New Nissan Pathfinder aims for 'tough, rugged' look

Nissan introduced a new generation of the Pathfinder for the 2013 model year, and now gives it a significant midcycle refresh, including new styling and a new engine.

Under the hood, the Pathfinder gets a direct-injection 3.5-liter V-6, good for 284 horsepower.

Nissan made some styling changes to the front, aiming for a more traditional SUV look, but also implemented aero features, such as active grille shutters.

Nissan puts the Pathfinder up against the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer.

The Pathfinder offers 7 inches of ground clearance and an all-wheel-drive system that includes a locking differential.

A descent control feature applies individual braking to wheels to prevent slip, and requires no input from the driver besides steering as the vehicle makes its way down a slope.

An expanse of hard plastic covers the dashboard, durable but not pleasing to the touch.

The Pathfinder uses a hydraulic steering system with an electric pump to maintain pressure.

The Pathfinder comes in four trims: S, SV, SL and Platinum. That last one is shown here.

The middle row seats slide forward to improve access to the third row.

The continuously variable transmission does not include a manual mode with programmed shift points, but does offer a Low range.

You can select the all-wheel-drive mode at the turn of a dial.

The infotainment controls carry over from previous Nissan vehicles.