Is the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Grade Too Little Too Late?
For years, the Nissan Pathfinder has been a popular and luxurious SUV to consider. But recently, it has been overshadowed by the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. In an attempt to regain the throne, the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek trim is joining the lineup.
The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek has off-roading upgrades
The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek trim is arriving just in time to take on rivals with fresh off-roading upgrades. The Kia Telluride X-Pro and Hyundai Palisade XRT are arriving for 2023 too, but could just be appearance packages.
With the 2023 Pathfinder Rock Creek trim, you get standard all-wheel drive and a 0.6-inch suspension lift. The ground clearance sits at about 7.8 inches, so we would like to see a little more height.
It rides on 18-inch tires that look beadlock capable. Remember, they only look the part. The wheels are wrapped in Toyo Open country all-terrain tires. Also, new fuel mapping provides an extra 11 hp and 11 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel.
How much does the Pathfinder Rock Creek cost?
Pricing for the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek hasn’t been released yet. The Rock Creek package costs $995 with the 2020 model. Also, the 2022 Pathfinder starts at about $33,880. Pricing is expected to increase to cover the mechanical and exterior upgrades.
However, the Pathfinder will still use the same 3.5-liter V6 engine with 295 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque with the Rock Creek trim. On other models, the engine continues to crank out 284 hp.
With this engine, the Pathfinder can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.6 seconds, which is faster than the Kia Telluride and Toyota Highlander.
The Pathfinder can also tow up to 6,000 lbs while the Telluride maxes out at 5,000 lbs. That’s plenty of power for hauling campers and other recreational gear.
The intelligent 4WD system with seven-position Drive and Terrain Mode Selector includes driving modes for Standard, Sport, Eco, Sand, Snow, Mud/Rut. And Row. It’s unclear if the Pathfinder Rock Creek will gain additional modes.
Balck badging sets the Rock Creek apart, and the roof rack can hold up to 220 lbs. According to The Car Connection, the interior features black synthetic leather upholstery with orange contrast stitching.
A 360-degree surround-view camera is standard, along with a second-row captain’s chairs, a tow hitch, wiring harness, and LED fog lights.
What’s new for the 2023 Pathfinder
The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek trim could be the primary update for the next model year. But four two-tone exterior color opinions and six new monotone colors will be available. We should learn more about the 2023 Pathfinder when it arrives this summer.
An 8.0-inch infotianment system is standard, but you can upgrade to a 9.0-inch display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Andorid Auto connectivity are standard on higher trims. Also, you can opt for a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and wireless charging pad.
Standard safety features include automated emergency braking with pedestrian protection, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning. Perhaps more standard systems will be added.
We can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the new Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek model. Stay tuned for the latest updates.
