- Actual Off-Road Styling
- Space For The Fam
- A Real Transmission
- Catching Up On Technology
- Perfectly Priced
It's no TRD Pro, but the Rock Creek Edition is no longer boring – and it won't break the bank.
The Nissan Pathfinder has lost its cool reputation in recent years, with many individuals disparagingly referring to it as a mall crawler. While it's no 4Runner rival, the fifth-generation Pathfinder tries to bring the three-row crossover closer to its roots as a body-on-frame off-roader that the family could still enjoy on a road trip.
No, the Pathfinder doesn't share a platform with the new Frontier, but it does have a Rock Creek Edition that is far more suited to off-roading than the previous model. In case you needed more convincing, a stock Pathfinder Rock Creek even ran the grueling Rebelle Rally. Will the Pathfinder Rock Creek dethrone the Jeep Grand Cherokee as the world's premier off-road SUV? Probably not. But can it keep up with rivals like the Ford Explorer Timberline and Honda Pilot Trailsport at a much lower price? You bet. In fact, we think the 2023 Pathfinder has turned the Rock Creek badge into something cool.
Actual Off-Road Styling
To fully appreciate Nissan's efforts to make the latest Rock Creek into something cool, one need only view it next to the previous model. First introduced in 2019 as a $995 styling and equipment package, the original Rock Creek Edition didn't even come with four-wheel-drive as standard equipment. Even the name felt disingenuous: Rock Creek isn't a real place like the Rubicon trail – Nissan just made it up.
With the fifth-generation Pathfinder, the Rock Creek is now its own trim level, based on the mid-level SV trim with more rugged flavor. Changes to this trim are expansive, including unique front-end styling, a 5/8-inch lift kit, 18-inch beadlock-style wheels with all-terrain tires, an off-road-tuned suspension, and a roof rack. For the first time, the Rock Creek has the equipment to back up its adventurous ambitions.
Nissan offers six monotone colors and six two-tone combinations for the Rock Creek, including the epic Green Pearl/Super Black pictured here. We also love Baja Storm Metallic (a khaki/brown hue), which can be had with or without the black roof.
Space For The Fam
The Pathfinder is a family SUV first and an off-roader second, and it excels in that first area. An eight-seat layout is available, but the Rock Creek gets the more comfortable seven-seat configuration with second-row captain's chairs. These middle seats offer plenty of adjustment, and there's a removable center console for easier access to the third row. Speaking of the third row, the captain's chairs spring forward with a single button press, making it easy for kids or adults to hop back there. And yes, adults can fit comfortably.
Folding the seats down for maximum storage is slightly less convenient, though. The third row requires each headrest to be stowed manually before the 60-40 seats can be lowered, and the captain's chairs can only be stowed by walking around to each side. Once all the seats are down, the Pathfinder offers up to 80.5 cubic feet of space. It's not the largest SUV in the segment, but it's not the smallest either.
A Real Transmission
No matter how good (or bad) the previous Pathfinder looked, we could never forgive its lackluster powertrain: A 3.5-liter V6 paired to a continuously variable transmission. The lack of a geared transmission always made the Pathfinder feel sloppy, an issue that no longer exists with the current model. Nissan brought back the tried and true VQ series V6, now producing 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. Specifically for the Rock Creek, the engine can deliver 295 hp and 270 lb-ft when running on premium gasoline, thanks to revised fuel mapping.
Thankfully, that engine is now mated to a nine-speed automatic that doesn't sound like it wants to be put down after every gear change. The Pathfinder can even tow up to 6,000 pounds, which is 1,000 pounds more than the Pilot can pull. Only the Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee offer a higher towing capacity in this segment.
Catching Up On Technology
The Pathfinder may not have our favorite infotainment suite in the industry, but it's so far improved over the previous generation, which didn't even have Apple CarPlay. Lower trims (including the Rock Creek) get a new eight-inch touchscreen that does have CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, though they are both wired only. A larger nine-inch screen upgrades CarPlay to a wireless connection, but it's only available on the SL trim and up. The Rock Creek does have a surround-view monitor, but it's far from the highest resolution available.
Stepping all the way up to the Pathfinder Platinum adds Infiniti-level technology, including a 13-speaker Bose audio system, head-up display, panoramic moonroof, heated and ventilated front seats, and a digital gauge cluster.
Perfectly Priced
Is the Pathfinder the best off-roading family vehicle money can buy? Hardly. Is it a vast improvement over the previous attempt at an off-roading version within the lineup? For sure. And considering how Nissan has priced it, the Rock Creek Edition is perhaps the best value for money. You can nab a 2023 Pathfinder Rock Creek for just $43,020, not including $1,295 for destination. Besides a $395 two-tone paint job, there are no additional options besides dealer-installed accessories. That is a bargain for a three-row, off-road-themed SUV.
For comparison, the Ford Explorer Timberline starts at $48,980 (and only sits six people), the Honda Pilot Trailsport costs $48,700, and the recently-announced Volkswagen Atlas Peak Edition is also priced over $45k. Some of these competitors offer superior off-road capability and newer technology, but it's tough to argue with over $7,000 in savings for choosing the Pathfinder. You won't find a three-row off-roader for less. Period.
Keyword: Driven: 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Is More Than Just A Name