Answers to Your Questions About the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek | Carscoops

      After a week's worth of off-roading in the Pathfinder Rock Creek, we have answers to your inquiries.

       17 hours ago

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

       by Stephen Rivers

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      The Nissan Pathfinder aims to find a middle ground between two worlds but ultimately becomes a compromise. This is our conclusion after a week-long evaluation. Before our journey began, we asked what you wanted to know about Nissan's smallest three-row SUV. Today, we’ll address those queries and share some insights from our experience with the Pathfinder.

      

      

      To recap, this Nissan features a direct-injected V6 engine that produces up to 295 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. Our Rock Creek trim was equipped with standard all-wheel drive and multiple drive modes suited for different terrains. Nissan emphasizes the ruggedness of this SUV, which is the basis of our testing approach. Now, let’s get to your questions.

      Should Anything With Three-Row Seating Include The Word “Rock” In Its Name?

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      DB rightly notes that shorter wheelbases are typically better for off-roading. They often have improved breakover angles, can navigate tight, winding trails more effectively, and are less likely to get high-centered. In the Pathfinder, I believe the extra row isn’t the primary off-roading issue; rather, it’s probably the ground clearance that matters more.

      

      

      

      

      Review: 2025 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Is A 3-Row SUV That Struggles to Find Its Place

      Longer wheelbases can also excel off-road. In fact, for desert running, Baja-style driving, and situations where there’s concern about tipping forward or backward, longer vehicles can outperform shorter ones. It was on such trails that the Pathfinder Rock Creek felt most at ease during our evaluation.

      How Did The Undercarriage Hold Up?

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      Mr. Paul inquired about this and added, “or were you hesitant to test it in the ways it needed considering what Nissan believes it is lol.” It’s important to emphasize that regardless of the vehicle, we journalists, and certainly the automaker, prefer it not to break. Thus, no matter the car, we aim to be mindful of how we utilize it during tests. Given that, we were careful about the paths we chose for the Pathfinder.

      

      

      For instance, we avoided extremely deep ruts and washed-out trails that we used for the Land Rover Defender. Instead, we navigated three main types of off-road terrains: rocky trails with significant elevation changes, muddy fields, and higher-speed gravel/sandy paths. The undercarriage handled all of this without issue, although we would still like to see Nissan include some cladding for protection of crucial components. This would reduce the need for us to frequently check underneath.

      Why Choose This Over Any Other Vehicle In Its Class?

      

      

      

      This is the type of question every potential buyer should consider before making a purchase. JT raised this point, and we believe there's a clear response. Compared to some competitors, it provides better value. For example, it is less expensive than the Subaru Ascent and Volkswagen Atlas while delivering more power and superior towing capability. Additionally, Nissan includes complimentary maintenance that some other brands do not offer.

      Moreover, most individuals who purchase large, rugged off-road SUVs don’t actually use them for that purpose—they simply appreciate their appearance and practicality. Why not spend a bit less and select something that meets the majority of needs while offering better on-road performance, as that’s where it will primarily be driven?

      

      

      That said, we were upfront in our full review: the bottom line is that the 2025 Pathfinder doesn't stand out as the most attractive SUV in its segment. In fact, it falls significantly short of that…

      

      

      Photos Steven Rivers / Carscoops