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2024 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek: Review, Release Date, and Price – It’s true that the Nissan Pathfinder name evokes an element of off-road credibility however it’s the Pathfinder is currently being developed in its second version as a three-row, family-friendly unibody crossover. But, Nissan can’t exactly afford to ignore the trend of the ability to overland and on all terrains (or at least the design of it) which has taken over the marketplace. So, we’ll see in the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek.
The prior-generation Pathfinder included a Rock Creek edition, but it was merely an aesthetic package. Its new model goes more than this and comes with Toyo Open Country all-terrain tires and a redesigned suspension and of course, those expected cosmetic changes and Rock Creek badging all over the inside and outside. The beadlock-style 18-inch wheels look cool and the heftier roof rack as well as the redesigned front fascia are a good match in conjunction with the new Pathfinder’s sleek and slab-sided design.
Review
The bigger tires impact the experience of driving negatively and this is what’s to be anticipated from tires with a larger tread area as well as taller sidewalls. It’s louder with an unabated drone when driving on highways, and the steering feels more truck-like as a result of the less responsiveness to inputs from the steering. The overall ride quality is less comfortable; Rock Creek makes the Explorer Timberline look similar to a Bentley when compared to. The tires, as expected, had less grip at the test track as well and had a skidpad score of 0.78 grams and a 70-mph brake distance of 194 feet. Both are significantly more prone to wear than all-season Pathfinders. These tires were designed to handle a little dirt, mud, or snow, and not dry asphalt.
Another technical difference with the other Pathfinders is more power from the naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 engine. It generates 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. It’s an additional 11 horsepower and 11 pounds of torque over the basic Pathfinder and the exact power output as that of the Infiniti QX60. Similar to the model that came with it this model, the V-6 is a great source of power to energize the Pathfinder with its nine-speed auto transmission improved over the older version’s CVT for responsiveness.
The Rock Creek’s additional force couldn’t counteract any negative effects caused by the tires. It was able to replicate the performance of the front-wheel-drive Pathfinder SL and an all-wheel-drive Platinum model that we have previously tested. The car reached 60 speed within 6.7 seconds and covered one-quarter mile in 15.2 seconds, at 95 percent mph.
The EPA rate that Rock Creek’s fuel efficiency is below other Pathfinders which is 21 mpg when combined with 20 mpg city along with 23 highway. Overall, we averaged 20 miles per gallon when we tested the Rock Creek, and in the real-world 75 mph highway fuel economy test, it scored 25 mpg. That’s a figure that is higher than its highway ratings however it is not as efficient as the 28-mpg figure we recorded on an all-wheel-drive Platinum version.
The 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek sits in the middle of the Pathfinder range with regard to pricing and features. It’s a great thing since it implies that at the price of $45,250, the price is lower than rivals such as the Kia Telluride X-Pro, but it’s not the best choice when you’re looking for features such as a tailgate with a motor or a heated steering wheel none of these features are available on the Rock Creek trim.
The truth is that improvements made by Rock Creek have affected the performance of the Pathfinder’s handling as well as fuel efficiency and the level of refinement. There’s a bonus more all-terrain capabilities as well as a rugged look. It’s not a vehicle we would recommend over a well-equipped Pathfinder SL. However, if you love the style of Rock Creek, it might be the perfect car for you to go on your adventures overland–or your picture as a person with such experiences.
The 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek trim is based on the SV and also includes:
- Off-road-tuned suspensions with 0.6-inch lift
- 18-inch wheels paired with All-terrain tires
- LED foglights
- More horsepower through high-end fuel (adds 11 horsepower and 11 lb-ft of torque)
- All-wheel drive standard
- Roof rack for tubular construction capable of carrying up to 220-pound loads capacity
- Kit for tow prep with a capacity of 6,000 pounds
- The unique grille and bumpers
- Second-row captain’s chairs that can be removed from the central console
- Heated seats in the rear
- Leather seat with synthetic inserts
- Orange contrast stitching with orange interior
- Sensors for parking in the rear and front
- Surround-view camera (gives the top-down perspective of the Pathfinder as well as its surroundings for parking in tight spaces)
Specs
The Pathfinder has the 3.5-liter V-6 that was in the prior generation model, it has dropped the continuously variable auto transmission (CVT) for an all-new nine-speed automated. The V-6 has 284 horsepower on the majority of models, but it can be cranked up to 295 horsepower in the Rock Creek trim. Front-wheel drive is a standard feature, but every trim can be equipped with all-wheel drive.
The upgrade to all-wheel drive includes seven different drive modes, such as the off-road-based Sand and Mud/Rut modes. On our test course, the front-wheel-drive Pathfinder SL test vehicle got to 60 miles per hour in 6.7 seconds. While the version equipped with all-wheel drive did the same speed within 6.6 seconds. The results suggest that the all-wheel-drive Pathfinder is more efficient than the Kia Telluride and the Toyota Highlander. Its handling is uninspiringly dull and certainly not exciting, but the ride of the Pathfinder is smooth. Nissan’s focus on sound-reducing elements ensures that the interior is comfortable while driving.
EPA according to the EPA, the most efficient Pathfinder model is one that has an optional all-wheel drive option, which received ratings of 21 mpg on the highway, 27 mpg city as well as 23 mpg in the together. A front-wheel drive version had the same city as well as combined rating, but just 26 mpg on the highway. When we conducted our 75-mph highway fuel economy test the all-wheel drive test car outperformed its EPA ratings and produced 28 mpg.
Release Date and Price
Nissan hasn’t officially announced a release date for 2024’s Pathfinder as of yet, however, we’re hoping to get it in the fall. In 2024, the Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek starts at $43,630.