![]() The nature of a CVT is that, unlike a stepped gear transmission, it has access to near infinite gear ratios and is able to find and hold the right one for any given situation. ![]() Nissan uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the Pathfinder that not only hurts the driving experience, but has a history of reliability issues. What puts the powertrain in the dog house, though, is the transmission to which it’s mated. That’s a good bit more than many competitors that top out at 5,000 pounds. That’s not class-leading, but it’s not shabby either, and it’s good for a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The Pathfinder features a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. Despite the fact this three-row crossover is seven years old, though, we haven’t found many better solutions for third row ingress and egress. The only difficulty is the step up and down. The giant hole it creates is more than large enough for adults to climb through to get to the third row. Then the whole seat slides forward about 10 inches. ![]() To get in, you pull a lever on the second row of seats that tilts their bottom seat cushions up while the back tilts forward. The Pathfinder has long had one of the best solutions for easy access into and out of its third row. All that’s new are two-tone leather seats with Rock Creek badging, high-contrast stitching, and a new metallic interior trim material. The Rock Creek Edition’s interior isn’t altered much from a regular Pathfinder. While not exclusive to the Rock Creek Edition, it looks best with this model’s rugged accents. Our favorite part of the look is the Pathfinder’s Midnight Pine Metallic green paint. The dark 18-inch wheels are also unique to the Rock Creek Edition, and the chunky black fenders that shade them mimic an actual off-road set up even though the rubber all around are all-seasons. To start with, the Rock Creek Edition’s overall theme is dark with black trim all around, including door handles, mirror caps, the grille, fascia accents, and badging. The Rock Creek Edition goes a long way to fixing this with upgrades designed to add some muscle, at least visually, to the Pathfinder’s frame. We’ve always thought the Pathfinder’s design was too soft and aerodynamic to appeal to SUV buyers. Otherwise, the main difference is styling, with the Rock Creek Edition offering a more traditional SUV-like design and the Platinum looking more sleek and sophisticated. The Pathfinder is also offered in a range-topping Platinum trim that’s a bit more expensive than the SL 4WD with Rock Creek Edition package, but the only feature difference between the two is the availability of a rear seat entertainment system. To be fair, the 2020 Explorer has been redesigned from the ground up and the Pathfinder is seven years old, but the Rock Creek Edition, especially on the SL trim level (it’s also available on the less expensive SV trim), is a well-featured crossover for the price. The new 2020 Ford Explorer Platinum, for instance, can ring up over $60,000. The as-tested price of this 2020 Nissan Pathfinder SL 4WD Rock Creek Edition is $44,635, which is quite reasonable for a fully loaded, full-size, three-row crossover SUV. Is springing for the Rock Creek Edition worth it? Let’s find out. While beefier mechanicals and more off-road capability would have been nice, the styling upgrades are still welcome considering the current generation Pathfinder has been on sale for seven years now. This special edition of the Pathfinder includes mostly aesthetic enhancements. 2019 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition First Drive: Approaching Retirement Age
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