Nissan debuted its Pathfinder Hybrid in New York.
Nissan has already delivered some big surprises with the fourth-generation Pathfinder ute it launched earlier in the 2013 model-year. It revealed another during the opening day of the New York International Auto Show.
Long-averse to gas-electric technology, and preparing to focus on pure battery models like the Leaf, Nissan has shifted gears, so to speak. It will soon launch its first advanced-technology utility vehicle, the Pathfinder Hybrid.
The new model is expected to yield about 26 mpg in the EPA’s Combined driving cycle, which would position the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid as one of the most fuel-efficient models in its segment, the maker claimed during its preview.
The new Pathfinder Hybrid's interior features a digital display to help drivers drive efficiently.
The Big Apple roll-out comes on the same day that Nissan’s upscale brand Infiniti introduced its own new hybrid-electric crossover-ute, the QX60 Hybrid. Both models are powered by a supercharged 2.5-liter gasoline engine paired to a 15 kilowatt electric motor with their combined output of an estimated 250 horsepower is routed through a CVT gearbox. Regenerative power is stored in a compact lithium-ion battery pack.
The drivetrain is based on the system already in use in models as diverse as the Altima Hybrid and Infiniti M35 Hybrid. Dubbed the Direct Response Hybrid, it relies on a novel one-motor/two-clutch design that parent Nissan claims will deliver better fuel economy than older hybrid systems.
In this case, the Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid is expected to yield 25 mpg City and 27 on the Highway. That’s a 24% increase from the current Nissan Pathfinder with a 3.5-liter V-6.
The lithium battery, incidentally, is stored under the third-row seats and has no impact on seating or cargo space, according to Infiniti.
“The Pathfinder Hybrid takes all the style, features, utility and amenities of the popular new Pathfinder and adds fuel efficiency and driving range, without losing one bit of its real-world, everyday lifestyle-enhancing fun and flexibility,” concluded Pierre Loing, Nissan’s Vice President of Product Planning.
The Pathfinder went through a radical remake for the 2013 model-year, Nissan shifting from a conventional truck-like body-on-frame design to a significantly lighter, car-based crossover platform. The move has a number of advantages including not only better fuel economy, but also improved ride and handling. The vehicle, Loing noted, will now deliver up to 526 miles of range on a single tank of gasoline.
Nissan plans to launch the 2014 Pathfinder Hybrid this summer and it is expected to carry a roughly $3,000 premium over the current 3.5-liter V-6 model, which would put it somewhere in the low to mid-$30,000 range.