Auto

Nissan reveals new Pathfinder’s bold design, transmission

Published

6 years ago

February 9, 2021

Nissan has showcased its latest Pathfinder, designed as 2022 model with a bold look and a nine-speed automatic transmission.

As one of Nissan’s best-selling vehicles, Nissan considers the Pathfinder SUV as a hugely important model. It is therefore not surprising that the automaker decided to make some remarkable changes to one of its oldest vehicles, begging for a significant overhaul for a few years now.

The wait is over as the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is finally here, bringing the techno-chic curb appeal of the redesigned Rogue and facelifted Armada in midsize, three-row crossover form.

Exterior

The outgoing Nissan Pathfinder may be beautiful, according to motor1.com, but it lacks personality. No one could accuse its successor of the same, thanks to headlights with wild turn-signal eyebrows, a squared-off grille (that the company still calls “V-motion,” and a flat hood that is less minivan-like than the current Pathfinder.

Blackened A, B, and D-pillars join a body-colour C-pillar on some models, giving the SUV a floating-roof effect that is more interesting than other iterations of the overdone styling feature.

Around the rear, slim LED taillights make the crossover appear wider and more planted, and the convex hatch, resplendent with a silver ‘PATHFINDER’ word mark, is said to recall the first-generation SUV.

The front grille’s three mail slots near the hood are seen as a nice throwback of the Pathfinders of the 1980s and 1990s.

The 2022 model comes with bold, blistered wheel arches and vehicle looks much more muscular and planted than its predecessors.

Interior

Most three-row crossovers live and die by their interiors. It looks as though the 2022 Pathfinder is primed to succeed in this respect, thanks to a revised technology suite that includes an available 9.0-inch centre touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and 10.8-inch head-up display.

The vehicle comes with an 8.0-inch screen as standard, as is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Bold styling is also the order of the day, with the infotainment, climate controls, and instrument cluster residing in a driver-oriented nacelle.

The HVAC outlets live in metallic-finished trim bits that “interlock” with the dash, furthering the Pathfinder’s tech-forward appearance. Nissan says it will offer woven cloth, leather, or semi-aniline quilted leather on the Pathfinder, the latter likely reserved for the Platinum model.

Unlike its seven-passenger predecessor, the 2022 Pathfinder gets a three-position rear bench, bringing standard seating capacity to eight.

For families who want a bit more comfort (at the expense of one seating position), there are optional second-row captain’s chairs with a centre console that’s easily removable.

The standard second-row bench retains the current SUV’s fold-and-slide function (though enhanced with passenger- and driver-side access), which makes it easier to climb into the third row, even when a child seat is installed.

Safety

The new Pathfinder adds a long list of safety and connectivity equipment to its roster, with family-friendly interior packaging and reasonable performance to boot.

The 2022 SUV is expected to offer more enjoyable driving its conventional nine-speed automatic gearbox replacing the old model’s droning continuously variable transmission.

Though still a unibody crossover SUV with either front- or all-wheel drive, the new Pathfinder offers seven different terrain modes, as well as up to 6,000 pounds of towing capacity.

Even the base Pathfinder S will get the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, bundling automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and automatic rear braking.

The mid-level SV and SL models will also offer ProPilot Assist as an option, adding adaptive cruise control and lane-centering to the roster. At the top of the heap is the Platinum’s ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link, which uses data from the embedded navigation to slow down for upcoming bends in the road, freeway exits and interchanges.

Performance

Further reducing noise, vibration, and harshness is the decision to abandon the outgoing Pathfinder’s somewhat droning continuously variable transmission. Although the 2022 model retains its predecessor’s direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 with 284 horsepower (212 kilowatts) and 259 pound-feet (351 newton-meters), that mill is now mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox.

Auto

NADDC Pushes Affordable Auto Loans to Boost Vehicle Ownership, More Jobs

Published

10 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Trends Admin

NADDC Pushes Affordable Auto Loans to Boost Vehicle Ownership, More Job

The National Automotive Design and Development Council has called for far-reaching reforms in vehicle financing to make car ownership more affordable while boosting local vehicle assembly, job creation and industrial development.

The Council said a properly structured financing system could turn vehicle credit from a mere consumer lending product into a major economic tool for expanding productive mobility and strengthening Nigeria’s automotive value chain.

Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, stated this in an address delivered on his behalf by the Council’s Principal Information Officer, Tanko Kyumnom, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Auto Sectoral Group Symposium in Lagos.

The symposium, held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the Henry Fajemirokun Hall of LCCI, was themed: “From Subsidy to Credit: Can Vehicle Financing Replace Fuel Subsidy as Nigeria’s Mobility Equaliser?”
Osanipin said the growing cost of mobility had made it necessary to explore financing models that would enable individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles without bearing the full cost of ownership upfront.

According to him, spreading vehicle payments over an agreed period could provide a more sustainable pathway to vehicle acquisition, provided that the financing products are affordable, accessible and structured around the economic realities of Nigerian consumers.

He, however, cautioned that simply making credit available would not be enough.
“Vehicle financing offers a more sustainable approach by enabling individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles and pay for them over time,” Osanipin stated.
The NADDC DG said the bigger opportunity lies in linking vehicle financing with the growth of locally assembled and Nigerian-made vehicles.

He explained that increased access to credit for locally produced vehicles could generate wider economic benefits by stimulating demand for domestic assembly, supporting component manufacturers, creating jobs and strengthening local supply chains.

Osanipin therefore urged stronger collaboration among government institutions, financial institutions, vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders in designing financing schemes capable of supporting both mobility access and automotive industrialisation.

The NADDC boss identified affordable vehicle loans, leasing arrangements, fleet financing, credit guarantees and appropriate interest-rate support as mechanisms that could broaden access to vehicle ownership and productive mobility.

lt also stressed the need for repayment structures that take into account the earning patterns and business realities of Nigerians, particularly transport operators and small businesses whose vehicles are directly linked to their income-generating activities.

Osanipin maintained that the objective should extend beyond increasing the number of vehicles on Nigerian roads.
“The goal is not simply to put more vehicles on Nigerian roads. It is to ensure that Nigerians can access productive mobility without placing an unsustainable burden on government finances or household incomes,” he said.

According to him, a properly structured automotive financing system could create a stronger connection between mobility, economic inclusion and domestic vehicle production.

“With the right policies and partnerships, vehicle financing can become a powerful instrument for mobility, economic inclusion and automotive industrial development,” Osanipin added.

The NADDC’s position places vehicle financing within the broader effort to build a sustainable automotive ecosystem in Nigeria—one in which access to credit supports vehicle users while also creating stronger demand for local assembly, components and associated automotive services.

Auto

Jetour T1 Storms Abuja as Automaker Accelerates Nigeria Expansion

Published

15 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Jetour T1 Set to debut in Abuja as Expansion Gains Momentum

Following a successful debut in Lagos, Jetour Nigeria will host the Jetour Experience Abuja from September 22 to 24, 2026, positioning its all-new T1 model as a major competitor in the country’s growing adventure SUV market.

The three-day event in the Federal Capital Territory will give prospective buyers and motoring enthusiasts direct access to product demonstrations, expert-led technical sessions, and hands-on test drives.

“Strong participation, extensive test drives, and significant sales enquiries at the Lagos edition, coupled with growing demand from Abuja residents, influenced the decision to bring the experience to the nation’s capital,” the company said in a statement. The show holds at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki.

To support its growing national footprint, Jetour Nigeria has established a network of seven accredited dealers: Elizade Nigeria Limited, New Era AutoVehicle Services Limited, Kojo Motors, Germaine Auto Centre, Tab Autos Limited, R.T. Briscoe Motors, and Mandilas Autos. The partnerships cover retail sales, genuine spare parts supply, and comprehensive after-sales maintenance.

Jetour T1 Set to debut in Abuja as Expansion Gains Momentum

Auto

Abuja Demand Rises as Jetour Brings X70 Plus Experience to FCT

Published

2 days ago

September 20, 2026

Trends Admin

Abuja Demand Rises as Jetour Brings X70 Plus Experience to FCT

Jetour Nigeria is taking its seven-seater X70 Plus SUV to Abuja as rising interest from motorists in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states fuels the brand’s latest push to deepen its presence across Nigeria.

The X70 Plus will headline the Jetour Experience Abuja, holding from September 22 to 24 at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki, following the strong response recorded during the Lagos edition, where motorists turned out for test drives and made enquiries about Jetour models.

The Abuja activation is designed to give prospective buyers direct access to the X70 Plus and other models, with opportunities to test-drive the vehicles, engage product specialists and experience their technology, safety and comfort features.

The X70 Plus is positioned as a family-oriented SUV, offering seven-seat capacity and a range of features targeted at customers seeking comfort, technology and practicality.

The SUV is available with 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre turbocharged engine options, with outputs of up to 145kW and 290Nm of torque, paired with a dual-clutch automatic transmission.