2022 Nissan Pathfinder gets a rugged makeover

Nissan is heading into the 2022 model year swinging with a new Pathfinder SUV that's upgraded in nearly all the right places.

Nissan pays homage to the more rugged Pathfinders of yore, complete with a subtle three-slot grille sitting atop Nissan's V-Motion grille.

The redone interior still favors function over form, but there are a lot of additional upscale touches, including quilted leather and softer-touch plastics. There is also an optional 10.8-inch head-up display as well as a new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. 

Under the hood is a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 with 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. No turbos and no electrification keep things simple. 

The big news is that the old continuously variable transmission (CVT) has finally been retired in favor of a conventional nine-speed automatic. At least on paper, this is a big win for drivability. 

The available 9-inch color touchscreen runs Nissan's usual infotainment system, supplemented by standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

At the rear, Nissan's designers couldn't really replicate the cool triangular window from the original two-door Pathfinder, but they at least paid homage to the space with an angled C-pillar. 

The Pathfinder can tow 3,500 pounds in its standard form or 6,000 pounds with the available tow package in both front- and all-wheel drive forms.

The Nissan Safety Shield 360 package is standard on every Pathfinder and includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, rear automatic braking, forward-collision warning, a driver attention monitor and more.

Nissan's ProPilot Assist comes standard starting at the Pathfinder's middle trims. This hands-on adaptive cruise-control with lane-centering technology takes care of braking, acceleration and steering in stop-and-go traffic and on the highway.

The top trim adds Navi-Link, which uses GPS data to slow for curves in the highway or freeway off-ramps. 

No word on pricing or fuel economy just yet, but the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder goes on sale this summer, so we should know more soon.

Keep scrolling for more photos of this three-row family-minded SUV.