2023 Nissan Pathfinder vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load children into car seats, even in tight parking spaces. The Odyssey offered a spacious and comfortable third-row seat, accommodating additional passengers without hassle. With ample cargo space, it could transform into a cargo hauler by folding down or removing seats. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Odyssey maintained a sense of style, especially in the Elite trim with its dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels. The interior was open and functional, with a low console and well-placed controls, providing a clear view through the expansive windshield.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder, redesigned in 2022, continued to impress with its modern design and practical features. Its futuristic headlights and angular C-pillar gave it a contemporary look that remained relevant. Inside, the Pathfinder offered a clean and sensible layout, making it easy to live with. The SUV came in various trims, each adding more features, from the basic S trim with 18-inch alloy wheels and cloth upholstery to the luxurious Platinum trim with upgraded leather and a digital instrument panel. The Rock Creek trim added rugged elements like off-road suspension and all-terrain tires, appealing to those seeking adventure. Overall, the Pathfinder combined style with functionality, making it a versatile choice for families.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a front-wheel-drive system paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer all-wheel drive or an electrified powertrain, resulting in an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. Despite this, the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with responsive handling and quick acceleration. However, its brakes tended to heat up during downhill driving, leading to pedal vibration and noise. Overall, the Odyssey provided a pleasant driving experience, but its braking system needed improvement for mountain driving.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. The Rock Creek trim offered a slightly more powerful version with 295 hp and 270 lb-ft. The Pathfinder featured a 9-speed automatic transmission and was available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Rock Creek trim added off-road capability with a taller suspension and off-road shocks. While the off-road tires provided a rougher ride on highways, they offered comfort on trails. The Pathfinder's engine delivered ample power for city and highway driving, and the automatic transmission was smooth and quiet. However, the unique shifter design could be distracting. The Pathfinder also featured a rotary drive mode dial with various modes, including an All-Terrain mode in the Rock Creek trim. The Pathfinder's towing capacity was 3,500 pounds, but the Rock Creek trim could tow up to 6,000 pounds.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The tri-zone automatic climate control system ensured comfort for all passengers. The Odyssey provided ample storage space, with numerous compartments and a handy floor tray. The second-row seats were comfortable, with the option to remove the center section for more space. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible seating arrangements. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, with good leg support and foot room. The Odyssey offered 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded. Removing the second-row seats provided a massive 144.9 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder offered up to 80.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded. With the second row in use, it provided 45 cubic feet of cargo space, and 16.6 cubic feet with all seats upright. The first two rows offered ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was suitable for shorter trips. The optional second-row captain’s chairs made accessing the third row easier. The Pathfinder featured 12 cupholders and four bottle holders throughout the cabin. The Rock Creek trim included a robust roof rack capable of holding up to 220 pounds. However, the roof rack's proximity to the roof made snow removal challenging.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with a range of technology features, though its infotainment system was becoming outdated. Starting with the EX trim, it included an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services. The Odyssey also featured CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, allowing the driver to monitor and communicate with rear passengers. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch display, but it was considered behind the times. The Elite trim added an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad. Overall, the Odyssey's infotainment and technology package needed an upgrade.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with the SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum trims offering a larger 9-inch screen. The system was user-friendly, with logical menu layouts and real buttons and dials. However, the graphics were considered low-quality. The Pathfinder included four USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and voice recognition. The SV trim added a Wi-Fi hotspot, while the SL trim added wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless device charging, and a third-row USB port. The Platinum trim included an additional third-row USB port. While not cutting-edge, the Pathfinder's tech features were practical and kept devices charged and connected.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was well-equipped with safety features, including the Honda Sensing suite, which offered adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, the Honda Sensing system lacked refinement, sometimes issuing invalid warnings or taking abrupt actions. The blind-spot monitoring system's warning light was not ideally placed, and the radar's range was limited. Despite these issues, the Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder came with a comprehensive set of standard driver assistance features, including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, rear parking sensors, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The SV trim added ProPilot Assist with lane centering and adaptive cruise control. The SL trim included front parking sensors, a 360-degree parking monitor, and traffic-sign recognition. The Platinum trim added rain-sensing wipers and a head-up display. The Pathfinder also featured front- and side-view cameras in Off-Road mode for obstacle monitoring.