Compare the2023 Nissan PathfinderVS 2023 Acura MDX

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.

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

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 and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive 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’ 2022 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 above average in initial quality. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 39 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Acura.

The Pathfinder Rock Creek’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 5 more horsepower (295 vs. 290) and 3 lbs.-ft. more torque (270 vs. 267) than the MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine) is faster than the Acura MDX V6:

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

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 stops shorter than the MDX:

For better maneuverability, the Pathfinder’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the MDX’s (38.7 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

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

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.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pathfinder’s middle and third row seats recline. The MDX’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Pathfinder has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The MDX doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

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

The power windows standard on both the Pathfinder and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Pathfinder is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The MDX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Nissan Pathfinder will be $6800 to $9951 less than for the Acura MDX.

The Nissan Pathfinder outsold the Acura MDX by 25% during 2022.