Nissan Pathfinder vs Jeep Grand Wagoneer

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar traditional SUV styling. It featured a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly with laser-etched knurling, and the wheel center caps had an acrylic glass covering to protect the “Wagoneer” logo. The interior boasted high-end materials and convenience features, including 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, lumbar support, and four-way power headrests. Nappa leather upholstery was standard, with higher-grade Palermo leather available, along with aluminum and American Walnut wood trim.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder carried over its redesign from the previous year, maintaining a blend of traditional and forward-thinking design elements. Its futuristic headlights and angular C-pillar contributed to a modern aesthetic that extended into the cabin, which featured clean lines and a sensible layout. The Pathfinder offered trims such as S, SV, SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum, each with varying levels of equipment. The Rock Creek trim added rugged features like off-road suspension, all-terrain tires, and a heavy-duty roof cargo rack. The interior was practical, with features like heated seats, remote start, and a water-repellent interior in the Rock Creek trim, making it suitable for both trails and winter conditions.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, producing 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It featured cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Wagoneer could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds, despite its hefty 6,400-pound weight. It came standard with a Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive system, including a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system was also standard, offering adjustable height for various driving conditions. With a maximum ground clearance of 10 inches, the Grand Wagoneer could handle off-road challenges, although its size limited its trail capabilities.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. The Rock Creek trim offered a slight power boost to 295 hp and 270 lb-ft. Power was transmitted through a 9-speed automatic transmission to either front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. The Rock Creek trim featured a taller suspension with off-road shocks and standard AWD, enhancing its off-road capabilities. The Pathfinder's engine provided ample power for city and highway driving, and the automatic transmission was smooth and quiet. The Pathfinder also included a rotary drive mode dial with various settings, including an All-Terrain mode in the Rock Creek trim. The Rock Creek's towing capacity reached up to 6,000 pounds, while other models had a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80. However, front-row space was more limited compared to these rivals. The Grand Wagoneer offered 27.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 70.9 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 94.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. Its maximum towing capacity was 9,850 pounds, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to the Grand Wagoneer's extra weight. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and a 360-degree camera system.

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 of cargo space, and 16.6 cubic feet with all seats upright. The Pathfinder's interior was spacious, with ample headroom and legroom in the first two rows, while the third row was suitable for shorter trips. Optional second-row captain’s chairs facilitated access to the third row. The Pathfinder featured 12 cupholders and four bottle holders throughout the cabin, along with numerous storage compartments. The Rock Creek trim included a robust roof rack capable of holding up to 220 pounds, although its proximity to the roof made snow removal challenging.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with 3D graphics, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous pairing for two Bluetooth-enabled phones and included a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot. Second-row passengers had access to a 10.25-inch center console touchscreen, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer used the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which offered an Android-based operating system and over-the-air software updates. While the system was comprehensive, the screen response was occasionally slow, and the instrument cluster graphics were considered plain.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims, including SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum, featured a larger 9-inch touchscreen. The system was user-friendly, with logical menu layouts and physical buttons and dials. While some found the graphics dated, the system's ease of use was a highlight. 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 introduced wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless device charging, and additional USB ports. The Platinum trim offered further enhancements, including a second third-row USB port.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time. It came with standard safety features such as a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included a driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and advanced driver-assistance systems. Active Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, requiring hands-on driving, with a hands-free version planned for future release.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder included standard driver assistance features like 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 introduced 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's off-road mode displayed front- and side-view cameras at low speeds for obstacle monitoring.