Compare the2023 Subaru AscentVS 2023 Nissan Pathfinder

The Ascent has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Ascent. But it costs extra on the Pathfinder.

Both the Ascent and the Pathfinder have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent is safer than the Nissan Pathfinder:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ascent its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 134 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Pathfinder is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Ascent has a standard 190-amp alternator. The Pathfinder’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Ascent’s reliability 39 points higher than the Pathfinder.

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

The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 259) than the Pathfinder’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 270) than the Pathfinder Rock Creek’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Ascent is faster than the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine):

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Ascent uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Pathfinder Rock Creek requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Ascent 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 Ascent stops much shorter than the Pathfinder:

The Ascent Touring handles at .80 G’s, while the Pathfinder Platinum pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ascent Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Pathfinder Platinum (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ascent’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Pathfinder’s (38 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pathfinder (8.7 vs. 7.1 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Ascent’s minimum ground clearance is 1 inch higher than on the Pathfinder Rock Creek (8.7 vs. 7.7 inches).

The Ascent has 5.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Pathfinder (153.2 vs. 148).

The Ascent has .3 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 3.1 inches more rear legroom, 1.2 inches more rear hip room, .7 inches more rear shoulder room and 3.7 inches more third row legroom than the Pathfinder.

The front step up height for the Ascent is 2.1 inches lower than the Pathfinder (17.7” vs. 19.8”). The Ascent’s rear step up height is 1.7 inches lower than the Pathfinder’s (18.1” vs. 19.8”).

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

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

The engine in the Ascent is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Pathfinder. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ascent’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Ascent Base). The Pathfinder doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Ascent has a standard locking fuel 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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Ascent’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Pathfinder’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Ascent has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Ascent’s optional 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.

Insurance will cost less for the Ascent owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Ascent will cost $445 to $2835 less than the Pathfinder over a five-year period.

The Ascent will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Ascent will retain 52.78% to 54.99% of its original price after five years, while the Pathfinder only retains 43.77% to 45.89%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Ascent will be $6451 to $10774 less than for the Nissan Pathfinder.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Ascent, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Nissan Pathfinder isn't recommended.

The Subaru Ascent outsold the Nissan Pathfinder by 10% during 2022.