Compare the2022 Nissan PathfinderVS 2022 Acura MDX

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 MDX 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 MDX 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 MDX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 MDX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Pathfinder and the MDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

There are almost 4 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Acura 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 MDX’s camshafts. If the MDX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

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 Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 23rd, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 15 places higher in reliability than Acura.

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

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

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 MDX are solid, not vented.

The Pathfinder’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55% to 45%) than the MDX’s (58% to 42%). This gives the Pathfinder more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Pathfinder’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the MDX’s (38 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

The Pathfinder has 8.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MDX (148 vs. 139.1).

The Pathfinder has 3.8 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more third row headroom, 6.1 inches more third row hip room and 3.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the MDX.

Maximum trailer towing in the Acura MDX is limited to 5000 pounds. The Pathfinder offers up to a 6000 lbs. towing capacity.