Nissan Pathfinder vs Honda CR-V

For 2023, the Nissan Pathfinder maintained its fresh design from the 2022 redesign, save for the new Rock Creek trim. The SUV showcased futuristic headlights combined with traditional lighting, leading to a sleek, forward-thinking exterior accentuated by an angular C-pillar. This modern look continued inside, where clean lines and a sensible layout made the interior both visually appealing and practical.

The Pathfinder offered trims like S, SV, SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum. The S trim included 18-inch alloy wheels, manual seats, cloth upholstery, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SV trim added heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, remote start, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The SL brought features like a power-adjustable front passenger seat, leather upholstery, and a 9-inch touchscreen. The rugged Rock Creek trim provided off-road prowess and a unique interior aesthetic with orange stitching. The top-tier Platinum featured a hands-free power liftgate, ventilated front seats, and a digital instrument panel.

The 2023 Honda CR-V adopted a robust and slightly aggressive look with a blunt nose, long hood, and stretched wheelbase, replacing its more charismatic predecessor. Both the EX and EX-L trims came with 18-inch alloy wheels and dark-tinted rear privacy glass. Inside, the EX-L offered leather-wrapped seats and a steering wheel, while the EX used cloth upholstery. The dashboard, modeled after the latest Civic, featured metal mesh trim and a digital instrumentation display for both trims. The EX-L also provided a larger touchscreen, a power rear liftgate, and additional parking sensors.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder carried a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque, while the Rock Creek variant pushed it to 295 hp and 270 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, available in both FWD and AWD (Nissan branded this “4WD”). The Rock Creek trim aimed to highlight its off-road capabilities with a taller suspension and off-road shocks. Despite the rougher ride on highways due to its off-road tires, the Pathfinder shone on trails. Various drive modes, including Eco, Sport, and All-Terrain (Rock Creek exclusive), adjusted the vehicle's performance to different conditions. The Pathfinder's towing capacity ranged from 3,500 pounds to 6,000 pounds, depending on the model.

In contrast, the 2023 Honda CR-V EX and EX-L drew power from a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), provided the front and AWD options. While the CVT allowed for efficient power delivery, it also introduced a droning noise during hard acceleration. Despite this, the CR-V offered a dynamically satisfying drive with refined suspension, steering, and brakes, adaptable for various driving conditions. Its fuel efficiency was commendable, with an observed 29.1 mpg in combined driving.

The Nissan Pathfinder offered ample cargo space with a maximum of 80.5 cubic feet when the second and third rows were folded, 45 cubic feet with the second row up, and 16.6 cubic feet with all seats in use, which was average among midsize three-row SUVs. The first two rows provided significant headroom and legroom, and the third row was suitable for adults on short trips. The brawny roof racks on the Rock Creek model were practical, though removing snow from under the rack could be a challenge.

In contrast, the 2023 Honda CR-V presented itself as the roomiest version yet. However, the lower driving seat made it feel more like a car than an SUV. The second row was spacious, providing ample legroom and headroom, with varied recline positions enhancing comfort. The CR-V’s storage solutions were abundant, with large bins and trays for stowing personal items. The cargo area, accessed via a power liftgate, offered 39.3 cubic feet of space with the seats up, expanding to 76.5 cubic feet with the seats down. Despite the ample space, hard plastic linings in storage areas could lead to unwanted noise.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, upgraded to a 9-inch system on higher trims. It had logical menus, easy-to-use buttons, and dials, though the graphics were somewhat dated. Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and four USB ports were standard across all trims. The SL trim added wireless Apple CarPlay and device charging, while the Platinum included additional USB ports and an advanced sound system.

The Honda CR-V EX included a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with physical knobs and buttons, paired with a 7-inch digital instrumentation display. Upgrading to the EX-L trim brought a larger 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless charging, and an enhanced eight-speaker sound system. Though a top-tier sound system and advanced navigation were reserved for the Sport Touring Hybrid variant, the EX-L’s mid-grade stereo proved sufficient for most needs.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder was equipped with extensive driver assistance features, including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and driver attention monitoring. Higher trims added ProPilot Assist, front parking sensors, traffic-sign recognition, and a 360-degree camera system. The Platinum trim introduced additional features like rain-sensing wipers and a head-up display.

Similarly, the Honda CR-V improved its safety with the Honda Sensing suite, offering adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping and centering assist, and automatic high beams. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver monitoring system, and traffic sign recognition. Enhanced camera and radar units facilitated the new Traffic Jam Assist system for low-speed situations. Honda’s latest Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure and new airbag designs further ensured safety, although official test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were pending at the time.