Compare the2022 Nissan PathfinderVS 2021 Lexus GX460

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 GX460 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 GX460 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Pathfinder has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The GX460 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Pathfinder uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The GX460 uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Pathfinder and the GX460 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

There are over 4 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pathfinder’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Pathfinder’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the GX460’s camshafts. If the GX460’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Pathfinder has a standard 150-amp alternator. The GX460’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

As tested in Car and Driver the Nissan Pathfinder is faster than the Lexus GX460:

On the EPA test cycle the Pathfinder 4WD gets better fuel mileage than the GX460 (21 city/26 hwy vs. 15 city/19 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Pathfinder’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The GX460 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Pathfinder uses regular unleaded gasoline. The GX460 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Pathfinder, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the GX460.

For better stopping power the Pathfinder’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GX460:

The Pathfinder stops shorter than the GX460:

The Pathfinder’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GX460’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Pathfinder offers optional 20-inch wheels. The GX460’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

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 GX460 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For superior ride and handling, the Nissan Pathfinder has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Lexus GX460 has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Pathfinder’s wheelbase is 4.4 inches longer than on the GX460 (114.2 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Pathfinder is 4.5 inches wider in the front and 4.5 inches wider in the rear than on the GX460.

The Pathfinder SL handles at .80 G’s, while the GX460 pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Pathfinder’s turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the GX460’s (38 feet vs. 41.1 feet).

The Nissan Pathfinder may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 800 pounds less than the Lexus GX460.

Unibody construction lowers the Pathfinder’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The GX460 uses body-on-frame design instead.

The design of the Nissan Pathfinder amounts to more than styling. The Pathfinder has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .324 Cd. That is lower than the GX460 (.35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Pathfinder get better fuel mileage.

The Pathfinder has standard seating for 8 passengers; the GX460 can only carry 7.

The Pathfinder has 18.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GX460 (148 vs. 129.7).

The Pathfinder has 4.3 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, 5.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear legroom, 1.1 inches more rear hip room, 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.6 inches more third row headroom, 3.6 inches more third row hip room and 3.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the GX460.

The Pathfinder’s cargo area provides more volume than the GX460.

The Pathfinder’s cargo area is larger than the GX460’s in almost every dimension:

The Pathfinder’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The GX460’s swing out door blocks loading from the passenger’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Pathfinder (except S) offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the Pathfinder Platinum, by just waving your foot, completely leaving your hands free. The GX460 doesn’t offer a power cargo door.

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 GX460 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Pathfinder’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The GX460’s parking brake has to released manually.

The Pathfinder’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The GX460’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Pathfinder’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The GX460’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

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 GX460 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Pathfinder is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The GX460 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.