These days, almost every street corner might have diesel-electric and petrol electric hybrid cars, from SUVs and exotic sports to heavy transports. The life of Pathfinder began as Nissan Patrol’s little brother. The introduction of the X-trail, a compact SUV, marked a seismic shift. The Pathfinder was beefed up by Nissan, which made it a viable alternative to Murano, the new street smart car. Murano continuously displayed variable transmission and an outlook of sports coupe-style. Now to its Pathfinder range, Nissan has slotted in a petrol-electric hybrid. A supercharged four-cylinder petrol engine of 2.5 liter is used in combination with a electric motor of 15 kW. This results in a performance of V6 with four-cylinder SUV fuel consumption. The test vehicle used was the ST 2WD entry-level version whose market price is more than $39,990.

With respect to engines and transmissions, a 2.5-liter supercharged four-cylinder petrol engine powers the Pathfinder ST as well as an electric motor of 15kW. A maximum total out of 188kW and 330 Nm is given out. The torque curve of the Pathfinder is quite the same as that the model powered by V6 petrol. An intelligent dual-clutch system is utilized by the highly efficient petrol/electric powertrain, claiming a total cycle fuel consumption of 8.4 L/100km with the 2WD variant. Operating in conjunction with the petrol engine is the first clutch while the second clutch controls the electric motor engagement. Each of the operations depends on the location and the manner in which the car is moving. Nissan’s latest-generation Xtronic CVT puts power to the ground. This results in a reduction in fuel consumption by 15 %. Nissan has claimed that the petrol consumed by Pathfinder Hybrid is 15% less than that of theV6 petrol car model. During braking and deceleration, the electric torque-assist motor serves as a power generator.

In terms of design, the Pathfinder is a true seven-seater with a length of more than five meters and a width of about two meters. The Nissan signature V-Motion grille is carried by a bold front. The vehicle has a touch of prestige, thanks to brushed metal roof rails, chrome door handles, privacy glass and a rear roof-mounted spoiler. The Pathfinder Hybrid is light on information technology because of its sharp price positioning. This hybrid car has been put out on its own in the SUV field by a couple of clever pieces of technology. The presence of undesirable sounds is monitored by microphones located in-cabin.