So this morning, while my 2011 Mazda cx7 was at the stealership getting fixed, my wife and I went to the local Nissan dealership to look at and test drive a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder SL and a 2023 Pathfinder SL. Was I impressed with the difference between them.
I was originally looking at the 2019, but there were a few things I didn’t like about it.
1) The seats. I didn’t feel like I was sitting in them, but on them. With the hype I have read online about the seats and how comfortable they were suppose to be, they really didn’t live up to the expectations.
The second and third rows were just as bad. My knees were in my chin and the third row was so tight, I wasn’t even going to try and jump in there.
2) While driving, it didn’t feel planted to the ground. I don’t know why but the steering was on the numb side.
3) Too much wind noise coming from the panoramic sunroof and through the floor.
My wife was comfortable in the seats. She loved the butt warmers. She noticed the wind noise but it didn’t bother her. She liked how it felt and handled and how quiet it was compared to my CX-7.
Once we got into the 2023 SL, it was a whole different experience.
The seats were so **** comfortable, I was sitting IN it, instead of on it. My wife loved how much more leg room she had. And when we were on the road, it was even more quiet and controlled. With this model I actually felt connected to the road and the steering was not numb. Maybe it was just how the steering was tuned between the two?
I jumped in the second row and was absolutely fin. The seats had better support and my knees were not in my face. The third row was pretty good. I had about two inches of head room and three for my knees. And yes the second row was all the way back.
The only thing I had a problem with was the dealership had already programmed the power mirrors to turn in and show the side of the pathfinder when I was trying to readjust the mirrors for my test drive. I was annoyed, but knowing that can be canceled and reprogrammed, I was satisfied.
Both vehicles were great at getting up to highway speed and how they both handled the bumps. But for me, the 2023 was the better of the two. Yes the CVT didn’t bother me at the time, and I know I wouldn’t be bothered long term, but could I say the same thing ten years down the line? Probably not.
And the idea of an extended warranty on both was a little bit extra peace of mind.
But because my wife and I were more comfortable in the wider seats of the new one, lack of wind noise, better feel and feedback, we both agreed to get a 2024 in the new year.
So once we have a good chunk for a down payment, I will be selling off my CX-7 and use that towards the Pathfinder.
The only challenge we have is, my wife wants the SL trim, and I want the basic S trim. She just likes the power passenger seat and the leather. And that it can carry her sister and her family when we go on day trips or camping. I just like it because it brings out the kid in me who likes an oversized truck and imagines that I can go anywhere. Even if I don’t go mountain climbing or mudding.
I was originally looking at the 2019, but there were a few things I didn’t like about it.
1) The seats. I didn’t feel like I was sitting in them, but on them. With the hype I have read online about the seats and how comfortable they were suppose to be, they really didn’t live up to the expectations.
The second and third rows were just as bad. My knees were in my chin and the third row was so tight, I wasn’t even going to try and jump in there.
2) While driving, it didn’t feel planted to the ground. I don’t know why but the steering was on the numb side.
3) Too much wind noise coming from the panoramic sunroof and through the floor.
My wife was comfortable in the seats. She loved the butt warmers. She noticed the wind noise but it didn’t bother her. She liked how it felt and handled and how quiet it was compared to my CX-7.
Once we got into the 2023 SL, it was a whole different experience.
The seats were so **** comfortable, I was sitting IN it, instead of on it. My wife loved how much more leg room she had. And when we were on the road, it was even more quiet and controlled. With this model I actually felt connected to the road and the steering was not numb. Maybe it was just how the steering was tuned between the two?
I jumped in the second row and was absolutely fin. The seats had better support and my knees were not in my face. The third row was pretty good. I had about two inches of head room and three for my knees. And yes the second row was all the way back.
The only thing I had a problem with was the dealership had already programmed the power mirrors to turn in and show the side of the pathfinder when I was trying to readjust the mirrors for my test drive. I was annoyed, but knowing that can be canceled and reprogrammed, I was satisfied.
Both vehicles were great at getting up to highway speed and how they both handled the bumps. But for me, the 2023 was the better of the two. Yes the CVT didn’t bother me at the time, and I know I wouldn’t be bothered long term, but could I say the same thing ten years down the line? Probably not.
And the idea of an extended warranty on both was a little bit extra peace of mind.
But because my wife and I were more comfortable in the wider seats of the new one, lack of wind noise, better feel and feedback, we both agreed to get a 2024 in the new year.
So once we have a good chunk for a down payment, I will be selling off my CX-7 and use that towards the Pathfinder.
The only challenge we have is, my wife wants the SL trim, and I want the basic S trim. She just likes the power passenger seat and the leather. And that it can carry her sister and her family when we go on day trips or camping. I just like it because it brings out the kid in me who likes an oversized truck and imagines that I can go anywhere. Even if I don’t go mountain climbing or mudding.
