The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder: The 7-Seat Family Hauler That Thinks It’s a Sedan

2014 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder is a mid-size crossover that has all the space you need to haul the family and then some, yet drives more like a sedan than an SUV. It’s also got room to seat seven and has fuel economy ratings that won’t break the budget on lengthy drives.

Powered by a 3.5-liter V6 CVT with 260 HP and 240 lb-ft of torque, the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder is a smooth drive with strong, steady acceleration. You will hear, and feel, the engine working when you’re looking for a quick burst of speed to pass, but it’s part of the trade-off for the car’s great fuel economy.

The front-wheel drive will get you 20 city/26 highway for a combined 22 MPG, but the all-wheel drive that I tested rates 19 city/25 highway for a combined 21 MPG. I averaged 23.8 on a weekend roadtrip with the car loaded down with kids and gear, which was better than I expected for the roads I travelled.

2014 Nissan Pathfinder Interior

The thing that was most impressive in the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder was how much it didn’t feel like I was driving a crossover at all, but a comfy sedan. This is not a small ride yet there was none of that burdensome sense of just how large it was that sometimes happens with big vehicles.

The steering was on-center and responsive making it as easy to maneuver on congested highways at high-speed as it was on rutted, dirt roads. It’s also a quiet ride with a minimal amount of wind and road noise, even on those dirt roads.

There’s an available tow package that will let you take along an extra 5,000 lbs of cargo. Add this to the 16 cubic feet of cargo space available with the third row upright or 47 cubic feet with the third row folded flat and you’ve got some serious capacity even with four passengers.

2014 Nissan Pathfinder Cargo

Seats are comfortable both front and rear, but that third row is set very low to the floor. It’s not going to be comfortable for a long trip, but unlike third row seating in most vehicles, you don’t have to be a toddler to fit. It can easily accommodate the tween set who will be happy to have their own spot in the back anyway.

Pricing on the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder starts at $28,700 with the SL 4×4 as tested running $39,515. This included options like fog lights, a power liftgate, leather seats, a trailer tow package, a tech package with HDD navigation with voice recognition, Bose audio and an 8″ color monitor.

As a fuel efficient family hauler with room for seven, 4×4 capability and the option to tow, the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder is a worthy choice for active families with big plans for the weekends.

Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.