The Best Year For The Nissan Pathfinder
Nissan Pathfinder by order_242 — CC BY-SA 2.0
With minor revisions for the 2017 year models, we found it to be the best year for the Nissan Pathfinder when it comes to value, pricing, upgrades, and more. The Pathfinder finds itself in between Nissan’s smaller Armada and the larger Rouge.
What used to be more of an SUV-off-roading capable vehicle, the Pathfinder has become more of a family-friendly crossover. Its unibody offers a smoother suspension while its interior offers more technology and amenities for the everyday driver.
The Nissan Pathfinder Competitors
The crossover is one of the biggest markets in the world when comes to the automobile industry, so it’s no surprise that the Nissan Pathfinder has a lot of competition. The Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander are by far the Pathfinder’s biggest competition. The Chevrolet Traverse and the larger and heavier Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer compete but do have their shortcomings.
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2017 Nissan Pathfinder Trim Levels/Powertrain/Gas Mileage/Towing
The best year for the Nissan Pathfinder comes in four different trim levels: The S, SV, SL, and the Platinum. All 2017 Nissan Pathfinders come standard with one powertrain: A 3.5-liter V6 with a new direct-injection setup that gives the V6 284 horsepower and 259 lb.-ft. of torque.
This is the same size engine as the 2016 models except receiving the new direct-injection boosted horsepower and torque by about 20 in both categories while keeping just about the same gas mileage.
Transferring that power from the engine to the wheels is a 2-speed CVT transmission, known to be very responsive when mated to the 3.5-liter. All Nissan Pathfinders come with a standard front-wheel-drive and optional all-wheel-drive.
Gas mileage comes in at an EPA-Estimated 20 city / 27 hwy / 23 combined mpg for FWD and only loses about 1 mpg with AWD. Towing capacity is rated at 5,000 pounds, with the Dodge Drurago being the only competitor that can prove to tow more.
Exterior Styling
The Nissan Pathfinder doesn’t change much from the 2016 exterior, but it does do a little refreshing to the front grille. 2017 front grille looks sharper and more refined than the bunchy, bulky look it did have. The taillights have changed just a little, but probably not noticeable to the average vehicle observer.
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Interior Comfort and Styling
The interior was also updated just a little. A larger 8.0-inch touchscreen was added to replace the old 7.0-inch screen. More technology was added, which we’ll talk about later. More room for third-row passengers has received mixed reviews.
Reviews say that it’s an improvement, where others say it is still too small. We say, more legroom and headroom is an improvement, and that’s a step in the right direction. Legroom and headroom for the front and second-row passengers are more than enough for an adult to kick-back and enjoy.
When it comes to cargo volume, only the Toyota Highlander and the Honda Pilot boast more. With 16 cu.-ft. of cargo volume when all three rows are in the upright position, puts the Pathfinder a little behind its competition.
But with the third-row seats are folded down, you get 47.8 cu.-ft. of volume, and with both the second and third rows folded down, you get a maximum of 79.8 cu.-ft. of volume.
2017 Nissan Pathfinder Technology Features
The 2017 Nissan Pathfinder gets some new technology upgrades as well. An easy-to-use 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment center comes along with an available new powerful navigation system. The NissanConnect system comes standard for all your smartphone connectivity needs.
2017 brings bigger screens for the available rear entertainment system, a top-down 360-degree overhead view display that can be turned on at low speeds, and a motion-activated power liftgate.
The Pathfinder Safety Features
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the best year for the Nissan Pathfinder with the best rating of Good in 20 categories except for two where it scored Acceptably. Plus, the IIHS also scored the airbags favorably as they worked well to keep occupants safe during collisions. Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Pathfinder five out of five stars - the best rating it can give.
Some of the Pathfinder’s advanced safety features include Adaptive Cruise Control, Lower Anchors and Tether for Children (LATCH), Automated Emergency Braking, Blind-Spot Monitoring Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Forward Collision Prevention, and Moving Object Detection. Some of these Pathfinder safety features are standard and some are optional.
2017 Pathfinder Recalls
Recall Number: 18V601000 ** Recall Date:** 09/07/2018
Component
Antilock Brake Pump: The ABS actuator pump may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board
Recall Number: 19V807000 Recall Date: 11/08/2019
Component
Antilock Brake Pump: The recall was initially reinstated because certain actuator pumps were either fixed inaccurately or not at all.
2017 Nissan Pathfinder Common Problems
According to RepairPal, the Pathfinder crossover SUV has a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5.0. While the 2017 Pathfinder is a solid mid-size SUV, it has several issues that used car buyers should know, including:
- Transmission issues: Jerking and hesitation were common complaints about the Pathfinder’s transmission – this is especially true for Nissan’s problematic CVT transmission. There have been instances where the transmission doesn’t respond immediately, leading to a delay in acceleration.
- Engine problems: Some Pathfinders have been reported to stall unexpectedly, while some have reduced power delivery. There’s also a related recall regarding the engine’s coolant. There are also mentions of timing chain problems with this model year.
- Fuel system issues: There were reports of the fuel pump malfunctioning, while some owners felt that the vehicle consumed more fuel than advertised, leading to increased fuel costs.
- Brake concerns: There were complaints about the brakes not providing the stopping power as they should, leading to longer stopping distances. Meanwhile, some users reported a squeaking or grinding noise when applying the brakes.
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How Much Money Can You Expect to Save Buying 2017 Pathfinder Used
Saving on a crossover can sometimes be kind of tricky. Looking at dealership prices may still put you out of your price range. If that’s the case, you might have a lot of luck looking for a used Pathfinder for sale through a private owner.
You should be able to save close to $15,000 give or take over a new Pathfinder. If you do go to a dealership, watch which trim level you are shopping for. A Platinum trim package doesn’t offer you too much more than an SL or an SV trim.
What Can I Expect to Pay in Insurance
As always, your premiums will depend on the insurance company you plan on going through, your location, your age, the coverage you plan on putting on the pathfinder, and the deductible you choose. For the average person, you should find the Pathfinder to be pretty reasonable.
Warranties
Being a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder, you will probably find that there are no more factory warranties left, but there should be some if not all Certified Pre-Owned warranties available on the Pathfinder. Whether you go through a private owner or a dealership, make sure to ask about all warranty benefits and any benefits you can extend.
A Crossover Worth Buying
The 2017 model is the best year for the Nissan Pathfinder because of its value vs. performance, comfort, and technology aspect. The crossover offers you everything a crossover should and more. The smooth driving Pathfinder, is peppy enough to get around traffic when needed, get around a parking lot like a car, all while offering seating for up to eight.
