Every year, the Automotive Science Group releases a list of the best vehicles in each class based on their Automotive Performance Index, a system of thousands of data points that considers social factors, environmental factors, and economic performance.
The Pathfinder took the “Best All-Around Performance” award for the full-size SUV class after also receiving “Best Environmental Performance” and “Best Economic Performance”.
The Environmental Performance Score is based on many detailed factors such as raw material extraction, end-of-life disposal, manufacturing and assembly impacts, and much more. ASG’s Economic Performance Score considers operating costs of ownership and economic benefits of ownership.
Nissan’s full-size SUV starts at $29,510 MSRP, offering an impressive 27 highway miles per gallon from its 260 horsepower V6 engine. The base model seats seven and has convenient under-floor storage in the back. It even has a 5,000 lb towing capacity, which is one of the highest in the full-size SUV class.
Automotive Science Group also named the Nissan LEAF with Best Overall Performance in the mid-size car class. Last year, the LEAF became the first EV to sell more than 30,000 units in a single year.
The future is looking bright for Nissan, and the Pathfinder seems to be a valuable investment for people in the full-size SUV market.
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