Used 2017 Nissan Pathfinder for Sale near Phoenix, AZ

Nissan's Pathfinder bridges the gap between minivans and more rugged 4x4s, doing family-hauling duty and offering all-wheel-drive capability when needed.

There was a time when SUVs like the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder were truck-based machines. They got through EPA loopholes for fuel economy and provided families added space as well as a 4-wheel-drive power train that could handle a variety of road and driving conditions.

The Explorer, Pathfinder, and others have moved to car-based platforms, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The new Pathfinder isn’t as rugged as it was in the past, but it can do everything that’s asked of a family hauler.

The Pathfinder is in its fourth generation after debuting in 1985 as a 2-door SUV that was very nearly a pickup with a hardtop. The first-gen eventually picked up a second set of doors, but never added more interior comfort. A second-generation model was introduced in 1995 as a far more refined vehicle, with 4 full doors. The third-generation model was introduced for the 2005 model year and was as rugged as it was comfortable, sharing a platform with the Frontier pickup truck.

In 2013, the Pathfinder got completely redesigned, using a platform shared with the Altima, Quest, Maxima, and others. That allowed Nissan to maximize the space provided by the platform, making for tons of cargo and passenger room.