Overall Rating
Updated on: July 5, 2021
Senior Correspondent
The midsize SUV market is crowded with plenty of potent SUV 's that have something unique to offer. The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder is Nissan 's contender in this battle and wants to grab a slice of this market. The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder remains mostly unchanged from 2018 other than the addition of some driver aids and rear parking sensors.
Enthusiastic Motor
Decent MPG Figures
Easy ingress and Egress in the 3rd Row
Segment Leading Towing Capacity
Standard Auto Emergency Braking
Average Cargo capacity
Sub Par 3rd Row Space
Stiffer than Normal Ride Quality
Standard Rear parking Sensors and USB-C ports
Additional Standard driver aids
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
Features
Engine and Performance
Fuel Economy
Interior
Exterior
Safety
Competition
7.6
OVERALL RATING
Overall Rating
The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder drives on its frugal motor that belts out one of the best MPG figures in the market and an amazing 6000lbs towing capacity. Underneath the hood of the 2020 Pathfinder is a 3.5L V6 motor that shells out 284hp and 259lbs.-ft. of torque. With the EPA ratings of 23MPG, the pathfinder offers a terrific range with its massive 19-gallon fuel tank.
Available in a total of 4 trims- S, SV, SL and Platinum, the Pathfinder can be had in both 2WD and 4WD configurations. For 2020, Nissan is also offering a Rock Creek Edition in the SV and SL trims and adds some cosmetic updates to the same. Prices for the Pathfinder range from $31,530 to over $44,000, depending on the trim and number of options chosen.
7.5/10
Features
8.0/10
Engine and Performance
7.0/10
Fuel Economy
7.5/10
Interior
8.0/10
Exterior
8.0/10
Safety
8.0/10
Competition
The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder comes in 4 Trims but Nissan is offering a Special Edition of the Pathfinder, called the Rock Creek Edition. Available in both 4WD and 2WD and exclusive to the SV and SL trims, the Rock Creek edition is priced at $35,365 (SV 2WD), $39,015 (SL 2WD), $37,055 (SV 4WD) and $40,705 (SL 4WD) respectively. The upgrades in this edition includes Blackened Front Grill, side mirrors, overfenders, door handles and 18' Dark-Finished Aluminum Alloys.
|
Trims |
S |
SV |
SL |
Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP(2WD) |
$31,530 |
$34,370 |
$38,020 |
$42,870 |
|
MSRP(4WD) |
$33,220 |
$36,060 |
$39,710 |
$44,560 |
|
Features |
Tri-Zone Auto Temperature Control |
Adds/Upgrades to S |
Adds/Upgrades to SV |
Adds/Upgrades to SL |
|
Sirius XM Radio |
Fog Lights |
LED Low Beam Projector Headlamps |
Dual Panel Panoramic Moon Roof |
|
|
Auto Emergency Braking |
Remote Engine Start |
Motion Activated Lift Gate |
Tow Hitch Receiver |
|
|
2nd Row 60/40 Split and 3rd Row 50/50 Split flat folding seats |
Intelligent Cruise Control |
1st and 2nd Row Leather appointed Seats |
Climate Controlled Front Seats |
|
|
Blind Spot Warning |
Around View Monitor |
20' Alloy Wheels |
||
|
Rear Cross Traffic Alert |
Heated Front Seats |
13 Speaker Bose Audio System with Acoustic Waveguide Tech |
The SL trim, packs in premium features like Leather Upholstery, LED Headlights and Heated Seats as part of its standard features list. Hence, this is the trim that is worth shelling out the extra bucks on.
The Pathfinder manages to find the middle ground quite well with a torquey engine and friendly daily driving dynamics- Edmunds.com
Powering the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder is a 3.5L V6 motor that belts out 284hp and 259lbs.-ft. Of torque. In the real world, this motor provides just enough grunt to pass through Cars on the motorway and in the cities. The X-Tronic CVT transmission, paired to this motor offers very little 'Rubberband' effect that we associate with CVT's and does fine in shifting through gears, mostly.
|
Models |
Nissan Pathfinder S |
Ford Explorer |
Honda Pilot LX |
Chevrolet Traverse L |
Toyota Highlander LE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP |
$32,575 |
$33,460 |
$32,495 |
$31,125 |
$34,825 |
|
Engine |
3.5l V6 |
3.5l V6 |
3.5l V6 |
3.6L V6 |
3.5L V6 |
|
Transmission |
CVT |
6 Speed Automatic |
6 Speed Automatic |
9 Speed Automatic |
8 Speed Automatic |
|
Power(hp) |
284@ 6400 rpm |
290@ 6500 rpm |
280@ 6000 rpm |
305@6800rpm |
295@6600rpm |
|
Torque(lbs.-ft.) |
259@ 4800 rpm |
255@ 4000 rpm |
262@ 4700 rpm |
260@2800rpm |
263@4700rpm |
Speaking of rivals, the Chevy Traverse of the most power among its rivals. The Toyota and the Ford come in a close 2nd and 3rd while the Nissan has to suffice with the 4th spot. The Honda Pilot offers the least power of the lot but ranks high in terms of torque on offer.
With a time of 7.4 seconds to do the 0-60 dash, the Pathfinder is the slowest of the lost, when compared to its other adversaries. The 15.7 second time for doing the quarter mile, also doesn't aid the Nissan's cause and makes the Nissan, the slowest among its rivals.
|
Models |
Nissan Pathfinder S |
Ford Explorer |
Honda Pilot LX |
Chevrolet Traverse L |
Toyota Highlander LE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0-60 MPH(Seconds) |
7.4 |
5.8 |
6.1 |
6.7 |
7.2 |
|
Quarter mile(Seconds) |
15.7 |
14.4 |
14.7 |
15.2 |
15.5 |
|
Engine |
3.5l V6 |
3.5l V6 |
3.5l V6 |
3.6L V6 |
3.5L V6 |
|
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year) |
7.6 |
9.8 |
8.0 |
8.4 |
8.0 |
The Ford Explorer rakes in the best times in the 0-60MPH and Quarter Mile dash. The Honda Pilot surprises by coming second overall and the Traverse and the Highlander come in at a distant 3rd and 4th respectively.
The Ride Quality and the Handling of the 2020 Nissan pathfinder is composed for the most part but it isn't exactly the comfiest or smoothest among its adversaries. In lieu of reducing body roll and favoring sportiness, Nissan stiffened the suspension of the Pathfinder and that has caused the ride, to be stiffer than what many would expect from an SUV in this category.
The AWD system with a Full Lock setting, allows for superb grip off road and aids in spirited driving. Drive over a speed hump at City Limit speeds and the Nissan won't disappoint but take it over the same at higher speeds and you will feel the stiffness of the suspension.
The Sportiness in the dynamics of the Pathfinder can be also related to its braking performance as well. The Nissan stops from 60-0MPH in just 124 ft, making it stand tall among the rest of its competitors. The Brakes offer superb feel and feedback and aren't spongy or jittery in operation. The Noise from the ABS during panic braking is quite prominent and so is the Dive from the SUV.
|
Model |
Nissan Pathfinder S |
Ford Explorer |
Honda Pilot LX |
Chevrolet Traverse L |
Toyota Highlander LE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brakes front(in) |
12.6 |
12.6 |
12.6 |
TBD |
12.9 |
|
Brakes Rear(in) |
12.1 |
12.8 |
13 |
TBD |
12.2 |
|
Curb weight(lbs.) |
4293 |
4453 |
4036 |
4362 |
4244 |
|
60-0 MPH (ft.) |
124 |
108(With optional tires) |
129 |
130 |
128 |
The Ford Explorer, stands tall in terms of braking performance with its optional tires. The other cars, apart from the Nissan are not separated by a big margin with the Highlander being the best among the 3.
One of the standout features of the Nissan's package is its towing capacity. The 6000lbs capacity is the best among its rivals and the engine feels at ease towing weights like those. Rivals of the Nissan can muster just 5000lbs. Of towing capacity at best.
|
Model |
Nissan Pathfinder S |
Ford Explorer |
Honda Pilot LX |
Chevrolet Traverse L |
Toyota Highlander LE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Engine |
3.5l V6 |
3.5l V6 |
3.5l V6 |
3.6L V6 |
3.5L V6 |
|
Towing Capacity (Lbs.) |
6000 |
5000 |
5000 |
5000 |
5000 |
Being the Slowest among its adversaries, does give the Nissan Pathfinder some bragging rights in the Fuel Efficiency department. The Pathfinder excels on this front and delivers a superb 23MPG of overall mileage. What sweetens the deal is the massive range on both the city and on the highway, courtesy of a massive 19.5 gallon fuel tank.
|
Model |
Nissan Pathfinder S |
Ford Explorer |
Honda Pilot LX |
Chevrolet Traverse L |
Toyota Highlander LE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MPG (City) |
20 |
17 |
19 |
17 |
20 |
|
MPG (Highway) |
27 |
24 |
27 |
25 |
27 |
|
MPG (Combine) |
23 |
20 |
22 |
20 |
23 |
|
Fuel Tank Capacity(Gallons) |
19.5 |
18.6 |
19.5 |
21.7 |
19.2 |
|
Range(City/Highway) (Miles) |
390/527 |
316/446 |
371/527 |
369/542 |
384/518 |
The American Duo of the Ford Explorer and the Chevrolet Traverse, come in as the most fuel thirsty among all the SUV's here and offer the least MPG figures. The Toyota is ties for the top spot with the Nissan on the same front and the Honda comes in a close 2nd.
The Nissan Pathfinder has evolved from a full-size brute to a family-friendly '8ute. Families will appreciate its size and cargo capacity, which has been improved since its early days. - Carconnection
The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder can ferry 7 people with itself without much fuss. What is even more impressive is the fact that the Nissan offers plenty of room for passengers inside, with a special highlight being the space on offer in the 3rd row. The Ventilated front Seats are comfortable on the whole and feel cushy, while offering a sense of premium feel, courtesy of the all leather seats.
We overall don't find the design of the Interiors to be impressive and rather feels dated than some of the other SUV's in the segment. The Build quality feels solid and exudes luxury on the whole. Ingress and Egress in the 3rd row is the easiest in the Nissan when compared to other adversaries in the segment.
|
Model |
Nissan Pathfinder S |
Ford Explorer |
Honda Pilot LX |
Chevrolet Traverse L |
Toyota Highlander LE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Passenger capacity |
7 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
42.2/60.9/42.3 |
41.4/61.5/42.9 |
40.1/62.0/40.9 |
41.3/62.1/41.0 |
40.7/59.3/44.2 |
|
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
39.4/60.4/41.7 |
40.6/61.0/39.5 |
40.2/62.0/38.4 |
40.0/62.2/38.4 |
39.9/59.6/38.4 |
|
Third (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
37.8/57.1/30.7 |
37.8/50.8/32.0 |
38.9/57.6/31.9 |
38.2/57.5/33.5 |
35.9/55.0/27.7 |
While all the SUV's in today's comparison offer tremendous sense of space on the front row, the Toyota Highlander comes in short when talking of space for the 2nd and 3rd row. The Toyota however, scores high in terms of the comfort on offer and is closely matched by the Honda Pilot SUV.
The Nissan Pathfinder has one of the biggest 3rd row's in its class and hence has compromised on its Cargo Capacity for the same. The 16.2 cu. ft. of Space on offer, ranks at the bottom half of the cargo capacity chart when compared to other SUV's in the segment.
|
Model |
Nissan Pathfinder S |
Ford Explorer |
Honda Pilot LX |
Chevrolet Traverse L |
Toyota Highlander LE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cargo Space(Cu. ft.) |
16.2 |
21.0 |
16.5 |
23.0 |
13.8 |
Talking about the best SUV's in the segment that offer the most space in the back, the Chevrolet Traverse tops the charts here with its massive 23 cu. ft. of space. The Ford Explorer comes in 2nd and the Pilot follows it next. The Toyota Highlander offers the least cargo space in this comparison.
No longer the squared-off utility vehicle it used to be, the latest-gen Pathfinder is more about windswept curves and rounded edges.- Kelley Blue Book
The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder's design, won't actually find a lot of attention from the onlookers and passerby's, courtesy of its typical 3 row SUV styling. Though the design of the current gen Pathfinder is a big departure from the old gen model, it still feels like Nissan could have done better here.
The Front end resembles Nissan Cars/Hatchbacks and is both a good and bad thing as it lacks the SUV presence from the front. It's ginormous proportions however, gives it a commanding presence from the side and enhances the sense of space on the inside. The 7.0' of ground clearance on offer is just decent and Nissan could have souped up the same for added water wading capability.
|
Model |
Nissan Pathfinder S |
Ford Explorer |
Honda Pilot LX |
Chevrolet Traverse L |
Toyota Highlander LE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Curb Weight(lbs.) |
4293 |
4453 |
4036 |
4362 |
4244 |
|
Length(in) |
198.5 |
198.7 |
196.5 |
204.3 |
192.5 |
|
Width(in) |
77.3 |
78.9 |
78.6 |
78.6 |
75.8 |
|
Height(in) |
70.6 |
70.0 |
70.6 |
70.7 |
68.1 |
|
Ground Clearance(in) |
7.0 |
7.8 |
7.3 |
N/A |
8.0 |
|
Wheel Base(in) |
114.2 |
112.8 |
111.0 |
120.9 |
109.8 |
Talking purely in terms of figures, the Chevrolet Traverse comes in as the longest SUV in this comparison and is then matched by the Pathfinder and the Explorer. The Explorer is also the widest of the lot while the Traverse is the tallest by the smallest of margins. The Toyota Highlander offers the most ground clearance among its adversaries.
Nissan Pathfinder vs. Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer comes with a wide variety of engine options and has something for everyone. It surely looks better than the Pathfinder and houses a more modern design and longer feature list with it. However, the Nissan is cheaper than the Ford and is definitely, runs round the Ford in terms of build quality. The Nissan also comes with the more efficient power train and will be much more reliable in the long term than the Ford.
Nissan Pathfinder vs. Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot is one of the most well rounded packages in this class. It offers a good blend of power and performance and is high on practicality and space as well. Both the Pilot and the Pathfinder are at a level playing field in terms of pricing and both will be equally reliable in the long run. The Nissan on the other hand, trumps the Honda in terms of power and MPG figures and has a slightly better infotainment system than the Honda as well. There is no clear winner here but if we were to pick one, we would give the edge to the Nissan here.
Nissan Pathfinder vs. Chevrolet Traverse
The Chevrolet Traverse traverses long distances in ensuring that it fills the needs of the average American. The Traverse offers ton loads of space on the inside and has the most powerful engine among its adversaries. It looks better than the Nissan as well and packs in a lot of tech inside it. The Traverse however, can't match the Nissan's impeccable build and frugality. The Nissan offers a terrific range with a full tank and tows in a lot more than the Chevy as well. If you aren't a tech lover guy who just wants performance, then the Nissan is the logical choice to go for.
The Nissan Pathfinder, finds itself in the middle of a crowded Mid Size SUV market where each SUV offers something better or unique than the other. The Pathfinder, though not be as powerful as some of its adversaries, offers superb space, driving range and driving dynamics. It also comes in with an amazing Towing Capacity and can ferry 7 people, easily. Add to that, a sturdy build and a healthy set of safety features and you have on your hands, an SUV that will stand the test of time and perform in the same way as now, 15 years down the line.
