2024 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum Review: Road Trip Ready

The Nissan Pathfinder is finally getting a bit of a breather. After being completely overhauled for the 2022 model year, then introducing the Rock Creek trim last year, for 2024, there are no changes to the vehicle. It’s rare for any vehicle to transition into a new model with nary a change, but that’s what Nissan has done for the brand’s multi-person hauler.

We last drove the Pathfinder a year ago during an Eight Vehicle Comparison Shootout. On hand, we had the more rugged off-road-ready Rock Creek Edition. Although we like the styling and price point, the amenities, drive quality, and comfort relegated the Pathfinder to a mid-pack finish.

With 2024 bringing no real changes, we thought we should revisit the Pathfinder and give the SUV another look in one of the vehicle’s more passenger-focused trim levels. Nothing pampers occupants more than the top-of-the-line Platinum edition, so naturally we went with that. To see just how well it handles family hauling duties, we loaded up the SUV and headed out on a 1,000-mile, four-day road trip.

What’s New for 2024: Nada 

Nothing: everything carries over from the 2023 model year. With the current generation Pathfinder debut just two years ago in 2022, we expect 2025 should bring more significant mid-cycle changes. 

Exterior Style: Playing it Safe

The current generation Pathfinder is neither overly stylish nor offensive in appearance. The vehicle plays it safe in terms of exterior styling, a theme we’ll revisit many times in this review. The Platinum gets exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels and extra chrome details on the exterior. 

The Obsidian Green Pearl exterior paint suits the Pathfinder well, contrasting the sparkling LED lights.

Powertrain and Fuel Economy: Impressive Efficiency 

Under the hood of the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder is a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. This is the same unit used in all Pathfinders except for the Rock Creek. The V6 in that model requires premium gasoline and makes an extra 11 hp and 11 lb-ft of torque. 

The engine continues to pair up with a nine-speed automatic, having ditched the CVT after the 2021 model year. The nine-speed is a smooth-shifting unit, exchanging gears subtly in the background. In fact, if a non-car person drove a 2021 Pathfinder back-to-back with a 2024, they might think it has the same transmission. That’s just how seamlessly the new automatic works. 

As one of the sole surviving naturally aspirated V6 engines in the segment, the Pathfinder has a meatier exhaust note met with adequate power. Torque is okay on the low end and the engine can make effortless highway passes, albeit at high rpms. When not hard on the accelerator, the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder is rated to achieve 20 mpg (11.7 L/100) city and 25 mpg (9.3 L/100 ) highway. However, if the onboard fuel computer is to be believed, after 1,000 miles of mostly highway driving, we were averaging an impressive 31.5 mpg. 

Handling and Drivability: Right Up the Middle

The Pathfinder isn’t the softest sprung vehicle in the segment, nor is it a handling special. It walks the middle ground, offering good comfort and decent responses. Over broken pavement, the suspension can audibly be heard compressing, but is hardly felt inside the cabin. On long highway drives, the SUV exhibits minimal wandering within the lane, but body roll is present during any moderate g-force. 

The Pathfinder Platinum comes with a standard oil cooler and class III hitch to help achieve a tow rating of 6,000 pounds. There are seven different drive/terrain modes, although we doubt too much off-roading will be done with the road-bias 255/50R20 tires.

Ride Quality and Comfort: Premium, Not Luxury

Our 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum included the seven-seat configuration which means a pair of captain’s chairs in the second row. Those middle row seats include heating functionality while the two seats up front are 10-way power adjustable and feature heat and ventilation. 

Other nice touches inside give the vehicle an airy feeling and extra comfort when needed, like the panoramic sunroof and rear window sunshades. Noise isolation from the outside unpleasantries is well dampened, as are vibrations. 

That all stated, even in the Platinum trim, the Pathfinder doesn’t match up to a true luxury three-row SUVs in these regards. Hours after hours on the road highlight the difference between a premium mainstream vehicle and a luxury SUV which has better materials, tuning, and a higher price tag to match. 

We only utilized the first two rows on our trip, and no one complained of space, even if the second-row legroom is only listed at 35.5-inches (902 mm). After several hours on the road, no complaints were made in terms of seat comfort either. Behind that second row we had the third-row seats folded, which gave us 45.0 cubic feet of space to fill. 

Interior Style and Quality: Functional but Not Drab

The interior is well laid out with all controls placed where we need them, while keeping a bit of style to the overall look. Our tester had the Chestnut interior, and the front two rows of seats are finished in semi-aniline leather with quilting. There are also some Platinum exclusive touches like the Bronze Metallic brushed interior trim.

Tech and Safety:

Being a top trim model, the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum includes features like a power tilt/telescopic steering wheel, memory driver seat, power-folding mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, and a motion-activated power liftgate. The audio system is upgraded to a Bose unit pumping through 13 speakers.

Central to the dashboard is a 9-inch infotainment screen that can be used with wireless Apple CarPlay. In front of the driver is a customizable 12.3-inch digital meter display, with a head-up display projecting off the windshield. We felt with such a large display in front of the driver, there could be more options for additional information displayed as some areas are filled with rather large text. 

All the modern safety technologies are present as part of Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist with Navi-link, which is standard in the Platinum.

Value Dollars and Sense:

The 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum starts at a price of $52,910 (all prices include destination charges). With the few available options selected, the as test price only lifts to $53,460. That’s a few thousand less than a fully loaded Honda Pilot, Toyota Sienna, or Hyundai Palisade. 

In Canada the starting price is $60,128 with the as-tested price only adding the premium paint, coming in at $60,428.

Final Thoughts:

The three-row SUV segment isn’t one where a lot of irrational, emotional purchasing decisions are made. For the most part, it’s a space where families are looking for a vehicle that best suits their needs. The Nissan Pathfinder understands the assignment, is built for usefulness rather than flash. 

Nothing overly sticks out about the Pathfinder, good or bad, as the vehicle goes about its business seamlessly, eating up mile after mile of interstate. During 1,000 miles of driving over the span of four days, our voyage was easy, comfortable, and drama free. Just how it should be in any good family vehicle.

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