Nissan Pathfinder vs Jeep Renegade

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015, was based on the same platform as the Jeep Compass. While the Compass drew design inspiration from the Grand Cherokee, the Renegade was clearly influenced by the iconic Wrangler SUV. It featured a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. The Renegade received a subtle refresh in 2019, and for 2021, those design changes continued, with some previously optional features becoming standard.

Inside, the Renegade boasted a modern, functional cabin design. The upright center stack, reminiscent of the Wrangler, placed controls within easy reach. The Renegade offered various trims and special editions, including Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk. Each trim had unique features, from push-button start and dual-zone climate control in the Sport to leather upholstery and heated front seats in the Limited. The Trailhawk trim, designed for off-road capability, included skid plates, tow hooks, and an upgraded 4WD system.

The fifth-generation 2022 Nissan Pathfinder took design cues from the new era of Nissan’s SUV design. It featured a new take on the V-motion grille, LED headlights, and slim LED daytime running lights. The bulky, slated C-pillar paid homage to the original Pathfinder’s design. Nissan offered the 2022 Pathfinder in 14 paint jobs and color combinations, with a black roof option. The side panels and hood gave the SUV a beefier look, more in line with the Kia Telluride than the Toyota Highlander. The Pathfinder was 0.6 inches wider, with a track 1.2 inches wider, giving it a planted look on the road.

The Pathfinder came in four trim levels: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. All grades featured body-color door handles, chrome badging, and a chrome grille. The SUV offered standard eight-passenger seating, with second-row captain’s chairs available on higher trims. Cloth upholstery was standard on S and SV grades, while semi-aniline leather-appointed seats were available on SL and Platinum grades. The Pathfinder’s interior was designed for flexibility, with features like the EZ Flex Latch and Glide second-row seat technology and a removable second-row center console.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with a base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The upgraded engine was a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder unit, delivering 177 horsepower and an impressive 210 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The turbocharged engine provided better performance due to its extra torque and refinement.

Despite some critiques, the Renegade had a solid ride quality and was surprisingly planted through corners. Its suspension was composed over rougher road surfaces, though the Trailhawk’s off-road setup was less refined. The Renegade’s short wheelbase made it highly maneuverable in tight spaces, and its impressive visibility made it an excellent city car. The Trailhawk trim featured a terrain management system with Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud, and Rock drive modes, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, and an off-road suspension, making it a capable off-road vehicle.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. The engine was paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing the old continuously variable transmission (CVT). The new transmission, sourced from ZF, provided smooth gear shifts. The Pathfinder was available in FWD and AWD configurations, with FWD models featuring a five-position drive mode selector and AWD models offering seven drive and terrain modes.

The Pathfinder’s suspension setup allowed for a stable ride, absorbing most road imperfections. Its steering was reasonably connected, making it easy to park and steer on city streets and off-road trails. The Pathfinder had a 6,000-pound maximum towing capacity, with a Class II tow hitch and trailer harness available. The transmission occasionally struggled to find the right gear at speed, but a brief lift of the gas pedal allowed it to recalibrate. The Pathfinder’s stabilizing trailer sway control technology made towing stable and secure.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. These specs were above average for the subcompact SUV segment. The Renegade’s tall, boxy design offered plenty of headroom in both rows, with great legroom in the front seats and adequate space for adults in the rear seats. The Renegade featured various storage solutions, including small cubbies, trays, and optional equipment tie-down solutions. The front passenger seat could fold completely forward, creating a table for gear or added space for long items.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder’s interior comfort started with its quiet compartment, thanks to improved insulation, front-row acoustic laminated glass, door-mounted outside mirrors, and thicker second-row glass. The Pathfinder’s design focused on flexibility, with features like wide-opening doors, optional second-row captain’s chairs, and the ability to fit three car seats across the second-row bench seat. The EZ Flex Latch and Glide second-row seat technology allowed easy third-row access, even with a forward-facing car seat installed.

The Pathfinder’s second-row center console was removable, providing additional storage space. The front center console offered 13.4 liters of storage space, more than double the traditional amount. The Pathfinder provided 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 45.0 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 80.5 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The rear cargo space sides were flush, making it easy to load large items. The Pathfinder’s front and second-row seats offered abundant space and comfort, with heated seats standard on all models above base and ventilated seats available on the Platinum trim.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on mid-tier trims and standard on higher trims. Both touchscreens ran the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, which had a logical menu layout, easy-to-read graphics, and a helpful dock at the bottom of the screen with icons for major functions. Both screens also came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Kenwood premium audio system was available.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder was loaded with fresh technology that was user-friendly. Standard features included a six-speaker audio system, 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 (Type-A and Type-C). The Pathfinder Platinum featured a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument panel and head-up display.

A 13-speaker Bose Premium Audio system was available on the Pathfinder SL and standard on the Platinum grade. Upper trim levels also offered a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay, door-to-door connected navigation, additional USB ports, HomeLink, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and NissanConnect Services.

For 2021, Jeep made previously optional safety features standard across the Renegade lineup. These included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and front and rear parking sensors were available as options. Despite these features, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Renegade only four out of five stars in crash tests. Parallel parking assist was also available as an option.

Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of safety technology, was standard on every 2022 Pathfinder. It included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, high-beam assist, and rear automatic braking. A driver alertness monitor, rear door alert, and forward-collision warning were also standard. A rearview camera was standard, with a surround-view monitor available on upper trim levels. The Pathfinder featured ten airbags, with the Platinum trim adding an eleventh airbag. Neither the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had crash-tested the Pathfinder.