2011 Nissan Pathfinder Trims and Specs

Long on towing capacity and passenger room, the seven-passenger 2011 Nissan Pathfinder LE midsize SUV also offers its share of luxury touches. As the flagship of the lineup, the LE offers standard split-folding rear seat backs and a fold-flat front passenger seat to provide a total of 79 cubic feet of cargo capacity, while leather upholstery, power accessories including heated outside mirrors, and a Bose premium audio system with 10 speakers and XM satellite radio offer their services in pampering passengers. Adding to the list of appearance, comfort, and convenience features are 18-inch alloy wheels, step running boards, trailer hitch and wiring, roof rack with convenient side rails, reclining second-row seats, heated power-adjustable front seats with driver memory functions, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, a rear-view camera, universal remote garage door opener, tilting leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, leather, simulated wood, and simulated alloy cabin inserts, Bluetooth hands-free communications, and a standard power-opening glass sunroof. Options, meanwhile, include rear-seat DVD entertainment and a hard-drive navigation system with 7-inch LCD screen.

Safety features are far from neglected in the 2011 Pathfinder LE, with four-wheel ABS, traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags, three-row head airbags, and a front head restraint whiplash protection system providing the bulwark of the safety curtain. Added to the list of standard safety items are dusk-sensing headlights, front fog/driving lights, and a remote anti-theft alarm.

The rear-wheel-drive-only (RWD) 2011 Pathfinder LE is powered by a standard 4.0-liter V6 engine and five-speed auto-manual transmission. Expect 266 hp and 288 lb-ft of torque from this formidable combo. Though estimated to get only 15/22 mpg despite variable valve timing, this potent V6 can tow a respectable 6,000 pounds of trailer.

Cross-country motoring is made simple and stylish with the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD. This rugged, part-time four-wheel-drive (4WD), seven-passenger midsize SUV, representing the pinnacle of the Pathfinder lineup, comes complete with standard 18-inch alloy wheels, trailer hitch and wiring, step running boards, roof rack, skid plates, leather upholstery, power-adjustable, heated front seats, power accessories, including heated exterior mirrors, fold-flat front passenger seatback, driver memory settings, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, tilt-wheel steering, and a heated steering wheel. Additionally, such standard amenities as a rear-view camera, power sunroof, universal remote garage door opener, simulated alloy and wood cabin accents, leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth hands-free communications, and a Bose premium audio system with 6-CD changer, ten speakers, and XM satellite radio do their bit to ease the miles. And, believe it or not there are a number of options, including rear-seat DVD entertainment and a hard-drive-based GPS navigation to complement its 79 cubic feet of cargo area with the rear seats folded.

Standard safety equipment for the 2011 Pathfinder LE 4WD includes four-wheel ABS, traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags, three-row head airbags, front head restraint whiplash protection, remote anti-theft alarm, dusk-sensing headlights, and front fog/driving lights.

Power for the capable Pathfinder LE 4WD comes in the form of a standard 266-hp 4.0-liter V6 that combines with the standard five-speed auto-manual transmission for 288 lb-ft of torque. This combo can handle up to 6,000 pounds of trailer, but mileage figures with the 4WD configuration are a somewhat dismal 14/20 mpg, despite variable valve timing. Additionally, the LE 4WD’s traction-heavy and trail-conquering shift-on-the-fly 4WD system features auto-locking hubs and electronic hi-lo gear selection, with all-mode 4WD, capable of being left engaged on dry pavement, also available.

For those needing the oomph of a V8 engine as well as the capability and versatility of four-wheel drive, the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder LE V8 4WD (four-wheel drive) fits the bill. This seven-passenger midsize SUV sits atop the lineup with such standard amenities as 18-inch alloy wheels, step running boards, roof rack, skid plates, trailer hitch and wiring, leather upholstery, heated power-adjustable front seats with fold-flat front passenger seat, reclining rear seats, power windows, door locks, and heated outside mirrors, driver memory settings, tilting, heated, and leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted audio and cruise controls, dual-zone climate control, a rear-view camera, universal remote garage door opener, leather, simulated wood, and simulated alloy cabin accents and inserts, Bluetooth hands-free communications, hard-drive navigation with a 7-inch LCD screen, and a 6-CD Bose premium audio system with ten speakers and XM satellite radio. Options for this capable ute include a power glass moonroof and rear-seat DVD entertainment. Some 79 cubic feet of cargo area are available with the rear seats folded.

Safety features for the 2011 Pathfinder LE V8 4WD include four-wheel ABS, traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags, and three-row head airbags, as well as front head restraint whiplash protection, a remote anti-theft alarm, dusk-sensing headlights, and front fog/driving lights.

As the only Pathfinder trim packing the variable-valve-timed 5.6-liter V8 engine, the 2011 LE V8 4WD boasts 310 hp and 388 lb-ft of torque under the management of a standard five-speed auto-manual transmission. On-demand, shift-on-the fly 4WD, designed for off-road use but capable of being left engaged even on dry pavement, is accomplished with electronic hi-lo gear selection and auto-locking hubs. This potent ute can haul up to 7,000 pounds of trailer, but burns gas at a wallet-whacking 13/18 mpg.

The rear-wheel-drive, seven-passenger 2011 Nissan Pathfinder S midsize SUV stands as the base trim of the lineup. As such it obviously is delivered a bit less well-endowed than its upper-level siblings, with standard 16-inch alloy wheels, trailer hitch and wiring, cloth upholstery, reclining rear seats, power accessories, tilt-wheel steering, cruise control, air conditioning, and a single-CD player with six speakers being about the extent of it. Only carpeted floor mats and an impact-activated alarm system, meantime, are available as options. This base ute also has 79 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. Passenger protection is taken care of with four-wheel ABS, traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags and three-row head airbags, front head restraint whiplash protection, and a remote anti-theft alarm.

Power-wise, the base 2011 Pathfinder S equals its upper-class siblings with a standard 4.0-liter V6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission. This combo puts out 266 hp and 288 lb-ft of torque to the tune of 15/22 mpg with variable valve timing, while remaining capable of towing up to 6,000 pounds.

The 2011 Nissan Pathfinder S 4WD (four-wheel drive) is the base trim of the Pathfinder lineup. This seven-passenger midsize SUV brings four-wheel-drive traction and 79 cubic feet of cargo space (with the rear seats folded) to the table, as well as 16-inch alloy wheels, a trailer hitch and wiring, cloth upholstery, reclining rear seats, power accessories, cruise control, air conditioning, and a single-CD player with six speakers. Options are limited to carpeted floor mats and an impact alarm sensor, but standard safety items include four-wheel ABS, traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags, three-row head airbags, front head restraint whiplash protection, and a remote anti-theft alarm.

Powering the 2011 Pathfinder S 4WD is the lineup's only engine, a 4.0-liter V6 that, when managed by the standard five-speed automatic transmission, puts out 266 hp and 288 lb-ft of torque to the tune of 14/20 mpg, even with variable valve timing. Expect 6,000 pounds of towing capacity with the S 4WD trim, with the on-demand, shift-on-the-fly 4WD system featuring manual hi-lo gear selection and auto-locking hubs.

In its place just a notch above the base S trim, and as a replacement for 2010’s SE trim, the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder SV amps up the standard features a bit. This rear-wheel-drive (RWD), seven-passenger midsize SUV sports 17-inch alloy wheels, step running boards, a roof rack, trailer hitch and wiring, premium cloth upholstery, fold-flat front passenger seat, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, tilt-wheel steering, cruise control, air conditioning, power accessories, rearview camera, universal remote garage door opener, and 6-CD changer with auxiliary MP3 input and six speakers, as well as 79 cubic feet of cargo area with the rear seats folded. Options remain simply carpeted floor mats and a vehicle impact alarm sensor, but standard safety features include four-wheel ABS, traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags, three-row head airbags, front head restraint whiplash protection, remote anti-theft alarm, dusk-sensing headlights, and front fog/driving lights.

The traditional 4.0-liter V6 with variable valve timing (VVT) combines with the standard five-speed automatic transmission for 266 hp and 288 lb-ft of torque. These ponies will tow up to 6,000 pounds of trailer to the tune of 15/22 mpg.

Replacing the SE 4WD trim for 2011 is the Nissan Pathfinder SV 4WD. This seven-passenger midsize SUV complements 79 cubic feet of cargo space (with the rear seats folded) and a fair number of standard amenities with on-demand, shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive (4WD). Standard appearance, comfort, and convenience features include 17-inch alloy wheels, step running boards, a roof rack, trailer hitch and wiring, premium cloth upholstery, fold-flat front passenger seat, reclining rear seats, power-adjustable driver’s seat, universal remote garage door opener, rear-view camera, tilt-wheel steering, cruise control, power accessories, air conditioning, and a 6-CD changer with auxiliary MP3 input. Options, alas, are confined to carpeted floor mats and a vehicle alarm sensor system. Standard safety features, meanwhile, include four-wheel ABS, traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags, three-row head airbags, front head restraint whiplash protection, remote anti-theft alarm, front fog/driving lights, and dusk-sensing headlights.

Powering the 2011 Pathfinder SV 4WD is a 4.0-liter variable-valve-timed V6 that puts out 266 hp and 288 lb-ft of torque under the management of the standard five-speed automatic transmission. The SV 4WD’s traction-heavy on-demand 4WD system features manual hi-lo gear selection and auto-locking hubs, but swigs gas at a 14/20 mpg clip. Towing capacity, meantime, is pegged at 6,000 pounds.

The Nissan Pathfinder Silver Edition is brand new for 2011. This well-endowed, rear-wheel-drive (RWD), seven-passenger midsize SUV starts things off by offering standard 17-inch alloy wheels, a roof rack, step running boards, trailer hitch and wiring, leather upholstery in the first two rows of seats, power-adjustable heated front seats, fold-flat front passenger seat, power accessories including heated outside mirrors, tilt-adjustable steering wheel with mounted audio and cruise controls, dual-zone climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, simulated alloy cabin appointments, universal remote garage door opener, rear-view camera, Bose premium audio with 6-CD player, ten speakers, and XM satellite radio, as well as Bluetooth hands-free communications. A vehicle alarm impact sensor and carpeted floor mats are the only options for the Silver Edition, while standard safety equipment includes four-wheel ABS, traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags, three-row head airbags, front head restraint whiplash protection, remote anti-theft alarm, front fog/driving lights, and dusk-sensing headlights.

Powering the 2011 Pathfinder Silver Edition is the 266-hp 4.0-liter V6 engine, with a standard five-speed automatic transmission helping it to put out 288 lb-ft of torque. Expect 15/22 mpg from this combo, as well as a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds.