• Ward's most-awarded V6 engine over the last 30 years delivers 284 hp standard, with 295 hp on the Rock Creek® trim
• Up to 6,000 lbs of towing capacity with seven driver-selectable terrain and drive modes, including a dedicated Tow Mode with Downhill Speed Control
• IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+, NHTSA 5-Star Overall Safety Rating, and a Consumer Reports 2026 Recommended Vehicle*

Every Pathfinder runs a 3.5-liter Direct Injection V6 engine paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On the S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims, that V6 produces 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. The Rock Creek steps up to 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft using premium fuel, adding off-road-tuned suspension and all-terrain tires to the mix.

Fuel economy lands at an EPA-estimated up to 21 city / 27 highway / 23 combined MPG*. That translates to roughly 480 miles on a single 18.5-gallon tank for most trims, enough to drive from Mansfield to Portland, Maine, and back without stopping for fuel.

Seven driver-selectable modes give you real control over how the drivetrain behaves. Snow mode tightens traction control for an icy Route 138 morning. Tow mode adjusts shift points so the transmission stops hunting for gears on the highway with a loaded trailer. Mud/Rut mode loosens wheel-slip thresholds so you can power through a soft boat ramp. These are not dashboard gimmicks; each one changes throttle mapping, transmission behavior, and torque distribution in ways you can feel immediately.

When properly equipped with the available Premium Package (SV and SL) or on the Rock Creek and Platinum trims, the Pathfinder tows up to 6,000 pounds. A dedicated Tow Mode adjusts shift points and activates Downhill Speed Control, which automatically manages your speed on a grade so you can focus on steering instead of riding the brake pedal down a boat ramp. Trailer Sway Control monitors lateral movement and applies individual brakes to keep a trailer tracking straight, a feature you will appreciate on a windy stretch of I-495 with a loaded utility trailer.

That 6,000-pound rating covers a mid-size boat, a pair of jet skis, or a dual-axle camper headed out for a long weekend. The base S trim is rated at 3,500 pounds, which still handles a single-axle utility trailer or personal watercraft.

The Rock Creek takes capability further with an off-road-tuned suspension, Falken® all-terrain tires, 7.7 inches of ground clearance (versus 7.1 on other trims), and a heavy-duty tubular roof rack built to carry kayaks or a cargo box. Owners who spend weekends on gravel access roads and unimproved boat launches consistently praise the Rock Creek for bridging the gap between a family hauler and a genuinely capable trail vehicle. One Car and Driver review noted the Rock Creek's all-terrain tires add a bit of road noise, but the driving experience holds up well otherwise.

Three rows seat up to eight with the standard 60/40 split bench in the second row, or up to seven with available captain's chairs. The real standout is the EZ FLEX® second-row seating system: it slides forward and tilts in two quick moves, so you can reach the third row even with a child seat still buckled in. Anyone who has tried to wrestle a toddler past a fixed seat into the back of a three-row SUV will understand why that matters.

Up front, available heated and ventilated seats take the edge off a January morning in Brockton, and the heated steering wheel means you are not gripping cold leather for the first ten minutes of every commute. Tri-zone automatic climate control lets the driver, front passenger, and second row each set a temperature, so the person running hot after youth hockey practice is not fighting the person who just came in from the cold.

The cabin runs a 12.3-inch touchscreen with NissanConnect® Services, wireless Apple CarPlay®, and Android Auto™ as standard equipment across all trims. That means your phone connects the moment you start the vehicle: pull up directions to Stonehill College, queue a podcast for the drive to the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, or hand the kids a streaming playlist for the back seat. Higher trims add a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, an available Bose® 13-speaker premium audio system, and a panoramic moonroof that opens the cabin up on clear days.

Cargo space reaches 80.5 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. That is enough room for a full weekend of camping gear, a flat-pack furniture run, or the kind of Costco haul that would overflow a sedan trunk twice over.