Compare the2022 Nissan PathfinderVS 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Pathfinder are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Pacifica doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Pathfinder Platinum has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Pacifica doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Pathfinder 4WD’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Pacifica doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Pathfinder’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Pacifica doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Pathfinder and the Pacifica have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 28 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 28th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan 21st in reliability. With 38 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 29th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 6 places higher in reliability than Chrysler.

The Pathfinder’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 24 more horsepower (284 vs. 260) than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Nissan Pathfinder is faster than the Chrysler Pacifica:

On the EPA test cycle the Pathfinder gets better fuel mileage than the Pacifica:

The Pathfinder has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 16.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Pathfinder’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Pacifica:

The Pathfinder’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Pacifica are solid, not vented.

The Pathfinder stops shorter than the Pacifica:

For better traction, the Pathfinder has larger tires than the Pacifica (255/60R18 vs. 235/65R17). The Pathfinder’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pacifica (255/60R18 vs. 245/50R20).

The Pathfinder’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pacifica’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Pathfinder has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Pacifica.

The Pathfinder has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Pacifica doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better maneuverability, the Pathfinder’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Pacifica’s (38 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The Pathfinder’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the Pacifica AWD’s (38 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Pathfinder has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pacifica (7.1 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the Pathfinder to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Nissan Pathfinder may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 400 pounds less than the Chrysler Pacifica.

The Pathfinder is 6.6 inches shorter than the Pacifica, making the Pathfinder easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Pathfinder has 2.2 inches more front headroom and 3.2 inches more front legroom than the Pacifica.

Maximum trailer towing in the Chrysler Pacifica is limited to 3600 pounds. The Pathfinder offers up to a 6000 lbs. towing capacity.

While the Pacifica Hybrid is not recommended to tow, any Pathfinder can tow a minimum of 3500 pounds.

The Pathfinder Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Pacifica doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Pathfinder’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Pacifica’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes automatically.

On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Pacifica can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Pathfinder has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. A locking fuel/charge port door is only offered on the Pacifica Hybrid.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Nissan Pathfinder (except S/SV) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. The Pacifica doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.