2023 Nissan Pathfinder vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2022 Genesis GV70 showcased a distinctive design that set it apart from its siblings in the Genesis lineup. It featured the brand's signature quad LED strips for headlights and taillights, along with a prominent shield-shaped grille. The GV70's sloping roofline and ribbed detailing added a touch of athleticism to its profile, blending the ruggedness of an SUV with sleek, car-like elements. The Sport Prestige model further enhanced its character with unique styling features, including a model-specific front fascia, 21-inch wheels with a web pattern, and dark-finished chrome trim. Inside, the GV70's interior boasted an elliptical theme inspired by an airplane wing's cross-section, with a minimalistic design that included a perched touchscreen and hidden air vents. The interior offered a variety of color options and luxurious materials, such as Nappa leather upholstery with suede seat inserts in the Sport Prestige model.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder carried over its redesign from the previous year, maintaining a modern aesthetic that combined traditional elements with forward-thinking design. Its futuristic headlights and angular C-pillar contributed to a look that was expected to remain relevant for years. Inside, the Pathfinder's cabin featured clean lines and a sensible layout, making it both visually appealing and practical. The Pathfinder offered a range of trims, from the base S to the rugged Rock Creek and luxurious Platinum. Each trim level added specific features, such as heated seats, leather upholstery, and advanced driver assistance systems. The Rock Creek trim, in particular, stood out with its off-road suspension, all-terrain tires, and unique styling elements, making it a versatile choice for adventurous drivers.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two engine options: a base 2.5-liter turbo-four engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a more powerful 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The GV70 also featured a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty character. However, despite its power, the GV70's chassis felt heavy, lacking the sharpness of some competitors like the Acura RDX or BMW X3. The steering was adequate but not precise enough for spirited driving, and the ride was firm, even in Comfort mode.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. The Rock Creek trim offered a slight power boost, with 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. The Pathfinder's power was managed by a 9-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive (FWD) as standard and available all-wheel drive (AWD). The Rock Creek trim featured off-road shocks and a slightly taller suspension, enhancing its off-road capabilities. While the off-road tires provided a rougher ride on highways, they offered a more comfortable experience on trails. The Pathfinder's engine was smooth and quiet, but the new shifter design was considered distracting and less intuitive than traditional designs. The Pathfinder also included a rotary drive mode dial with various settings for different driving conditions, and the Rock Creek trim boasted a towing capacity of up to 6,000 pounds.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered mid-pack interior space for its segment. Despite its car-like roofline, it provided comparable front-seat headroom to the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and back-seat headroom to the BMW X3. Cargo space was 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with them folded, placing it in the middle ground between competitors. The interior design, while daring, compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. The front seats in the Sport Prestige model were heavily bolstered, offering heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions, though some controls were less intuitive.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder provided up to 80.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded flat. With the second row in use, it offered 45 cubic feet, and with all seats upright, 16.6 cubic feet. The first two rows provided ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was suitable for shorter trips. The optional second-row captain’s chairs facilitated access to the third row, and the cabin featured numerous cupholders and storage compartments. The Rock Creek trim's roof racks were practical, capable of holding up to 220 pounds, though their proximity to the roof made snow removal challenging.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came equipped with a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The system's tile-based layout and crisp graphics were user-friendly, and the glass rotary controller added functionality with pinch-and-zoom capabilities. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The GV70 also included a digital-key feature, a fingerprint scanner for starting the car, and a radar-based rear-seat monitor. Genesis Connected Services provided additional features like remote camera activation and driver profiles.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, while higher trims offered a 9-inch screen. The system was easy to use, with logical menu layouts and physical buttons and dials. However, some found the graphics dated. The Pathfinder included four USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and voice recognition. Higher trims added features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay, and additional USB ports. While not cutting-edge, the Pathfinder's tech offerings were practical and user-friendly.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver-attention monitor. It also featured Highway Driving Assist, which added automated lane centering to adaptive cruise control. The GV70 included eight airbags, with a front-center airbag for added protection. Optional features included Highway Driving Assist 2, which offered lane-change functionality and navigation-based adaptive cruise control.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder offered a robust set of standard driver assistance features, including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, collision warning, pedestrian detection, and blind-spot monitoring. The SV trim added ProPilot Assist with lane centering and adaptive cruise control, while the SL trim included front parking sensors, a 360-degree monitor, and traffic-sign recognition. The Platinum trim added rain-sensing wipers and a head-up display. The Pathfinder's off-road mode provided front- and side-view cameras for obstacle monitoring.