All-New 2027 Nissan Pathfinder 8-Seater Mid-Size SUV Review and Prices

2027 Nissan Pathfinder: Nissan may still offer its traditional truck-based SUV in the guise of the current Armada, but the Japanese brand’s smaller off-road vehicles have all but disappeared from the U.S. market. When the Xterra comes back in 2028, that will alter, but body-on-frame fabrication may not stop there.

A recent interview with a business executive implies that the Pathfinder may one day go back to being built on a body-on-frame.

Michael Soutter, a Nissan official, told The Drive in an interview that a new Pathfinder with a split-frame chassis would be a “logical” match for the firm because they are planning to release a new line of products built that way.

He claimed that Nissan is “thinking about a series of vehicles on a split-frame chassis,” starting with the Xterra and the Frontier truck, which is very similar. A truck-like Pathfinder might be part of that lineup.

Nissan has been making mid-size SUVs under the Pathfinder name since 1985. The current Pathfinder model, however, is more of a crossover because it has a unibody construction.

The first and third generations of the Pathfinder used body-on-frame construction, which put them in direct competition with the long-running Toyota 4Runner. The second-generation model, which was made from 1995 to 2004, was a unibody vehicle. The fourth-generation model, which came out in 2014, and the current model, which started production in 2021, are also unibody vehicles.

Nissan has said that it will make its own off-road vehicle by 2028, in the form of a revived Xterra. This is true even if the Pathfinder’s sixth generation will actually go back to a more traditional SUV design.

The smaller off-road vehicle will probably also be rather cheap for its class. Soutter told The Drive in another interview that the vehicle should “start under $40,000.” When the production SUV comes out in the next few years, we’ll know more about the Xterra.

2027 Nissan Pathfinder Overviews

People are really into off-road vehicles right now. Ford is getting rid of the Escape and replacing it with the Bronco Sport. In the same general area, Toyota has two mid-size SUVs with split-frame chassis. Hyundai has said that it will make a mid-size pickup truck and maybe an SUV after that. Even electric vehicle makers like Rivian and the Scout are getting in on the fun. Nissan, on the other hand, claims it will do the same thing and that a brand-new Xterra will be released in 2028. Jacob Oliva adds that even the tough Pathfinder could go back to its more rugged split-frame chassis roots. This is great news!

At least this will be true for those of you who want the real, adventure-ready features of your big 2027 Nissan Pathfinder SUV more than the comfort of driving in the city and lugging your family about. The Pathfinder has gotten better over the last ten years, although older Pathfinders weren’t as interested in remaining inside the city limits.

The original Pathfinder was an old-school SUV with a frame chassis that shared its platform with the D21 Hardbody pickup truck (basically the predecessor to the present Frontier) and competed with models like the Jeep Cherokee, Toyota 4Runner, Ford Explorer, and GMC Jimmy.

Nissan has changed the course of the Pathfinder before, so if they do go back to a body-on-frame chassis, it wouldn’t be the first time. Nissan made the decision to shift the Pathfinder to a unibody basis for its second generation in the late 1990s.

The car still had its correct four-wheel drive system, two-speed transfer case, and engine mounted lengthwise. It was still a reliable and successful vehicle. Nissan did, however, move back to a ladder-frame chassis when the third-generation Pathfinder came off the assembly line. This made the Pathfinder considerably better at going off-road. You could even get it with a V8!

Nissan changed the Pathfinder back to a unibody platform for the 2013 model year. This time, the motor was installed transversely and the vehicle had front-wheel drive. There was also an all-wheel drive option that leaned more forward for an extra fee.

This change was part of a shift toward a softer design philosophy, which was meant to make the Pathfinder more appealing to those who live in the suburbs than to families who want to go on adventures. And, of course, it helped the Pathfinder model stay alive, which led to some of the model’s biggest sales ever.

Sales were quite flat during the epidemic years, but the Pathfinder saw a big jump in sales in 2024. Nissan, on the other hand, thinks it’s time for another big change to the model because people are buying more robust and traditional truck-based off-road vehicles again.

Jacob Oliva wrote, “In a conversation with The Drive at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Nissan senior vice president Michael Soutter said that the Pathfinder name should mean capability rather than shuttle duty. He also said that a truck-based version would fit naturally into the growing family of body-on-frame models.” He then talked about how the next-generation Pathfinder could be made in the same facility as the Frontier and Xterra, which would make body-on-frame construction for the Pathfinder a simple choice.

Jacob Oliva says, “Soutter’s comments suggest a long-term plan rather than a quick change, but his intentions are clear: the idea of a future Pathfinder returning to its roots is still very much alive.”

Body-On-Frame Pathfinder

I’ve enjoyed the 2027 Nissan Pathfinder for a long time. When I was a kid in the Pacific Northwest, practically everyone I knew had a Pathfinder story. Some had a relative who kept one for decades until it rusted and fell apart, while others had pals who bought one for almost nothing at a junkyard and then crashed it into a ravine.

The car still runs and drives fine, even though it has some cosmetic problems and has been driven over 220,000 miles. All of the electronics still work, including the amazing overhead compass that, with a little imagination, makes you feel like you’re flying an F-16.

The 2027 Nissan Pathfinder was a very popular antique car since it was so strong and long-lasting. This vintage Pathfinder will keep running like it’s brand new, no matter how rusty it is or how many hundreds of thousands of miles it has driven.

The next-generation 2027 Nissan Pathfinder design must show this essence if it wants to be a successful body-on-frame SUV again. The design shouldn’t be official; it should be simple, boxy, and useful. It needs to keep the basic features of the newer Pathfinder models so that it doesn’t let down its many loyal fans. At the same time, it needs to add the extra durability that comes with its body-on-frame chassis design to attract new buyers who like a more polished touch.

2027 Nissan Pathfinder Redesign

Of course, the new model got a lot of attention from all over, even from CGI automobiles in other parallel universes. An innovative member of the digital automotive content maker community soon came up with another usage for the new three-row crossover SUV. They turned it into a tough yet attractive pickup truck.

Dimas Ramadhan, the virtual car artist behind the YouTube channel “Digimods DESIGN,” is the one who has been given the job of CGI-revealing a Pathfinder truck that could be a spiritual successor to the Nissan Titan, which didn’t sell well and was discontinued, or a full-fledged replacement for the current Nissan Frontier.

This unauthorized hypothetical design project shows how the attractive 2026 Nissan Pathfinder may be turned into a classic midsize pickup truck. The front end comes from a three-row crossover SUV, while the back end is changed to fit a standard pickup truck configuration. The appearance isn’t too bad, though; it has more personality than the tough 2025 Nissan Frontier.

Many people like how the third-generation D41 Nissan Frontier appears because it combines vintage toughness with modern style. However, the major difference is in how the inside looks.

The 2027 Nissan Pathfinder pickup truck will have a much better cockpit than the current Frontier, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto as standard features.

2027 Nissan Pathfinder Interior

The Pathfinder’s interior is sleek and truck-like, with comfy front seats and buttons that are easy to reach. All trims save the base S come with heated front seats and electric driver controls.

Higher trim levels come with more luxury features, like semi-aniline leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof.

The three rows of seating can hold up to eight people, but buyers can choose to replace the standard second-row bench seat with captain’s chairs, which is a great feature for a family crossover. This reduces the number of people who can fit to seven.

Nissan made the second-row seats easy to fold and slide so you can get to the third row easily. However, once you get in, you’ll find that there isn’t much room for your legs and knees.

Kids generally won’t mind, but adults who are taller than five feet will feel constrained.

Nissan has also included storage spaces throughout the cabin, like a big one under the center console that the driver or front-seat passenger can get to.

Technology

The standard infotainment touchscreen is 12.3 inches wide and runs the most recent version of the NissanConnect software system. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come with the car and work without wires. There is also SiriusXM satellite radio and navigation built into the dash.

You may have a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a wireless charging station for your phone, and a head-up display. A six-speaker stereo system is standard, but the SL trim can get a 13-speaker Bose system, and the Pathfinder Platinum trim comes with it.

• 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment
• Bluetooth, cordless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are all ways to connect.
• Audio System: Standard 6-speaker stereo; optional 13-speaker Bose stereo

2027 Nissan Pathfinder Engine

There are a lot of engine choices for the next-generation Nissan Pathfinder. It seems like the best choice to match it with the Frontier’s naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6, since it fits with the model’s return to simplicity and concentration on durability. However, I would like to see a couple other options in the next-generation Pathfinder lineup beside the V6.

I would love to see Nissan match the same V6 with their e-Power hybrid system, which is known around the world and is anticipated to be available in the United States next year in the Rogue. Also, this would give the Pathfinder a powertrain hierarchy like that of the Toyota 4Runner, which can have either a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a hybrid version of the same engine that makes a lot more torque.

Or, I hope Nissan does something like what they did in 2008 with the third generation of this model, where you could select between a 4.0-liter V6 and the same 5.6-liter V8 that is in the much bigger Armada.

Of course, the Armada doesn’t employ a V8 anymore. Instead, it has a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that makes 425 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque in variants that aren’t NISMO. These are power numbers that would be great for the Pathfinder, which is more nimble. If Nissan put this strong engine in the Pathfinder, it would be the most powerful Pathfinder ever made by the company.

A 3.5-liter V-6 engine and a nine-speed automated transmission power all Pathfinders. Most models have a V-6 engine that makes 284 horsepower, but the Rock Creek trim has one that makes 295 horsepower.

All trims except Rock Creek come with front-wheel drive as standard, although all trims can also get all-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive system also includes seven drive modes, such as Sand and Mud/Trail modes that are ideal for off-road driving.

• Engine: V-6 with 284 to 295 horsepower and a 3.5-liter capacity
• 9-speed automatic transmission
• Drive train: all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive.

2027 Nissan Pathfinder Price

We think the 2027 Nissan Pathfinder will cost between $39,995 and $51,895, depending on the trim and options. The Pathfinder S and SV come with useful driver assistance technologies, but if you can afford it, we suggest going with the more expensive SL grade.

2027 Nissan Pathfinder Release Date

We don’t yet have a confirmed release date for the new 2027 Nissan Pathfinder. However, we speculate it will arrive sometime next year.

Verdict

Nissan has an opportunity to carve out a unique niche by giving the Pathfinder a truly viable body-on-frame platform. Being significantly smaller than other popular ladder-frame SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition, the Pathfinder could appeal to those buyers who don’t necessarily need a half-ton pickup-sized SUV with a gas-guzzling V8 engine but still want robust off-road capability and three rows of seating.

It’s precisely this longer wheelbase and third row of seating that will make the Pathfinder a unique competitor against the Toyota Land Cruiser, 4Runner, Ford Bronco, and Jeep Wrangler, as none of these potential competitors offer more than two rows of seating.

The 2027 Nissan Pathfinder signals a bold potential return to its rugged body-on-frame roots as demand for authentic, adventure-ready SUVs continues to rise. With strong indications from Nissan executives, a truck-based Pathfinder could rejoin the off-road segment alongside the revived Xterra and Frontier, blending proven durability, modern technology, and versatile performance. We will continue to update this article as new developments emerge. Bookmark our website and explore more in-depth automotive stories to stay informed with the latest, most reliable updates.

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