2025 | automobile critiques | nissan | nissan pathfinder | suvs
Are you searching for a three-row SUV that may shuttle the children to high school and in addition take them on weekend adventures? The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek takes Nissan’s substantial household SUV and cranks up the enjoyable issue, providing additional functionality and angle for many who prefer to wander away the overwhelmed path.
Primarily based on the Pathfinder SV, the Rock Creek will get a harder look and some mechanical tweaks to again it up. It options an off-road-tuned suspension with a slight 5/8-inch carry. The SUV rolls on 18-inch black and silver aluminum wheels wrapped in all-terrain Toyo Open Nation A/T tires and is trimmed with a darkened grille, LED fog lights, and a beefy tubular roof rack for carrying any tenting gear you’ll be able to’t match within the cargo space.
The Rock Creek’s 3.5-liter V6 engine will get a slight bump to 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque when fed premium gas, giving it just a little additional punch over the usual Pathfinder. With a 9-speed computerized transmission and an all-wheel drivetrain, it is completely satisfied in all climate circumstances and might tow as much as 6000 kilos, greater than sufficient for a trailer and a small motorboat or a few ATVs.
Whereas it will not out-crawl a Land Rover Defender, the Pathfinder Rock Creek has the chops to drive on grime, gravel, mud, and reasonably rocky trails. Customary all-wheel-drive and a number of drive modes make it adaptable to completely different terrains. With 7.7 inches of floor clearance, it has a 0.6-inch peak benefit over different 2025 Pathfinders. Sadly, skid plates aren’t a part of the manufacturing facility package, so for those who plan on hitting notably rocky trails, think about trying into aftermarket ones.
On-road, the Rock Creek behaves properly and delivers a easy and composed journey. Its V6 engine affords satisfying acceleration and good freeway passing energy. The 9-speed computerized transmission shifts confidently, and paddle shifters are on the steering wheel for added engagement. The multilink suspension affords consolation in each day driving and is tuned with sufficient compliance to soak up ruts and bumps off-road. Gas economic system is affordable at 20 mpg metropolis, 23 freeway, and 21 mixed. That is rather less than another Pathfinders because of the added weight of the Rock Creek’s upgrades.
Inside, the Pathfinder affords glorious consolation on lengthy street journeys and tough trails. Nissan’s “Zero Gravity” seats present good assist, and the Rock Creek’s unique leatherette upholstery with orange distinction stitching and embroidered logos is a pleasant contact. Plus, the artificial materials is simple to wash for those who get grime or mud on it. The entrance seats are heated and get good and sizzling, which was vastly appreciated when the temperatures dipped into the low teenagers. Nonetheless, if you’d like ventilated seats, the one path is the dearer and fewer rugged Pathfinder Platinum.
Tech-wise, the 8-inch touchscreen is serviceable however feels dated in comparison with some rivals. Along with a surround-view parking digital camera, ahead and facet cameras assist information your manner on the paths. The cameras are crisper than these in another Nissans we have pushed, however the small display limits the system’s usability. The shift-by-wire joystick is simple to make use of, and we recognize that there is a bodily dial for switching between drive modes, which embrace Auto, Sand, Mud/Rut, Snow, Eco, Sport, and Tow. ProPilot Help supplies full-speed adaptive cruise management and lane centering, although the latter can typically really feel just a little overzealous with its corrections.
The second-row captain’s chairs are snug, too. Whereas not as plush because the front-row seats, these seats are good and vast, with good headroom and legroom for taller passengers. The seats tilt and slide ahead to entry the third row, and a detachable heart console supplies one other approach to get again there. As is the case with all however the largest SUVs, the third row is cramped for adults. There are seatbelts and headrests for 3 folks, however the legroom limits use to youngsters and shorter adults.
The Pathfinder’s cargo area is beneficiant at 80.5 cubic toes, with the second and third rows folded. Depart the second row up, and that drops to 45 cubic toes. With all three rows in use, you continue to get 16.6 cubic toes, a lot for groceries or a few rollaboard luggage. You may additionally discover a small cupboard space below the cargo ground for instruments or a primary support package. New for 2025 is a typical energy liftgate, which is useful once you’re making an attempt to load or unload a bunch of substances.
The Pathfinder Rock Creek delivers an excellent mixture of on a regular basis consolation and off-road readiness. We love its rugged seems to be and well-sorted drivetrain and suspension, although we might like to see a bigger and extra trendy multimedia display and not less than an possibility for manufacturing facility skid plates. Pricing for the 2025 Pathfinder Rock Creek begins at $45,160, plus a $1,390 vacation spot cost. The sticker worth on the automobile examined right here was $47,390.
