Compare the2023 Honda OdysseyVS 2023 Nissan Pathfinder

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Odyssey deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Odyssey’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Pathfinder’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Odyssey has a standard Whiplash Mitigation Front Seat Design, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Mitigation Front Seat Design system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Odyssey and the Pathfinder have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available rear parking sensors.

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

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Honda Odyssey is safer than the Pathfinder:

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Odyssey for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Honda will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Pathfinder.

The engine in the Odyssey has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the Pathfinder have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

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 Odyssey’s reliability 45 points higher than the Pathfinder.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Odyssey first among minivans in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Pathfinder isn’t in the top three in its category.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 10 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

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

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Odyssey’s fuel efficiency. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

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

The Odyssey has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Pathfinder (19.5 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Odyssey, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the Pathfinder.

The Odyssey stops shorter than the Pathfinder:

The Odyssey has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Pathfinder’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Odyssey’s wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the Pathfinder (118.1 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The front grille of the Odyssey uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Odyssey uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Odyssey has 15.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Pathfinder (163.6 vs. 148).

The Odyssey has .3 inches more front hip room, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, 5.4 inches more rear legroom, 8.5 inches more rear hip room, 2 inches more rear shoulder room, .5 inches more third row headroom, 10.1 inches more third row legroom, 1.7 inches more third row hip room and 1.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Pathfinder.

The front step up height for the Odyssey is 2.8 inches lower than the Pathfinder (17” vs. 19.8”). The Odyssey’s rear step up height is .8 inches lower than the Pathfinder’s (19” vs. 19.8”).

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

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Odyssey easier. The Odyssey’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 22.5 inches, while the Pathfinder’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

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

If the windows are left open on the Odyssey the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Pathfinder can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Odyssey 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 Odyssey’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Pathfinder SV/Rock Creek/SL/Platinum.

The Odyssey EX-L/Sport/Touring/Elite’s standard 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.

The Odyssey Touring/Elite has a standard center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and can provide a barrier between children. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

Insurance will cost less for the Odyssey owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Odyssey will cost $290 to $2805 less than the Pathfinder over a five-year period.

The Odyssey will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Odyssey will retain 46.93% to 49.27% 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 Honda Odyssey will be $2729 to $5613 less than for the Nissan Pathfinder.

The Honda Odyssey has won recognition from these important consumer publications: