(By Tom Lohnes) – After seven continuous years of production the previous-generation Nissan Pathfinder, a vehicle great at hauling families but did not deliver much in the way of actually Pathfinding, is gone. What replaces it however, is miles ahead of itself and its competition.

After skipping the 2021 model year, Nissan used that time to do a whole frame-up redesign, and it appears to have paid off. Taking the handsome looks from the refreshed Armada and scaling them down a little bit, the Pathfinder looks far more rugged than before, especially in the Rock Creek trim, which grants the crossover off-road tires, a small lift, and a cool-looking roof rack. Power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 that has been redesigned. Power output is at a strong 295, and torque remains at 260.

Big news for the Pathfinder, however, is the transmission. It appears Nissan has finally acknowledged that their CVT was not a hit with consumers, so they fitted a real 9-speed automatic to this new rig. This which will boost acceleration and return the driving experience back to what people know as normal. Inside, the Pathfinder benefits from the Rogue’s interior treatment, with a massive screen, quilted leather, and an odd-looking shifter that has a steep learning curve.

Due to the Pathfinder being a 3-row midsize crossover coming from a bargain-basement brand, the Pathfinder will only cost about $35,000 to $50,000, which is competitive with competition.