New 2023 Nissan Pathfinder scores five-star ANCAP rating

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder has been awarded a five-star rating in the latest round of crash testing by safety authority ANCAP.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) awarded the new model top marks in both the adult protection side impact and oblique pole tests, and the front-seat passenger in the frontal offset test – giving it an overall score of 86 per cent.

High scores were also awarded for protection of the driver in the full width frontal test, however chest protection for the rear passenger in this test was dubbed 'weak'.

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In the child protection frontal offset and side impact assessments, the Pathfinder scored maximum points, helped by being fitted with Isofix and top-tether anchorages for all three seats in the second row, and in the left-hand seat of the third row. An overall score of 93 per cent was awarded in the category.

ANCAP also praised the new large SUV for having nine cabin airbags, including full-sized bags protecting all passenger rows, as well as a new far-side airbag between the two front seat occupants.

Additionally, the crash testing authority found the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) functionality to work well, though it performed better for cyclist protection and when facing a collision with another car than it did for pedestrians.

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The rating applies to all Pathfinder variants, which include the ST, ST-L, Ti and Ti-L.

The Pathfinder’s ANCAP result follows five-star safety ratings for the all-new Nissan Qashqai and Nissan X-Trail.

“We’ve seen some impressive safety results from Nissan this year with the Qashqai, X-Trail, and now the Pathfinder all achieving five star safety ratings,” said ANCAP's Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg.

“We look forward to seeing Nissan continue their commitment to offering the highest levels of safety for Australian and New Zealand customers with future models."

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The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder will boast a four-tier model range and the option of captain’s chairs in the second row when it arrives in Australia in the coming days.

A rival for popular large SUVs like the Mazda CX-9, Hyundai Palisade and Toyota Kluger, the fifth-generation Pathfinder also offers a braked towing capacity of 2700 kilograms, which Nissan claims is the highest in its segment.

An overhauled cabin that’s more luxurious than before and a comprehensive suite of active safety systems also feature, although unlike Nissan’s other new SUVs – the Qashqai and X-Trail – which arrive Down Under around the same time, the Pathfinder does not ride on an all-new platform.

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Also unchanged is the Pathfinder’s engine, with a 3.5-litre naturally-aspirated V6 set to be the only powertrain offered at launch. The V6’s outputs are carried over at 202kW/340Nm – although it’s now paired to a new nine-speed automatic, instead of the old model’s CVT.

While the outgoing model – last updated in 2020 – was on sale in ST, ST+, ST-L and Ti variants, the new SUV will be available in ST, ST-L, Ti and Ti-L grades, representing a mix of price increases and decreases when comparing nameplates like-for-like.

Pricing starts from $54,190 for the ST before on-road costs, and rises to $77,890 for the Ti-L + ORC.