2023 Nissan Pathfinder

　　

2023 Nissan Pathfinder Review

byRonald MontoyaSenior Consumer Advice Editor & Content Strategy

　　Ronald Montoya has worked in the automotive industry since 2008. He has written over a thousand car related articles and bought and sold over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Ronald is a senior consumer advice editor and content strategy at zzdcar and has also contributed to the Associated Press. He has also been featured on ABC, NBC and NPR on a number of car shopping topics. He got his start in the auto industry by taking a part-time job at a car dealership, where he worked in the service and accounting department.

　　, rating written byRonald MontoyaVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder is a spacious midsize three-row SUV that boasts strong towing capacity and faces competitors like the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot and Kia Telluride. A full redesign last year gave the Pathfinder a variety of improvements, most notably a more comfortable ride quality and updated technology features.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder S 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$165/mo  for Pathfinder S

　　Pathfinder S

　　S 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A) - $35,320 MSRPS 4dr SUV 4WD (3.5L 6cyl 9A) - $37,220 MSRPSV 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A) - $38,140 MSRPSV 4dr SUV 4WD (3.5L 6cyl 9A) - $40,040 MSRPSL 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A) - $41,740 MSRPSL 4dr SUV 4WD (3.5L 6cyl 9A) (Most Popular) - $43,640 MSRPRock Creek 4dr SUV 4WD (3.5L 6cyl 9A) - $43,140 MSRPPlatinum 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A) - $48,290 MSRPPlatinum 4dr SUV 4WD (3.5L 6cyl 9A) - $50,190 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　It's also quite family-friendly because of its size; adults (or very large teenagers) can fit comfortably in the third row. That's not the case with many midsize three-row SUVs. And if towing is part of your journey, the Pathfinder acquits itself quite well with a maximum capacity of 6,000 pounds when properly equipped, which is enough to pull a small to midsize trailer.

　　For 2023, the Pathfinder gains a new trail-inspired trim called the Rock Creek. Upgrades start with standard all-wheel drive, an off-road-tuned suspension and a slight 0.6-inch lift compared to other AWD-equipped Pathfinders. It also has distinctive 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires and a bit more power for the V6 engine when using premium fuel. Up top is a roof rack that can support up to 220 pounds.

　　Overall, we think the 2023 Pathfinder is a respectable choice for a midsize SUV. But it also has a few downsides that you'll want to know about. Check out our test team's full Expert Rating below for all the details.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Pathfinder drive? The Pathfinder feels right on par for the class. Performance from the V6 is about even with the class leaders. The transmission can be reluctant to downshift uphill, but most of the time it shifts smoothly and unobtrusively. Braking performance is average as well.

　　On turns, the Pathfinder feels composed and stable. The steering feels a bit heavier than the steering in some rivals, but it's direct and makes the sizable Pathfinder easy to turn and park.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Pathfinder? We didn't find the Pathfinder to be the most comfortable vehicle in its class, but it's not a bad place to spend your time. The ride is comfortable without feeling overly soft or bouncy. You feel bumps, but they don't send shocks through the seats. The front seats are a bit flat and firm, so comfort can wane after a long day behind the wheel.

　　The climate control system works well, blowing very cold without the fans imitating a jet engine at takeoff. We like the system's easy-to-use buttons and knobs too. Wind and road noise levels are pretty low.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below