2017 Nissan Pathfinder is now safer and slightly more powerful

America is the name of the game for the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder, but Australian buyers benefit from annual updates to Nissan’s seven-seat hauler. The staple V6 engine sees power and torque bumped, there’s more safety tech and the front end gets just a little more handsome.

Underneath the restyled bonnet that integrates Nissan’s new “V-Motion” grille will lie a pair of American-focussed engines as the Japanese brand continues to eschew diesel power for the Pathfinder.

Instead, you’ll find a substantially reworked 3.5-litre V6 petrol now making 202kW and 340Nm. About half of the engine components are new, and they’ve contributed to modestly increasing the outputs upwards by about 5% and lowering the fuel economy ever so slightly to 9.9L/100km for the front-wheel-drive, or 10.1K/100km for the all-wheel-drive.

If you’re after an engine that’s a bit more frugal, Nissan will sell you a Pathfinder Hybrid. There are no changes to that setup, which pairs a 2.5-litre four-cylinder to an electric propulsion system with total outputs of 188kW and 330Nm. The Hybrid asks another $2,500 but cuts fuel consumption marginally to 8.6L/100km. If you spend all your time in traffic, that may make sense.

The Pathfinder ST base model rises by $500 for the V6 front-driver but all other Pathfinder trims have kept their asking prices steady. The ST adds an eight-inch touchscreen, LED daytime running lights and 18-inch wheels to its feature set.

But it’s only the mid-range Pathfinder ST-L and top-spec Pathfinder Ti that add critical safety tech as standard kit: they now include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert and blind spot assistance.

The ST-L also adds navigation, while the Ti scores upgraded 20-inch wheels, dual screens with wireless headphones to pacify the kids in the back, and LED headlights.

2017 Nissan Pathfinder Australian price

• Pathfinder ST petrol front wheel drive: $41,990
• Pathfinder ST petrol all wheel drive: $45,490
• Pathfinder ST hybrid front wheel drive: $44,490
• Pathfinder ST-L petrol front wheel drive: $53,690
• Pathfinder ST-L petrol all wheel drive: $57,690
• Pathfinder ST-L hybrid all wheel drive: $60,690
• Pathfinder Ti petrol front wheel drive: $62,190
• Pathfinder Ti petrol all wheel drive: $66,190
• Pathfinder Ti hybrid all wheel drive: $69,190