Interior

Seven passengers can sit in flexible, usable space. Up front, over 41 inches of head room and 42.3 inches of leg room means the driver and front passenger can always be comfortable, particularly with and available 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat and 4-way front-passenger’s seat. EZ Flex Seating System allows the second row to move forward and back as needed, with 5.5 inches of sliding capability. This means up to 40.7 inches of second row leg room, and up to 30.7 inches of third-row leg room. It also allows for flexing of the cargo space. While with all rows in place there is 16.0 cubic feet of space, while with all rows stowed there is 79.8 cubic feet. The sliding second row means that with the third row stowed, you can have anywhere from 42.4 to 47.8 cubic feet.

The seats themselves are supportive, thanks to NASA-inspired design, and are available wrapped in cloth or leather. They can be heated or heated and cooled, while rear seats can also be heated. While the standard trim is cloth and soft-touch materials, plenty of upgrading is available, including leather door trim, leather wrapping for the steering wheel and shift knob, wood-tone trim, and stainless steel kick plates. Bright accents highlight the cabin.

Everyone loves convenience, so they are sure to love what the Pathfinder brings to the table. Push Button Ignition with remote keyless entry is the standard, while the Nissan Intelligent Key is available with remote engine start. A rear power liftgate with position memory is pretty helpful if you have to deal with cargo often. Standard on every vehicle is Tri-Zone Automatic Temperature Control, a feature that is optional on almost every other model in the class.

Technology

For everything from keeping you connected and on the right track to keeping your passengers entertained, the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder has plenty to offer.

• Six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3 CD playback capability, auxiliary input jack, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls standard on all models
• 13-speaker Bose audio system with Acoustic Waveglide technology
• Available USB connection for iPod interface
• Available Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System
• Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System with 8.0-inch touch screen monitor and Voice Recognition, NavTraffic, and NavWeather
• Available RearView and Around View monitors
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio and speed sensitive volume control
• Tri-Zone Entertainment System with dual 7-inch monitors, to keep your back-seat passengers busy and happy on longer rides

Performance

A single 3.5-liter V6 powers the new Pathfinder, a durable and time-tested engine with great reliability. Tied to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), it can tow up to 5,000 pounds in all models. Both front- and all-wheel drive are available, with the latter including hill-descent control and a locking center differential for improved capabilities on dirt and in the snow. Front-wheel drive models get 20 MPG city and 27 MPG highway, while all-wheel drive models get 19 MPG city and 26 MPG highway. The ride is comfortable yet firm enough, and steering is responsive and crisp.

Safety

Great crash test ratings and a solid roster of safety features make the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder a leader in the safety department. Five stars overall from the NHTSA and “Good” for overall crash protection from the IIHS are the best ratings possible, and they include high marks for side-impact protection and roof-strength tests. The Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with seat belt and occupant classification sensors, along with roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor, protect all occupants in the case of a collision or rollover. It’s even better to avoid the accident in the first place, which is why every model comes with Vehicle Dynamic Control with Traction Control System, along with available Blind Spot Warning with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

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