Tested: 2026 Nissan Pathfinder Tries to Keep Up
First glance: Can this thing really play?
To be honest, when I first got the test drive of the 2026 Pathfinder, I was a little muttering inside. The Honda Pilot and Kia Telluride are almost rolling the three-row SUV market into a model room, but Nissan is like a late student, shouting "Wait for me" and rubbing his feet. But don't get me wrong-this car actually gave me a modest surprise when it hit the road. The V6 engine is still the same 3.5-liter engine. Although the power has been increased slightly, the sound is quite deep when you step on the accelerator, just like the temper that an old-school V6 should have. It's just... Compared with its opponents 'turbocharging, its "brute force" seems a bit outdated. It's like a middle-aged man wearing a leather jacket. His spirit is good, but he can't beat those young people wearing a fashion brand when he strives for speed up. But then again, it drives smoothly every day so that it makes people want to sleep, and it also brings just the right little vibration, which makes them feel like they are there.
Interior? Progress, but not amazing enough
Pulling the car door open, hey, the interior stunned me for a moment-not a "wow" kind of stunned, but a "um, not bad" kind of stunned. The new model uses more soft materials, and the stitching is also played with tricks. The central control screen is finally straightened. Is it 9 inches or 12.3 inches? Anyway, it was much better than the old antique from before. But the air conditioning control is still a physical knob, which I agree with both hands and feet-designs that have to poke the screen to adjust the temperature are anti-human. The seats are still Nissan's big sofas, and you don't want to get up when you sit on them. The second row can slide back and forth. If the third row is used for emergencies, adults can endure short-term grievances. But you want to compete with Telluride for the third row of space? Come on, that's called a dimension reduction attack. The overall atmosphere of the interior is a bit like an IKEA model room. It is warm, but it lacks a sense of luxury. The plastic feeling will still pop up in some corners to remind you of its "value for money".
Technology configuration: It can be used, but don't expect to be super gods
The car system finally supports wireless CarPlay! Thankfully, Nissan has finally emerged from the Stone Age. The voice control was still a bit stupid. I said,"I want to go to the gas station." It froze for three seconds and replied,"Please say it again", which almost made me so angry that I typed the address by hand. In terms of driving assistance, ProPILOT 2.1? Or 2.0? Anyway, you can free your hands a little on the highway, but the tendency to "draw a dragon" in lane maintenance is still there, just like a child who has just learned to walk, pulling you from time to time. The clarity of the reversing image is average, and the noise at night can be seen as stars. Overall, the technology configuration has kept up, but compared to Honda's Honda Sensing or Hyundai SmartSense, it's still a breath away-just like you just passed the exam, scored 98 points on the academic student exam, and the teacher comforted you "Next time work hard".
The feeling of opening up: half compromised, half stubborn
Chassis adjustment is very interesting. When passing the speed bump, the suspension will filter the vibration more thoroughly, giving a floating feeling of an old-school American boat. However, the strange thing is that the turning and roll are well controlled, like a fat man dancing in air cushion shoes, but he can still keep up with the rhythm. The steering feel is light and there is no feedback from the road, but moving a car in the city will feel very relaxed. Once I tried driving hard and made a few corners-well, I admit I was out of my mind, what kind of corner would a three-row SUV make? In the end, it didn't make me look too stupid. It just started to scream in protest, and the body was still stable. However, in daily scenarios, it is more like a docile family companion. When it accelerates rapidly and overtakes, the gearbox will hesitate for a while, as if thinking,"Are you sure you want to pass? Why don't we save some gas?" Then downshift. Fuel consumption is about 11L/100km in total, which is not a saving, but it is not a grease tiger.
Summary: Can it still maintain its posture?
Therefore, the 2026 Pathfinder is ultimately trying to catch up, but the reality is cruel. It has made up for many shortcomings, and the interior, technology, and driving assistance have been significantly improved. The smoothness of the V6 engine and seat comfort are still its trump cards. But compared with its competitors, it is like a job seeker with a bachelor's degree and discovering that everyone else has already had a master's degree and has three years of work experience. If you particularly like an old-school, sturdy, ungarish SUV and don't need that much third-row space, it will be a car that will make you laugh and sing in the car. But if you want the most spacious third row, the strongest sense of technology or the lowest fuel consumption-then it may only make you feel like "trying your best." Finally, I want to say: Nissan, next time, can we not just "try" catching up and just overtake and return?
