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Driven: 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Is The New King Of The Hill

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Driven: 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Is The New King Of The Hill

Off-road SUVs are all the rage these days; just about all the manufacturers who make SUVs make an off-road-focused trim. Even the Toyota RAV4 has one. So, naturally, Nissan wanted to jump on the rugged off-road gravy train for the 2022 model year with this: The Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek. The model is, per Nissan, here to mark a "return to rugged" for the Pathfinder. So, we set off to find out if it is - by taking it straight to Target for a bit of shopping.

Tired jokes about off-roaders never being used aside, Nissan has made it expressly clear that the RC is out to get dirty, but it still has the look and feel of an SUV that can be used daily. But with beefy 265/60/R18 A/T tires and a 5/8-inch lift, courtesy of new off-road suspension, as well as standard 4WD, our time with the Rock Creek has made one thing clear - it truly is the Pathfinder's return to rugged.

Exterior: Resting Off-Road Face

Let's get this out of the way now: The RC looks great. It's not a shouty car, but rather a subtle car with some shouty details, which works well for an SUV that's meant to be off-roaded occasionally. The grille and headlights are aggressive but not overly so. However, the assertive intakes at the front hint at a much more capable car underneath the sheet metal.Around the side, the story stays much the same, with the lift and tires adding a lot to what would otherwise be a sedate profile. The story is much the same for the tubular roof rack, which Nissan says will hold 220 pounds of camping gear, kayaks, or other adventuring accouterments.

Read more - Driven: 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Is The New King Of The Hill

Author: CHASE BIERENKOVEN

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