What's with the new Nissan Pathfinder?

[Sliver]

Anybody else think this thing looks hideous?



It reminds me of an early 2000s Hyundai Sante Fe...



I don't know, I'm just so disappointed that a vehicle that was always competent and reasonably cool went so lame. The worst part is it will probably be popular since it is like a crossover, which people seem to like.

Here's a much nicer 2012 Pathfinder (for reference):



Why do I care? I'm not sure, but I do.

[burn_this_city]

Nice van.

[_Q_]

You know, the Pathfinder went from being a pretty rugged looking SUV in the 90s to a nice looking semi-luxury SUV with simple lines in the early 2000s, to a chick wagon in the late 2000s to what it is now... a confused pile of junk that looks like a pregnant mini-van.

Sadly most SUVs look like this these days.

Edit to help illustrate:

1998


2003


And then the two you posted.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

We had a 1999 pathfinder. It was highly reliable. Only issue we ever had was to replace the tires and brakes, and windshield wipers. It had more than 300k.

[polak]

I like the new Pathfinder... and I definitely wouldn't consider it a crossover. Just cause it's not a square box doesn't mean it's a crossover. It's average in almost every category for a full sized SUV.

[Dion]

Looks very much like the 2010 Subaru Forrester minus the hood scoop. A station wagon for families.

[_Q_]

Looking at it again, that 2003 model is an awesome looking vehicle, even at 10 years old.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by polak

I like the new Pathfinder... and I definitely wouldn't consider it a crossover. Just cause it's not a square box doesn't mean it's a crossover.

Well it is a crossover. It has a unibody construction, for one thing, which pretty much defines the crossover class. It's not a body-on-frame SUV (like a 4Runner).

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by polak

I like the new Pathfinder... and I definitely wouldn't consider it a crossover. Just cause it's not a square box doesn't mean it's a crossover.

They scrapped the body on frame for a unibody. It's a crossover now.

[Kybosh]

Didn't they completely neuter the guts of the new pathfinder? Used to be a true 4x4 offroad type vehicle, but isn't that completely changed?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by _Q_

You know, the Pathfinder went from being a pretty rugged looking SUV in the 90s to a nice looking semi-luxury SUV with simple lines in the early 2000s, to a chick wagon in the late 2000s to what it is now... a confused pile of junk that looks like a pregnant mini-van.

Sadly most SUVs look like this these days.

Edit to help illustrate:

And then the two you posted.

I always liked the latest model up until 2013. They still looked (and were) pretty tough.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Dion

Looks very much like the 2010 Subaru Forrester minus the hood scoop. A station wagon for families.

Not even remotely comparable. The Forrester is more like an Ford Escape.

Also, the new Forrester is a big improvement imo...



I wish they brought back the proper Forrester 2.5xt with the WRX engine (well, I'd prefer the STI engine) and a manual transmission. Now that was a beauty. I have a family friend who had one that apparently dyno'd at 405 hp.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

Didn't they completely neuter the guts of the new pathfinder? Used to be a true 4x4 offroad type vehicle, but isn't that completely changed?

Yes. It even has a CVT, which is the only transmission available as far as I know.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Well it is a crossover. It has a unibody construction, for one thing, which pretty much defines the crossover class. It's not a body-on-frame SUV (like a 4Runner).

When did they change that? Idiots.
Power and space-wise it's still a decent competitor if you don't plan on going bonkers (99% of people buying these)

[Frank MetaMusil]

Looks like Nissan added room for the family dog in the back.

I don't really like the look either.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by polak

Not even remotely comparable. The Forrester is more like an Ford Escape.

I disagree - the body style is very similar.

Also, the new Forrester is a big improvement imo...

It's ugly just like the new Escape.

[_Q_]

And the panzification of our society continues.

CVT? More like WTF?

[polak]

To you guys, does an SUV have to be a square box?

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by polak

When did they change that? Idiots.
Power and space-wise it's still a decent competitor if you don't plan on going bonkers (99% of people buying these)

Pretty sure it was this one.

I agree with you. It will be fine for the vast majority of owners out there considering most don't take their trucks/suv's off road anyways. Although the name pathfinder probably doesn't apply with the new model...

[automaton 3]

Looks like a minivan.