Compare the2022 Subaru AscentVS 2022 Nissan Pathfinder

The Ascent has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Ascent. But it costs extra on the Pathfinder.

Both the Ascent and the Pathfinder have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ascent its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Pathfinder has not been tested, yet.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Ascent has a standard 190-amp alternator. The Pathfinder’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 17th in reliability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 5 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 259) than the Pathfinder’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The Ascent has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Ascent stops shorter than the Pathfinder:

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pathfinder (8.7 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Ascent has 5.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Pathfinder (153.5 vs. 148).

The Ascent has .3 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 3.1 inches more rear legroom, 1.2 inches more rear hip room, .7 inches more rear shoulder room and 3.7 inches more third row legroom than the Pathfinder.

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

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

The engine in the Ascent is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Pathfinder. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ascent’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Ascent Base). The Pathfinder doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Ascent 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. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Ascent has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Ascent’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Pathfinder offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Subaru Ascent outsold the Nissan Pathfinder by 52% during the 2021 model year.