The Pathfinder buyer has a quintet of choices: S, SV, SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum. Regardless of trim level, the powertrain consists of a 3.5-liter V6 (284 hp and 259 lb.-ft. of torque) and a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Rock Creek receives standard all-wheel drive, while the other trims get front-wheel drive as standard, with AWD optional. As mentioned, a properly equipped 2024 Pathfinder has a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds.
The EPA’s official fuel economy estimates show the FWD Pathfinder achieving 20 mpg around town and 27 mpg on the highway. With AWD, all trims but the Rock Creek return 20 city/25 highway. With the weight of its additional standard features, the Rock Creek is rated for 20 city/23 highway.
The S blends necessary equipment with some special touches, getting Nissan Intelligent Key (proximity keyless entry), three zones of automatic climate control, automatic LED headlights, push-button start, a pair each of USB-A and USB-C ports, and a hidden storage area under the cargo area floor. Access is easy with the middle-row bench seat’s EZ FLEX and Latch and Glide features, and the third-row seat splits 60/40. and an underfloor storage compartment in the cargo area. One level up, the SV raises the luxury factor considerably with heated front seats, remote start, heated outside mirrors, a power driver’s seat, rooftop rails, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It’s also eligible for a tow hitch receiver and the SV Premium Package, which will load it up with a panoramic moonroof, a power liftgate, second-row captain’s chairs with a removable center console, and a superior transmission cooling system.
The SL gets the power liftgate as a standard feature, along with a heated steering wheel, a wireless phone charge pad, leather seats for the first and middle rows, a power front passenger’s seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, an additional USB-A port, a HomeLink universal home remote, and sunshades for the back windows. Its optional bundle, the SL Premium Package, will add everything listed in the SV Premium Package that hasn’t been mentioned as a standard feature, plus heated second-row seats and a Bose audio system with 13 speakers.
The Rock Creek emphasizes trail travel with specific upgrades, including all-terrain tires, LED fog lights, a suspension tuned for off-road, the tow hitch receiver, the transmission cooling system, and trim-specific leatherette upholstery. (It does not get the heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, auto-dimming rearview mirror, power front passenger’s seat, third USB-A port, or rear sunshades.)
The Platinum starts with the SL’s standard equipment and adds high-end leather upholstery with quilted inserts, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, ventilated front seats, a hands-free liftgate, power-folding exterior mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down, a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and position memory (driver’s seat, steering wheel, and outside mirrors), plus the tow hitch receiver, transmission cooling system, panoramic moonroof, and heated second-row seats. It also has a 120-volt outlet, a total of four USB-A ports, a head-up display, and a digital gauge cluster (12.3-inch).
The Pathfinder is set up with Nissan’s most advanced driver-assist technologies. The S trim gets automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, intelligent forward collision warning, rear parking sensors, reverse automatic braking, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, trailer sway control, and hill start assist. Versions with AWD will also get descent control.
ProPILOT Assist adaptive cruise control comes on every trim except for the S, as do intelligent lane intervention and intelligent blind-spot intervention. The SL and Platinum receive an upgraded edition of ProPILOT Assist with Navi-link (partially hands-free driving), plus front parking sensors, and traffic sign recognition. Those two trims also get the Intelligent Around View Monitor, as does the Rock Creek, although its version of the monitor comes with a special off-road setting.
The first three trims’ infotainment system has an 8-inch touchscreen, while the two highest move up to a 9-inch touchscreen; voice recognition also comes standard on all as an alternative means of managing the system. The features found on every 2024 Pathfinder are smartphone integration (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a sound system. The SL and Platinum move up to a 9-inch touchscreen and add navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Platinum stands out with its 13-speaker Bose audio system, which is available on the SL; otherwise, a six-speaker system comes standard.
