2018 Nissan Pathfinder SV

About this Pathfinder

If you've got kids, this is the shape of vehicle that actually solves the problem. Three rows, seats seven, and unlike a lot of three-row crossovers the Pathfinder's third row is usable by real people rather than being a technicality. The second row slides and tilts forward with a child seat still installed - Nissan calls it EZ Flex, and any parent who has fought with a car seat will understand why that matters.

The 3.5-liter V6 makes good power and is a known quantity - it's the same basic engine family Nissan has used across the lineup for years, so no shop in town will scratch their head at it. Properly equipped, a Pathfinder will pull a boat or a small camper, which puts it ahead of most crossovers this size.

Inside it's the SV layout: cloth seats, the center touchscreen with backup camera, tri-zone climate so the back seats aren't at the mercy of whoever's driving, rear air vents, and steering wheel controls. Fold the third row flat and the cargo area opens right up - the photos show it with everything folded so you can see the space you're actually getting.

It drives well, the body and paint are in good shape, and the equipment list is the stuff families actually use: a power driver's seat so both parents can find their own position, roof rails for a cargo box on vacation, running boards that make it easy for kids to climb in, and a tow package already fitted. Come look it over and take it around the block with the whole family in it.

Features & equipment