We Can’t Wait to Get Nerdy about the Refreshed 2026 Nissan Pathfinder. Here’s Why
Sometimes the best kind of refresh is a subtle one. Nissan did an excellent job with the 2026 Pathfinder, and we can’t wait to get behind the wheel. Here’s why.
The Nissan Pathfinder, not unlike the other models in the company’s lineup, is a bargain—especially for families that want to try and find a balance between affordability, versatility, and capability.
We love the Pathfinder at its most luxurious, the Platinum, and at its most rugged, the Rock Creek. Priced from $41,390 to $50,640, you get a sturdy and tow-ready V6, four-wheel drive, and three rows, with the latest in safety features and creature comforts. Not bad.
For 2026, Nissan refreshed the beloved Pathfinder in the best ways: subtly. But it shows that the company is paying attention to reviewers (like us) and their customers. Here’s why the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder is worth waiting for.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder Went Under the Knife—With a Damn Good Surgeon
The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder’s facelift reminds me a lot of Kris Jenner’s most recent facelift. She didn’t announce it, she didn’t advertise that she’d gotten work done—she just reappeared, and everyone was dazzled. Kris still looked like Kris, just enhanced. All of her charming features were retained. That’s similar to how the new Pathfinders’ looks were updated. If you had the 2025 design next to the new look, its classic design is intact. It’s just enhanced.
The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder has a new front and rear fascia, giving it a premium, more “rakish”, as Nissan puts it, edge that aligns with Nissan’s design language (look to the new Sentra or Leaf for better examples of that dialect). Otherwise, the Rock Creek and Platinum are still very distinct in terms of their appearance. But it’s the changes on the inside that make the most sense.
All Trims Come with More—And Better—Standard Features and Technology
Nissan decided to send the 8-inch touchscreen seen on the lower trims to the guillotine and replace it with a larger, brighter, and more responsive 12.3-inch screen. Therefore, even at the base model, buyers will have the luxury of a larger, easier-to-read screen. A larger screen also means it’ll be easier to see the camera feeds from the rear camera. And you’ll be able to enjoy your jams with wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, even in the lower trims. Previously, the Nissan Pathfinder required a hard connection to use phone mirroring. No more.
And, for the first time, the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder will include our favorite feature from the Armada: Invisible Hood View. This is a unique camera angle that lets you see “through” the engine bay to spot obstacles at the very front of the SUV. The SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum trims will also come with Front Wide View.
This feature is primarily intended to “simplify parking and maneuvering,” according to Nissan, in tight or obscured spaces by providing a 180-degree view to the front and sides, helping you look past parked cars, hedges, or buildings when pulling out of driveways and parking spots. Nissan was careful to mention that it’s particularly helpful with”obscured garage entrances” and concealed driveways where side visibility is blocked.
However, this feature can also be used while off-road, especially on the Rock Creek trim, as these cameras are specifically noted as helping to spot obstacles ahead of the vehicle’s tires. Making it ideal for navigating trails or narrow ramps. Beyond the dirt, though, this feature is useful for aligning wheels perfectly on car wash tracks or avoiding curb rash in tight residential alleys.
The Fancy Pants Platinum Can Feel Even More Premium
The Platinum has always been a very premium-feeling SUV. Next year, Nissan plans to include a new Platinum trim that includes wood trim accents for the interior. It’ll be cleverly called the Platinum Elevation. We think it will make it feel more like you’re heading to your favorite cabin in the woods than you are to the grocery store, and bring a very Infiniti-esque spice to the already amazing family recipe.
And, all trims will have a wireless phone charger where you can adjust the intensity of the charge, as well as a cooling fan to prevent your phone from overheating.
No Engines Need Apply, Since We Loved the “Old” One
There’s a reason Nissan’s been using the same 3.5-liter V6 since 2017: because it’s incredibly capable and reliable. It may only make 284 horsepower (295 for the Rock Creek), but it’s not the horsepower that matters with this engine: it’s the torque. It produces 259 lb-ft of torque (270 lb-feet for the Rock Creek, thanks to a tune). In 2019, Nissan swapped the CVT for the 9-speed automatic transmission, which helped improve its towing performance. Because of this, it has a respectable towing capacity of 6,000 pounds when it’s equipped with four-wheel drive.
In a market where many rivals are switching to smaller turbocharged 4-cylinder engines or hybrids, the 2026 Pathfinder is one of a few modern models powered by a V6. Its longevity means it is a proven workhorse with a well-documented history of reliability.
The Pathfinder strikes a good balance between practicality, affordability, and versatility. The fact that the most major changes are fairly minor means that Nissan was paying attention. When it hits the press fleets, we’ll be sure to analyze how much these changes propelled the Nissan Pathfinder forward, or if it was pushed backward.
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