Previewed at the New York Auto Show in April, the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid has just arrived in showrooms and carries a starting price of $35,970 for the front-drive SV model. Choosing this new, more fuel-efficient addition to the 2014 lineup will cost an extra $3,000 more than a comparably equipped FWD Pathfinder SV with the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine.
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Fitted with a supercharged 2.5-liter/4-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a 20-horse electric motor, the new Pathfinder Hybrid has a total system output of 240 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque compared to 260/240 stats of the 3.5-liter V6 in its conventional sibling. Opting for this greener alternative brings a 24-percent increase in combined fuel economy, with the front-drive Hybrid netting 25/28 mpg EPA city/highway numbers and the V6 Pathfinder earning 20/26 mpg stats. With its lithium-ion battery pack tucked under the third-row seat, Nissan says the Hybrid maintains the same people and cargo space but max towing capability tops out at 3,500 pounds compared to 5,000 for a properly fitted Pathfinder V6 model.
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Save for the absence of entry-level FWD/AWD "S" variants, the 2014 Pathfinder Hybrid model hierarchy parallels the non-hybrid side of the family. The SV/SL/Platinum Hybrid trims command $35,970/$38,910/$43,610 respectively, in front-drive guise and $37,570/$40,510/$45,210 in AWD configuration. All reflect the same $3,000 premium as the SV. For the record, the base 2014 Nissan Pathfinder S opens at $29,710 with the AWD version raising that figure by $1,600.
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