Compare the2023 Chrysler PacificaVS 2022 Nissan Pathfinder

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Chrysler Pacifica are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Nissan Pathfinder doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

Both the Pacifica and the Pathfinder 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

There are over 2 times as many Chrysler dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pacifica’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Pacifica has a standard 180-amp alternator (220-amp - Pacifica optional). The Pathfinder’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

The Pacifica’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 3 more horsepower (287 vs. 284) and 3 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 259) than the Pathfinder’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chrysler Pacifica V6 is faster than the Nissan Pathfinder:

On the EPA test cycle the Pacifica running on electricity gets better mileage than the Pathfinder:

On the EPA test cycle the Pacifica Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the Pathfinder FWD (29 city/30 hwy vs. 21 city/26 hwy).

The Pacifica Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 32 miles. The Pathfinder can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Pacifica Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Pacifica Hybrid 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 Pacifica stops much shorter than the Pathfinder:

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Pacifica can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The Pacifica has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Pathfinder’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Pacifica’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Pacifica’s wheelbase is 7.4 inches longer than on the Pathfinder (121.6 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pacifica is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Pathfinder.

The front grille of the Pacifica uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Pacifica uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Pacifica has 17.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Pathfinder (165.1 vs. 148).

The Pacifica has .7 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, 3.5 inches more rear legroom, 8.5 inches more rear hip room, 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room, .9 inches more third row headroom, 8.5 inches more third row legroom, 2.8 inches more third row hip room and 2.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the Pathfinder.

The front step up height for the Pacifica is 3.5 inches lower than the Pathfinder (16.3” vs. 19.8”). The Pacifica’s rear step up height is 1.6 inches lower than the Pathfinder’s (18.2” vs. 19.8”).

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

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Pacifica easier. The Pacifica’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 24.3 inches, while the Pathfinder’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

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

The Pacifica has standard Stow ’n Go second and third row seats (except Hybrid for the second row), which fold flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Pathfinder only has a third row seat which folds into the floor. The Pathfinder’s second row seat doesn’t fold into the floor and eats up cargo room.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Pacifica Limited/Pinnacle’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Pacifica’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Pathfinder’s (3600 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Pacifica’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Pathfinder does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Pacifica Hybrid has a standard locking fuel and charge port 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.

The Pacifica’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Pathfinder’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Pacifica’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Pathfinder SV/SL/Platinum.

The Pacifica’s standard 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 Pacifica has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Pathfinder SL/Platinum.

The Pacifica’s optional ParkSense Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the Pacifica owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Pacifica will cost $580 less than the Pathfinder over a five-year period.

The Pacifica was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 6 years. The Pathfinder has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

The Chrysler Pacifica/Voyager outsold the Nissan Pathfinder by over two to one during the 2021 model year.