Getting a fresh new haircut
"Aesthetics are important these days-people are paying more attention than ever before to fine points and differentiation from one another," said Hisham.
"Drive was very smooth, and the outside noise is acceptable inside the cabin."
"Since 1987, the Pathfinder has been an instant successful family SUV with exceptional trustworthiness and off-road capabilities."
Nissan is one of the world’s leading car manufacturers and the Pathfinder is one of the most reliable and capable SUVs for sale today.
The Pathfinder has been with us since 1987 and the WD21 was an instant successful family SUV with exceptional trustworthiness and off-road capabilities. Throughout the years, Nissan continued to develop and enhance its Pathfinder in a way to cope with modern needs and customer orientation. A good car manufacturer knows what their clients need…a great car manufacturer knows that their clients will be wanting to evolve the product around them so they can meet future needs. This is the case of the Pathfinder. When the car was launched, the off-roading role was an essential part that the car could play. But now its different seat positioning and comfort has taken over so the car has a more lavish style and extra optional equipment. All the equipment is offered to satisfy the exact need of their loyal and potential future clientele.
The minute you see the new Pathfinder Midnight Edition you notice an evolution of the current model with a few subtle changes. You can immediately spot the high gloss black twist, which generates more character and a bit more sporty essence towards elegance. The V6 engine is the heart of the SUV, which now develops 271 horsepower and 340 Nm of torque and gives it a punchier acceleration along with the CVT transmission, although personally I am not a fan of this technology because it revs upward in a weird way. Well, maybe it’s just me who is a bit demanding when it comes down to such details.
Driving impressions
The overall drive was very smooth, and the outside noise is acceptable inside the cabin. There isn’t much feedback from the steering wheel but it’s not a problem for those who will be buying this car. The main changes are the uniqueness of the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder Midnight Edition defined by black outside mirrors, black roof rail, black grade badge with Midnight Edition emblem on lift gate, black front and back mud guard, black front radiator grille, body-colored bumper with black rear lower accent, black back door finisher, black 20-inch accessory aluminum alloy wheels, black rear spoiler and LED high mount stop lamp. The details are best shown on the gun metallic and pearl white colors because the contrast will be much more visible and differentiated than on the black body color. But then again colors are a very personal issue to the client: everyone has his or her own fashion direction. The newly shaped LED headlights and daytime running lights also increase the modernism of the front end of the car. I always say that it’s never one thing that makes a car perform correctly and be up to the demand of its owner. It’s a combination of different variants and personal preferences which then leads to purchasing the right car for the right use.
The Pathfinder wasn’t always a seven-seat SUV, it was a smaller five-seat combination and, might I add, a much more aggressive and stiffer suspension set-up, especially if you were sitting at the back. My cousin had the 2003 R50 Pathfinder with a 3.5-liter V6 SE developing 240 horsepower, and I can tell you that this car was superb. It had super off-road competence with the locking differentials option that can be selected in the four-wheel drive system. I used to travel through 40 to 60 cm of water with rocks on a tough trail (for a regular, unmodified vehicle) and it did it in complete comfort; corresponding to the standards relevant to that specific era of course. As I already said, it has evolved from a capable off-roader to a more compliant day-to-day utility. I cannot cross a 15-meter wide, with a 40-cm water depth river with a 20-Inch rim, if you know what I mean.
The new Pathfinder model is now more spacious with a bigger seven-seat accommodation and a motion lift system to open the rear boot lid making the use of it friendlier and a step forward for what is the upcoming trend to insure that they will meet the requirements of their clients and continue to establish a trustworthy relationship with consumers. Consistency is a key to be a leader and to keep on innovating. Coming back to the modern times of 2019, the Midnight Edition is available on the mid-range SV trim. The cabin remains the same: spacious and practical with different storage areas and cup holders and an eight-inch touchscreen on top of the dashboard. Nissan developed a system called "Nissan Intelligent Mobility," which is a set of driver assistance features that includes emergency braking techniques such as forward collision warning (FCW) and rear cross traffic alert (RCTA). Both Bluetooth streaming and hands-free are available so you can play your favorite music from your phone without connecting it physically to the vehicle.
Verdict
Overall, the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder Midnight Edition is like me getting a new haircut. I am still myself, but a bit fresh and different. Aesthetics are important these days-people are paying more attention than ever before to fine points and differentiation from one another. Generating several options is sometimes confusing to the client but it always depends on how you market the car and position it, especially when the market is demanding and the competition is always tough. Getting the best of the car you are acquiring is essential for me because it creates fidelity to a car and to a particular brand. I wanted a desert experience to further explore the potential of the car but couldn’t arrange it due to shortage of time; hopefully I’ll get to that later on this year.
Pros: Aggressive, familial, and comfortable
Cons: CVT transmission, outdated interior
Rivals: Mazda CX-9, Honda Pilot, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento
one word: reliable
3.5 / 5 stars
Specs
3.5L DOHC 24-valve V6, 271 hp @ 6,400 rpm, 340 Nm @ 4,800 rpm
4WD, CVT automatic
0-100 km/h: 8 secs, top speed: 192 km/h, fuel consumption: 8.77 L/100 km
Weight: 2,065 kg
