2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2023 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder, rejuvenated with its 2022 redesign, exuded a blend of traditional and contemporary elements, ensuring it remained visually appealing for the foreseeable future. This was evident from its futuristic headlights, seamlessly integrated with conventional lighting, to the sharp, angular C-pillar. The exterior design positioned the Pathfinder as a forward-thinking SUV that balanced heritage with innovative aesthetics. Stepping inside, the cabin embraced clean lines and a sensible layout, making it both visually pleasing and functional. The minimalist yet modern interior was user-friendly, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The Pathfinder was available in five trims: S, SV, SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum. Each trim level progressively added more features. The base S trim included 18-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable seats, cloth upholstery, remote keyless entry, push-button start, and tri-zone automatic climate control. The infotainment setup featured an 8-inch touchscreen compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The SV trim enhanced comfort and convenience with heated front seats, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, remote start, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The SL trim added more luxury and tech with side mirrors that tilted down in reverse, wireless device charging, a heated steering wheel, and a 9-inch touchscreen. The Rock Creek variant catered to adventure-seekers with distinctive off-road capabilities and rugged aesthetics. It featured off-road suspension, all-terrain tires, LED fog lights, a heavy-duty roof cargo rack, standard four-wheel drive, and a slightly more powerful V6 engine. The interior had durable synthetic leather upholstery with dark, rugged accents. The Platinum trim, defining the pinnacle of luxury in the Pathfinder lineup, boasted premium leather upholstery, 20-inch alloy wheels, ventilated front seats, a fully digital instrument panel, and a power tilt-telescoping steering wheel.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 sported subtle exterior changes. The front bumper introduced glossy black trim, while the rear bumper adopted a more squared-off design, slightly augmenting its aerodynamic efficiency. New wheel designs and colors, along with a light-up rear VW logo, subtly refreshed the model.

The ID.4’s design clearly set it apart as an electric vehicle but did not embrace the more traditional SUV styling with elevated profiles and greater ground clearance. This could be a downside for SUV traditionalists but aligned with the aesthetics of modern EVs like the Chevrolet Bolt EUV. The ID.4, based on VW’s MEB platform, ensured a sharp departure from gasoline models, featuring a minimalist and quality-focused interior. Even the entry-level Standard model did not compromise much on luxury, showcasing leatherette upholstery and recycled material inserts, maintaining quality across trims.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder was powered by a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. The Rock Creek variant elevated this with a tuning that delivered 295 hp and 270 lb-ft. Power was transmitted via a 9-speed automatic transmission, with options for front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Notably, the Rock Creek aimed to substantiate its rugged persona with added off-road capability, featuring a slightly raised suspension and all-wheel drive.

On highways and urban roads, the Pathfinder’s engine was smooth and powerful enough for everyday drives. Although, the off-road tires on the Rock Creek model introduced more vibrations from road imperfections. Despite the off-road enhancements, the decision came down to how frequently a driver would utilize such capabilities. The vehicle’s shifter design, while modern, could potentially be confusing, though this was mitigated by the intuitive rotary drive mode dial, offering modes like Eco, Sport, Normal, Sand, Mud/Rut Snow, and Towing, with an additional All-Terrain mode on the Rock Creek.

The maximum towing capacity varied with trims; standard models could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the Rock Creek and optionally equipped SV and SL trims could handle up to 6,000 pounds. This made the Rock Creek a versatile choice for both off-road trails and heavy-duty towing.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 retained its powertrains, featuring a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base Standard and S models with RWD. The higher trims, Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus, continued with the larger 82-kWh pack, available in both RWD and AWD configurations. The RWD models with the smaller battery developed 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while the dual-motor AWD variants delivered 295 hp and 339 lb-ft, enabling a 0-60 mph sprint in 5.7 seconds.

Despite the smaller battery reducing the curb weight by 240 pounds, enhancing acceleration and handling, the ID.4 provided a smooth and refined drive rather than sporty handling. It offered adequate performance for daily commuting and long drives but did not match the agility of hot hatchbacks despite similar power figures.

The ID.4’s regenerative braking system was less aggressive compared to other EVs, opting for a coasting feature that resembled traditional gasoline vehicle driving experiences. Though this made it more accessible for new EV drivers, it fell short for those who preferred one-pedal driving.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder offered competitive cargo capacity and interior space for a midsize three-row SUV. It provided up to 80.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded flat, 45 cubic feet with the second row in use, and 16.6 cubic feet behind the third row. This positioned it closely among its rivals but slightly behind models like the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride, and Hyundai Palisade.

Passenger comfort was a priority, with the first two rows providing ample headroom and legroom. The third row was adequate for adults on shorter trips. The optional second-row captain’s chairs enhanced accessibility to the third row. Additionally, the vehicle boasted numerous beverage holders and storage compartments, including an array of 12 cupholders and multiple bottle holders.

The Rock Creek model featured robust aftermarket-style tubular roof racks capable of holding up to 220 pounds, proving more practical than typical roof racks, though snow removal could be challenging. Nissan’s thoughtful design included windshield wipers that could fold outward for easier snow removal.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 matched its SUV billing with ample interior space, more so than other affordable EVs like the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Nissan Leaf. It also offered more headroom than the Kia Niro EV. It provided 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, and 64.2 cubic feet when folded, making it more practical than many entry-level EVs though it fell short compared to gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

The ID.4’s towing capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models provided some utility, though not sufficient for heavy-duty towing tasks. The updated interior for 2023 included a conventional lid for the center console and an improved phone storage area, contributing to better usability. The three-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats was another thoughtful addition.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, standard across all trims except for the SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum, which had a larger 9-inch touchscreen. Although the infotainment interface was user-friendly with logical menus and physical buttons, some users might find the graphics low in quality, particularly the backup camera’s resolution.

Standard tech features included four USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and voice recognition. The SV trim added a Wi-Fi hotspot, while the SL trim introduced wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless device charging, and an additional third-row USB port. The Platinum trim further increased connectivity with a second third-row USB port. The Pathfinder might not have been the most cutting-edge in tech, but it provided essential features to keep devices charged and connected.

For the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4, VW standardized the previously optional 12.0-inch touchscreen across all trims, replacing the 10.0-inch screen on lower levels. This came with software updates for improved responsiveness. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard, along with the ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster.

Despite improvements, the user experience of the infotainment system remained the same, offering sharp graphics and familiar smartphone-like icons for ease of navigation. However, the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel posed a challenge due to their lack of physical feedback. The natural-language voice recognition system partly mitigated this issue, making it easier to operate basic functions without distractions. The ID.Light feature added a unique ambient lighting element that doubled as an AI assistant, providing visual cues for navigation and drive modes.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder came equipped with a comprehensive array of standard driver assistance features. These included 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. Upgrading to the SV trim added ProPilot Assist, which provided lane centering and adaptive cruise control. The SL trim further enhanced safety with front parking sensors, a 360-degree parking monitor, and traffic-sign recognition, while the Platinum trim included rain-sensing wipers and a head-up display.

In off-road mode, the Pathfinder offered a helpful feature: the touchscreen presented front- and side-view cameras at low speeds, enabling obstacle monitoring without needing an external spotter.

Standard safety features on the ID.4 included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear park distance control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and VW’s Travel Assist 2.0, which encompassed adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering. New for 2023 were Park Assist Plus automated parking, automated lane changes for Travel Assist, and a 360-degree camera system.