Compare the2023 Nissan PathfinderVS 2023 Genesis GV80

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Nissan Pathfinder have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Genesis GV80 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Nissan Pathfinder has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GV80 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Compared to metal, the Pathfinder’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Genesis GV80 has a metal gas tank.

Both the Pathfinder and the GV80 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, 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.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Pathfinder its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GV80 has not been fully tested, yet.

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

On the EPA test cycle the Pathfinder gets better mileage than the GV80:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Pathfinder uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Pathfinder Rock Creek for maximum performance). The GV80 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Pathfinder has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The GV80 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Pathfinder, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the GV80.

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 GV80 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better maneuverability, the Pathfinder’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the GV80’s (38.7 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

The Pathfinder has standard seating for 8 passengers; the GV80 can only carry up to 7.

The Pathfinder has 8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GV80 (148 vs. 140).

The Pathfinder has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.5 inches more third row headroom and 5.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the GV80.

The Pathfinder’s cargo area provides more volume than the GV80.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Pathfinder easier. The Pathfinder’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.5 inches, while the GV80’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

The Pathfinder’s cargo area is larger than the GV80’s in almost every dimension:

The Pathfinder has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The GV80 doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Pathfinder uses the Vehicle Dynamic Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The GV80 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

On a hot day the Pathfinder’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the GV80 can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

The Pathfinder is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The GV80 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Pathfinder owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Pathfinder will cost $620 to $6790 less than the GV80 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Nissan Pathfinder will be $12484 to $22693 less than for the Genesis GV80.

The Nissan Pathfinder outsold the Genesis GV80 by over three to one during 2022.