• The 2026Nissan Pathfinder undergoes a light refresh, wearing a new grille and adding a new color called Baltic Teal.
• Inside, the standard touchscreen grows from eight to 12.3 inches and also adds wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
• Nissan also improved the wireless charging speeds and fitted a fan to help ensure your phone doesn't overheat.

After four years, the fifth-generation Nissan Pathfinder is ready for a refresh. But Nissan is keeping the updates minimal for its mid-size three-row SUV. The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder has been revealed ahead of its debut at the Los Angeles auto show, with tweaked styling inside and out, more modern technology, and a carryover powertrain.

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The Pathfinder doesn't look drastically different than before, but the styling updates bring it in line with recently launched Nissan models such as the2026 Sentra. The SUV's new grille ditches the bold U-shaped chrome border and now stretches under the inner edges of the unchanged headlights, with a trio of chrome rectangular units cascading below. A thin black vent also drops down below the outer edge of the headlights like a teardrop, emphasizing the Pathfinder's width, while the lower bumper is slightly sleeker.

The rear end is essentially unchanged, but all exterior badges now wear a satin finish. Nissan is also adding a new color called Baltic Teal, while the SL and Platinum trims now have black roof rails instead of the previously fitted silver units. There's also a new 20-inch wheel design for the Pathfinder Platinum.

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Inside, the overall layout remains familiar, but Nissan has added a larger 12.3-inch standard touchscreen, up from the previous eight-inch display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also now standard, and the SL and Platinum trims now have a standard 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster.

The increase in screen size means there's no longer room for the physical audio controls that flanked the old display. Thankfully, instead of hiding these controls in the screen, Nissan redesigned the space between the air vents below, making the button for the hazards smaller and finding space for a volume knob and tuning buttons. The chrome strip below also now features embossed "Pathfinder" lettering. The most luxurious Platinum model adopts new seat quilting patterns and wood-tone trim.

Nissan has honed the Pathfinder's wireless charger, increasing maximum power delivery from five to 15 watts. Not only will your phone charge faster, but it won't get as hot doing so, thanks to a new cooling fan. Magnetic phone positioning will also keep compatible phones from sliding out of place when sweeping through corners. The wireless charger is standard on the SL and Premium; it's optional on the SV and Rock Creek.

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The surround-view camera system—standard on the Rock Creek, SL, and Platinum—gains two new camera angles, with a 180-degree front-facing camera and a new "invisible hood view" that lets drivers look "through" the hood to better position the front wheels, whether you're navigating an unpaved driveway or slotting into car wash tracks.

Under the hood lies the same 3.5-liter V-6 engine as before, still producing 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque and hooked up to a nine-speed automatic gearbox. All-wheel drive is available across the lineup and standard on the Rock Creek, which also still receives an extra 11 hp and 11 pound-feet. The Rock Creek gains a new Premium package for 2026 that brings a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, a heated steering wheel, and a 12-volt power outlet in the cargo hold. Nissan has yet to publish photos of the 2026 Pathfinder Rock Creek, so it's unclear if the design of the all-terrain model has changed.

The refreshed Pathfinder arrives at dealerships in early 2026. Nissan has yet to announce pricing, but we expect slight increases from the 2025 model, which started at $38,040 for the S trim, $45,860 for the Rock Creek, and $51,010 for the top-of-the-line Platinum.

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Caleb Miller

Associate News Editor

Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining theCar and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.