Nissan Pathfinder vs Subaru Forester

Nissan's largest crossover, the Pathfinder, seats up to eight people while offering a car-like ride and control at a medium price point. In our testing of midsize three-row crossovers, the Pathfinder comes out in the middle of the pack in terms of performance, technology, and driving enjoyment. For 2026, Nissan refreshed this fifth-generation Pathfinder, which had been largely unchanged since its debut for the 2021 model year. The 2026 Pathfinder offers more convenience features, a larger touchscreen, and a few new styling touches.

Verdict: The Pathfinder is a good choice for value, interior quality, and space, but rivals from Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia push the dials even further at a similar price.

To create the 2026 Forester Wilderness, Subaru adds all-terrain tires, increased ground clearance, and improved angles of approach, breakover, and departure. Drivetrain modifications enhance traction, added underbody protection prevents damage when off-roading, and a full-size all-terrain spare tire is ready when you need it. Styling changes convey this model’s rugged capabilities, and Subaru outfits the interior for easy clean-up. All 2026 Forester models get a new center console design and updated protection for rear passengers in a collision.

Verdict: Push the new 2026 Forester Wilderness to its limits, and you’ll be impressed by its off-roading capability. But, even if you’re not planning to traverse challenging terrain, it is comforting to know that the Wilderness offers more competence than a typical crossover SUV when confronted with unexpected situations.