Compare the2023 Chrysler PacificaVS 2023 Nissan Pathfinder

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Chrysler Pacifica are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Nissan Pathfinder doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

Both the Pacifica 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chrysler Pacifica is safer than the Nissan Pathfinder:

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

There are over 2 times as many Chrysler dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pacifica’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Pacifica has a standard 180-amp alternator (220-amp - Pacifica optional). 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 Chrysler Pacifica’s reliability 26 points higher than the Pathfinder.

The Pacifica’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 3 more horsepower (287 vs. 284) and 3 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 259) than the Pathfinder’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chrysler Pacifica V6 is faster than the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine):

On the EPA test cycle the Pacifica running on electricity gets better mileage than the Pathfinder:

On the EPA test cycle the Pacifica Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the Pathfinder 3.5 DOHC V6 FWD (29 city/30 hwy vs. 20 city/27 hwy).

The Pacifica Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 32 miles. The Pathfinder can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Pacifica Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chrysler Pacifica uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Pathfinder Rock Creek requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Pacifica Hybrid 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 Pacifica stops much shorter than the Pathfinder:

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Pacifica can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

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

The Pacifica’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Pacifica’s wheelbase is 7.4 inches longer than on the Pathfinder (121.6 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pacifica is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Pathfinder.

The design of the Chrysler Pacifica amounts to more than styling. The Pacifica offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .298 to .3 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is significantly lower than the Pathfinder (.34 to .355) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Pacifica get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Pacifica 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 Pacifica 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 Pacifica has 17.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Pathfinder (165.1 vs. 148).

The Pacifica has .7 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, 3.5 inches more rear legroom, 8.5 inches more rear hip room, 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room, .9 inches more third row headroom, 8.5 inches more third row legroom, 2.8 inches more third row hip room and 2.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the Pathfinder.

The front step up height for the Pacifica is 3.5 inches lower than the Pathfinder (16.3” vs. 19.8”). The Pacifica’s rear step up height is 1.6 inches lower than the Pathfinder’s (18.2” vs. 19.8”).

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

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Pacifica easier. The Pacifica’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 24.3 inches, while the Pathfinder’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

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

The Pacifica has standard Stow ’n Go second and third row seats (except Hybrid for the second row), which fold flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Pathfinder only has a third row seat which folds into the floor. The Pathfinder’s second row seat doesn’t fold into the floor and eats up cargo room.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Pacifica Limited/Pinnacle’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Pacifica’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Pathfinder’s (3600 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Pacifica’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Pathfinder does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Pacifica’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Pathfinder’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Pacifica’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 Pacifica’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 Pacifica has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Pathfinder SL/Platinum.

The Pacifica’s optional ParkSense Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the Pacifica owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Pacifica will cost $580 less than the Pathfinder over a five-year period.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Pacifica as the 2017 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Pathfinder has never been chosen.

The Chrysler Pacifica/Voyager outsold the Nissan Pathfinder by 70% during 2022.