Nissan’s Pathfinder Turns 40, Breaks Out the Burgundy Trim to Celebrate

Vik is the Co-Founder and former Editor at MotorAuthority, a leading U. S. website covering performance and luxury cars. Since 2025, he has contributed to CarBuzz, blending his engineering background and almost 20 years of automotive journalism experience to deliver cutting-edge news and analysis. It's been 40 years since Nissan launched the original Hardbody pickup truck-based Pathfinder, which has evolved over the years into a family-friendly midsize SUV offering convenience, practicality, and safety at an affordable price. While a significant further evolution could be just around the corner, the current generation still has a lot to offer and enters the 2027 model year with a very cool option. Nissan is celebrating the nameplate's 40th anniversary with the launch of the Pathfinder Special Edition, which packs many of the SUV's most popular features along with some cool retro cues honoring the original.

The 2027 Nissan Pathfinder turns 40 and gets a Special Edition trim with a bold black-and-burgundy interior that references the first generation’s upholstery. The Pathfinder Special Edition also features 20-inch wheels, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, a panoramic sunroof, and a higher towing capacity. The 2027 Pathfinder goes on sale next month, with the front-wheel-drive Special Edition starting at $48,965, and the all-wheel-drive version starting at $50,965. Nissan has officially sold 2 million Pathfinders since its debut in 1986 for the 1987 model year. After 40 years of production, the Pathfinder is still a solid competitor in the mid-size SUV segment, though it’s grown a bit since its initial days as a compact two-door ute. NissanTo celebrate its 40th birthday, the modern three-row SUV is getting all dressed up. Nissan’s 2027 Pathfinder Special Edition brings back iconic aspects of the first-generation Pathfinder to blend its storied past with the present moment. The most recognizable throwback appears inside, which is covered in two-tone black-and-burgundy upholstery, similar to the 1987 model’s interior.

The 2027 Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid now starts at $55,385—$5600 more than last year. The big price hike comes after Kia discontinued the PHEV’s entry-level EX trim, which started at $49,785 for the 2026 model year. For 2027, the Sorento PHEV is only available as the X-Line SX Prestige, and it now comes standard with a head-up display. The Kia Sorento is one of the few mid-size SUVs that offers three distinct powertrain options. Along with gas-only and hybrid variants, with prices that start between $34,085 and $49,485, there’s a plug-in hybrid model that sits atop the pricing pyramid. And for the 2027 model year, the Kia Sorento PHEV’s cost of admission just went up by a significant amount, as it now starts at $55,385. Of course, there’s a reason the plug-in hybrid Sorento’s starting price just jumped by $5600. It’s because Kia has discontinued the entry-level EX trim, which last year started at $49,785. Now, every version of the two-row family SUV is the top-of-the-line X-Line SX-Prestige trim (quite a mouthful, eh?). For only $400 more than its 2026 counterpart, this top-spec Sorento comes standard with a host of desirable features.

Brett T. Evans has more than a decade of experience driving, writing about, and evaluating automobiles. His early career comprised writing about pre- and post-war classic cars, as well as late-model performance diesel trucks. These varied experiences allowed him the chance to gain expertise in every corner of the auto world. Today, he spends much of his time on modern car culture and mass-market news. Among modern automakers, few are as accommodating to their history as Mercedes-Benz. The company just completed a big expansion of its Classic Center in Fellbach, Germany, just a few miles away from its headquarters in Stuttgart, which will support Mercedes' continued emphasis on maintenance and restoration of every vehicle wearing the three-pointed star. Upon its opening, the enlarged Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Fellbach hosted an open house that put its complete restoration capabilities on display – for everything from a vintage 300 SLR sports car to a more modern SL roadster – for the gathered public.

Arizona’s first three NEVI-funded DC fast-charging stations are finally online, giving EV drivers more places to plug in along I-10, I-19, and I-8. Getting here took years of planning and procurement, with a Trump administration funding freeze disrupting the state’s broader rollout along the way.