It has been a long time since we heard anything new about the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. The current generation Pathfinder has been a key offering for Nissan over the past few years but it’s also due for a more comprehensive update. Nissan has ended its radio silence and released an all new teaser video ahead of the Pathfinder’s debut in February.
Is That a V6 We Hear Under The Hood?
Nissan’s video was quite brief but there is still a number of details that can be gleaned from this brief piece of footage. For instance, you can hear what appears to be a V6 engine motivating the Pathfinder through various locales. In a world where electrification and four cylinders are rapidly becoming a standard part of the SUV buying and ownership experience it would seem that Nissan is sending a message to buyers that it’s still placing a big priority on V6 engines, and that it remains a viable option.
As for the engine itself, we suspect that Nissan will be sticking with the familiar 3.5 liter V6 that has served it well for the past few years. It will be interesting to see if Nissan squeezes a few more horsepower out of the engine to sweeten the deal a bit (it currently makes 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque.) Those figures are roughly middle of the road for the segment, but it wouldn’t hurt to see a few extra ponies make their way out of the corral either.
A four cylinder engine is also expected to be offered in lower grade Pathfinders with that engine most likely being 2.0 liter four sourced from the Nissan Altima. The thought of having only 248 horsepower to manage might seem a but tacky at first glance, but rumors are running rampant that the long running and reviled CVT is going to get axed with an all new nine-speed automatic transmission taking its place.
A Styling Reboot Is Coming To The 2022 Pathfinder
The Pathfinder’s exterior styling is getting long in the tooth so we expect Nissan stylists to make some minor revisions to help the Pathfinder regain some of its youthful vigor. That includes an interpretation of the V-Motion front grille with some elements being lifted from the larger Armada SUV. The rear styling could also borrow some magic from that model too and we expect to see a revised rear bumper as well as a tweaked liftgate.
This styling reboot would also come with a tweaked version of the current platform. The Pathfinder currently shares family ties with the Nissan Altima and Maxima sedans so look for front wheel drive to be the standard format in lower grade models with higher tier Pathfinder’s being equipped with all-wheel drive. The interior will also get in on the act as well and if the current generation Armada is to serve as a proverbial guide to what will be coming to the Pathfinder, we expect to see a cabin that embraces higher quality materials, a larger touchscreen infotainment system, as well as more room for occupants.
When Will We See the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder?
February will be a very busy month for auto makers with the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder making its debut on February 4th (one day after the 2021 Ford Raptor) alongside the 2022 Nissan Frontier pickup. The duo is expected to bring alot of attention to Nissan with the Frontier in particular debuting the first substantial redesign that it has received in over a decade. Oh and while we’ll keep our ears open for any news surrounding the potential revival of the Nissan Xterra, chances are good that Nissan will keep that subject on the backburner.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.