a removable console that thoughtfully lifts out with one hand.

While it doesn’t actually go anywhere that matters in the SUV universe, the towing figures tick the right boxes, the interior feels grown-up, and it looks more purposeful than the bloated kiddie trolley it replaced. It remembers what it’s supposed to be, harkening back to the old Pathfinders while borrowing a few no-nonsense cues from Nissan’s current trucks.

And this matters, because this car has spent far too long wandering the desolate wasteland of suburban parking lots, forgotten and unloved. No, it’s not the rock-climbing, axle-twisting brute it once was. And this Pathfinder still punts personality out the window in favor of mainstream blandness. Has it redeemed itself? Not really. It’s just a less confused SUV that reminds you more of a sensible sedan on stilts than the go-anywhere legend its name once carried. But at least it dresses the part.

2026 Nissan Pathfinder

Base price: $38,995

Engine: 3.5-liter DOHC V6

Horsepower/Torque: 284/259 pound-feet of torque

EPA fuel economy (combined): 23 mpg

Length/Width/Height: 114.2/197.7/77.9 inches

Ground clearance: 7.1 inches

Cargo capacity: 16.6-80.5 cubic feet

Towing capacity: 3,500-6,000 pounds

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