Compare the2023 Nissan PathfinderVS 2023 Volkswagen Atlas

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 Volkswagen Atlas doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Pathfinder are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Atlas doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Atlas doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Atlas doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The Pathfinder’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Atlas doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Pathfinder and the Atlas have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, 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 Atlas was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2019 but no longer qualifies.

Nissan’s powertrain warranty covers the Pathfinder 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Atlas. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Atlas ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Pathfinder’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Atlas’ (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 68 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pathfinder’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Pathfinder has a standard 760-amp battery. The Atlas’ 680-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 63 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen 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 Volkswagen With 12 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 8 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The Pathfinder’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 49 more horsepower (284 vs. 235) and 1 lbs.-ft. more torque (259 vs. 258) than the Atlas’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Pathfinder’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 8 more horsepower (284 vs. 276) than the Atlas’ optional 3.6 DOHC V6. The Pathfinder Rock Creek’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 19 more horsepower (295 vs. 276) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (270 vs. 266) than the Atlas’ optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine) is faster than the Volkswagen Atlas V6:

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

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 Atlas 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 Volkswagen Atlas (3 to 5). This means the Pathfinder produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Atlas 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 an eight-speed automatic is available for the Atlas.

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

The Pathfinder stops shorter than the Atlas:

For better traction, the Pathfinder has larger tires than the Atlas (255/60R18 vs. 245/60R18).

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 Atlas doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

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

For greater off-road capability the Pathfinder Rock Creek has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Atlas V6 (7.7 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the Pathfinder to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Pathfinder is 3 inches shorter than the Atlas, making the Pathfinder easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

The Pathfinder has 1 inch more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room, 1.6 inches more third row hip room and 3.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Atlas.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pathfinder’s middle and third row seats recline. The Atlas’ 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 Atlas doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

The Pathfinder’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Atlas’ (3500 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Volkswagen Atlas is only 5000 pounds. The Pathfinder offers up to a 6000 lbs. towing capacity.

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 Atlas doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Pathfinder Platinum’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Atlas doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Atlas doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Pathfinder has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Atlas only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.