There's a new Nissan Pathfinder. Shown here in US spec,itfeatures an updated motor, anew lookand additionaltech.

This new Nissan Pathfinder is powered bya new version of the 3.5-litre V6 petrol unit (with revised pistons, intake manifold and Direct Injection Gasoline technology) mated with the third-generation of Nissan's Xtronic gearbox. Power has increased to 211 kW from 190 kW and there's more torque. The vehicle is claimed to be capable of towing up to 2.7 tonnes, which Nissan says is a best-in-class capacity.

In terms of design, the Nissan Pathfinder has a new grille andredesigned headlights with daytime running lamps. There are some tasty 18-inch and 20-inch alloy wheels, while the rear benefits from changes to its tailights and bumper. This new model gains the motion-activated tailgate, which means that the driver can wave his/her foot under the bumper to automatically open the hatch. It's ideal if your hands are full of shopping bags, for example.

There is seating for 7 occupants and the Drive Assist Display has been tweaked. This display located between the rev counter and speedometer displays driver assistance info as well as trip computer info. There's satellite navigation with voice recognition and the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system features connectivity to emergency services if the vehicle has been in an accident. Meanwhile, there's new driver assistance tech such as forward emergency braking and intelligent cruise control. Blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert have also been fitted.

South African availability

The new Nissan Pathfinder will probably make its way to South Africa, following on the heels of its Navara double-cab sibling early next year. This model is an American-spec version, so we'll keep an eye out for European-spec derivatives and update you as soon as more information becomes available.

Related articles:

Read a First Drive report of the new Nissan Navara here

Check out used examples of Nissan Pathfinder here