2026 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2022-present Nissan Pathfinder is the R53 generation and makes one change that matters more than any styling revision: the continuously variable transmission is replaced by a conventional nine-speed automatic. The engine is a revised 3.5-liter VQ35DD V6 with direct injection, with front-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional. Seating is for seven or eight, and the exterior adopts a squarer, more traditional SUV appearance than the rounded vehicle it replaces.

The transmission change addresses the most common criticism of the previous generation and improves both driving feel and buyer confidence. Interior quality took a clear step up, and the second-row seat retains the tilting mechanism that allows third-row access with a child seat in place. Towing capacity is competitive for a unibody crossover.

As a used buy, the R53 Pathfinder is recent enough that most examples retain factory coverage, and the move to a conventional automatic removes the main long-term risk associated with the previous generation. The VQ35DD is a well-established engine family. For anyone cross-shopping this against a used R52, the transmission difference alone is the strongest argument for the newer vehicle, and it is reflected in the price gap between them.