2023 Nissan Pathfinder vs 2022 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder drew design inspiration from the new era of the Japanese automaker’s SUV lineup. Featuring a new version of the company's signature V-motion grille, it matched the design cues found on models like the Rogue and Armada. The updated Nissan logo graced the center of the three-slot grille, paying homage to the first-generation Pathfinder. This model included LED headlights flanking the grille and slim LED daytime running lights which resembled eyebrows and directed attention to the bulky, slated C-pillar, another nod to the original Pathfinder's design. With 14 available paint jobs and color combinations, it offered customization options galore, including a black roof descending onto the C-pillar.

The side panels and hood of the 2022 model gave it a more robust and hefty appearance, aligning with contemporary designs like the Kia Telluride. The rear of the vehicle had sleek, thin taillights that wrapped around the large liftgate, which was adorned with prominent badging of the vehicle’s nameplate. This design strategy achieved a more rugged aesthetic. The 2022 Pathfinder was 0.6 inches wider, with a track that was 1.2 inches broader, creating a more grounded look on the road. It was also slightly higher at 0.2 inches and 0.8 inches shorter in length compared to the previous generation, yet it provided more legroom.

With the model aiming to instill a sense of rugged capability, the 2022 Pathfinder was available in four trim levels: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. Each featured body-color door handles, chrome badging, and a chrome grille. The windows from the rear quarter to the liftgate were equipped with privacy glass. Across all trims, except the Platinum, speed-sensitive wipers were standard, while the Platinum came with intermittent wipers. Options included a panoramic moonroof and a roof rack (standard on SV and higher).

The 2022 Pathfinder catered to families with standard eight-passenger seating across all but the Platinum trim, which had standard second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating to seven. SL and SV buyers had the option of these chairs. Cloth upholstery was standard on S and SV trims, whereas SL and Platinum received semi-aniline leather-appointed seats, quilted on the Platinum. A Midnight Edition package was not officially offered, although dealers could install components to give the vehicle a similar look.

For the 2023 model year, Nissan largely carried over the Pathfinder's design from the 2022 model but introduced the Rock Creek trim. The futuristic headlights with more conventional lights within them and the angular C-pillar kept the design balanced between traditional and modern elements, ensuring the Pathfinder remained relevant. The interior echoed this modernity with clean lines and a sensible layout, making it both aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly.

Trims for the 2023 Pathfinder included S, SV, SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum. The S trim came standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable seats, cloth upholstery, push-button start, remote keyless entry, and tri-zone automatic climate control. The infotainment system remained an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The SV trim offered additional features like heated front seats, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, remote start, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and enhanced driver assistance features. Moving to the SL trim added unique side mirrors that tilted down when in reverse, a power-adjustable front passenger’s seat, wireless device charging, a heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

The new Rock Creek trim provided a rugged aesthetic with off-road suspension, all-terrain tires, unique styling elements, LED fog lights, a heavy-duty roof cargo rack, and standard four-wheel drive. It also received a slight power boost from the standard V6 engine. The water-repellent interior featured a dark aesthetic with orange stitching and labels, while the exterior showcased a forest green paint that complemented the bright orange touches.

At the top, the Platinum trim included upgraded leather upholstery and 20-inch alloy wheels. It also added a hands-free power liftgate, a wall-style power outlet, ventilated front seats, a fully digital instrument panel, and a power tilt-telescoping steering wheel.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder housed a 3.5-liter V6 engine capable of producing 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. There was no hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric model available, which might have disappointed some eco-conscious buyers. This engine was paired with Nissan's new nine-speed automatic transmission sourced from ZF, replacing the old continuously variable transmission (CVT). The new transmission offered smooth shifts and was paired with an electronic shift-by-wire drive selector, as well as paddle shifters for a more engaging drive.

The Pathfinder came in both front-wheel-drive (FWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) configurations. FWD models featured a five-position drive mode selector, while AWD Pathfinders had seven drive and terrain modes to choose from. Hill-start assist was standard, and hill descent control was exclusive to AWD models. The 2022 Pathfinder had an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined for FWD models. AWD models provided the same combined fuel economy but added 1 mpg on the highway. The fully-equipped Pathfinder Platinum with AWD achieved 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. The model also received a new capless fuel filler for added convenience.

Built on an improved platform, the 2022 Pathfinder offered a stable ride and the ability to absorb most road imperfections. The steering was responsive and well-suited for a family vehicle, with a tight turning radius that made it easy to maneuver in urban settings and off-road trails. The Pathfinder had a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds, rivalling the Subaru Ascent in stability, thanks to trailer sway control technology.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder retained the 3.5-liter V6 engine with identical performance metrics: 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. The Rock Creek trim saw a slight power boost with the engine tuned to produce 295 hp and 270 lb-ft. Like its predecessor, the powertrain was paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, driving either the FWD or AWD system. Despite Nissan's labeling, the AWD setup did not equate to traditional 4x4 systems found in trucks.

The Rock Creek trim aimed to bolster off-road capability with a slightly raised suspension and off-road shocks. While these off-road tires improved trail performance, they compromised ride comfort on paved roads by amplifying vibrations and cracks in the road surface. Thus, buyers had to weigh how often they'd venture off-road against the daily comfort trade-off.

One significant change was Nissan’s proprietary shifter design, which could be confusing and potentially unsafe. Owners might need time to get accustomed to it, as it was possible to mistakenly leave the vehicle in gear or shift into neutral. Nonetheless, the Pathfinder’s rotary drive mode dial was straightforward, offering Eco, Sport, Normal, Sand, Mud/Rut, Snow, Towing, and an additional All-Terrain mode in the Rock Creek. A downhill crawl assist button provided a cruise-control-like feature for trails.

The towing capacity remained at 3,500 pounds for most trims but went up to 6,000 pounds with the Rock Creek or optional equipment on the SV and SL trims.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder’s interior was designed with comfort and quietness in mind. Improvements in carpeting, doors, and floor insulation reduced road noise. Enhanced insulation, front-row acoustic laminated glass, door-mounted outside mirrors, and thicker second-row glass further decreased engine noise during highway driving.

Recognizing the Pathfinder’s role as a family hauler, Nissan focused on flexibility. The design facilitated easy loading and unloading of people and goods. The rear door had an Intelligent Key feature, wide-opening doors, optional second-row captain’s chairs, and the capability to fit three car seats across the second-row bench. Up to five car seats could be installed simultaneously, which was a result of customer feedback. Additional notable features included best-in-class front-seat legroom and increased hip room for third-row passengers by five inches.

The EZ Flex Latch and Glide second-row seat technology was a standout feature, allowing easy access to the third row via a button that electronically unlocked the second-row latching mechanism. This one-touch operation worked with or without a forward-facing car seat installed. The removable second-row center console added more flexibility, with easy storage options in the SUV’s rear under-floor cargo space.

In terms of cargo space, the 2022 Pathfinder provided 16.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 45.0 cubic feet with the third row folded flat, and 80.5 cubic feet with both second and third rows folded. This space was enough to fit bulky items like four golf bags or a 120-quart cooler. The flush rear cargo space sides made it easy to load large objects, and additional storage space under the rear floor added utility.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder offered a similar cargo capacity: 16.6 cubic feet with all seats upright, 45 cubic feet with the second row in use, and up to 80.5 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded flat. This was on par with the 2022 model but slightly fell short compared to rivals like the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot.

The first two rows of the 2023 model continued to provide ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was suitable for adults on shorter trips. The optional second-row captain’s chairs eased access to the third row, and the second-row quick-release functionality improved convenience. The cabin featured 12 cupholders and four bottle holders strategically placed across the three rows.

The Rock Creek’s aftermarket-style tubular roof racks were practical, capable of holding up to 220 pounds, and versatile for various tie-down configurations. However, cleaning snow off the roof could be challenging due to the racks' proximity to the roof. Convenience features like foldable windshield wipers addressed snowy conditions to some extent.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder came packed with user-friendly technology without overwhelming drivers. The standard equipment list included a six-speaker audio system, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, Siri Eyes Free, Google Assistant Voice Recognition, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, voice recognition, Bluetooth, satellite radio, hands-free text messaging, a 7-inch digital driver-information display, two 12-volt DC power outlets, and four USB ports.

Higher trims like the SL and Platinum models featured enhanced tech, such as a 13-speaker Bose Premium Audio system, a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay, and additional USB ports. The Platinum trim also included a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument panel and head-up display.

For 2023, the Pathfinder included similar tech offerings. It came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims like the SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen. Both systems had user-friendly interfaces backed by physical buttons and dials. Although the infotainment graphics could be considered low-quality compared to newer models, its straightforward usability was a strong suit. The 2023 model also featured Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and voice recognition as standard. The SV trim added a Wi-Fi hotspot, while the SL trim incorporated wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless device charging, and an additional USB port in the third row. The Platinum trim provided a second third-row USB port.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder came equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of safety technologies including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, high-beam assist, and rear automatic braking. Standard features also included a driver alertness monitor, rear door alert, and forward-collision warning. All trims were supplied with a rearview camera, and upper trims offered a surround-view monitor. The Pathfinder had ten airbags, with the Platinum trim receiving an additional airbag.

Similarly, the 2023 Pathfinder provided an extensive list of standard driver-assistance features such as forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward and reverse collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, rear parking sensors, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The SV trim upgraded to ProPilot Assist, which included lane centering and adaptive cruise control. The SL trim added front parking sensors, a 360-degree parking monitor, and traffic-sign recognition, with ProPilot Assist connected to the navigation system. The Platinum trim included rain-sensing wipers and a head-up display. In off-road mode, the touchscreen offered front- and side-view camera displays for obstacle monitoring.