Compare the2023 Nissan PathfinderVS 2023 Lexus GX

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 GX 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 use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Pathfinder uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The GX uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Pathfinder and the GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, 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 GX has not been tested, yet.

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

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Pathfinder has a standard 150-amp alternator. The GX’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

As tested in Car and Driver the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine) is faster than the Lexus GX:

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Pathfinder’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The GX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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 GX 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 GX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Pathfinder higher (5 out of 10) than the Lexus GX (3). This means the Pathfinder produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GX every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Pathfinder, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the GX.

For better stopping power the Pathfinder’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GX:

The Pathfinder stops shorter than the GX:

The Pathfinder’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GX’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Pathfinder offers optional 20-inch wheels. The GX’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

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 GX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For superior ride and handling, the Nissan Pathfinder has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Lexus GX has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Pathfinder’s wheelbase is 4.4 inches longer than on the GX (114.2 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pathfinder is 4.4 inches wider in the front and 4.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GX.

The Pathfinder SL handles at .80 G’s, while the GX pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Pathfinder’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the GX’s (38.7 feet vs. 41.1 feet).

The Nissan Pathfinder may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 800 pounds less than the Lexus GX.

Unibody construction lowers the Pathfinder’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The GX uses body-on-frame design instead.

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

The Pathfinder has 18.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GX (148 vs. 129.7).

The Pathfinder has 4.3 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, 5.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear legroom, 1.1 inches more rear hip room, 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.6 inches more third row headroom, 3.6 inches more third row hip room and 3.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the GX.

The front step up height for the Pathfinder is 1.9 inches lower than the GX (19.8” vs. 21.7”). The Pathfinder’s rear step up height is 2.2 inches lower than the GX’s (19.8” vs. 22”).

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

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 GX’s liftover is 33.8 inches.

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

The Pathfinder’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The GX’s swing out door blocks loading from the passenger’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Pathfinder (except S/Rock Creek) offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the Pathfinder Platinum, by just waving your foot, completely leaving your hands free. The GX doesn’t offer a power cargo door.

The Pathfinder Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and incoming text message readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The GX doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Pathfinder’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The GX’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Pathfinder’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The GX’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Pathfinder’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The GX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Pathfinder’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The GX’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Nissan Pathfinder SL/Platinum has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The GX doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

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

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Nissan Pathfinder will be $13781 to $20151 less than for the Lexus GX.

The Nissan Pathfinder outsold the Lexus GX by almost two to one during 2022.