Compare the2024 Hyundai PalisadeVS 2024 Nissan Pathfinder

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Palisade and Pathfinder have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Palisade has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Pathfinder’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Both the Palisade and Pathfinder have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Palisade has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Pathfinder’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Palisade and the Pathfinder have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver 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, driver alert monitors, 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 Hyundai Palisade is safer than the Nissan Pathfinder:

	Palisade	Pathfinder
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	19%	31%
Neck Stress	161 lbs.	348 lbs.
Neck Compression	42 lbs.	53 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	94/151 lbs.	156/136 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35%	45.1%
Neck Stress	132 lbs.	216 lbs.
Neck Compression	43 lbs.	93 lbs.

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 Hyundai Palisade is safer than the Nissan Pathfinder:

	Palisade	Pathfinder
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	25	84
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	113 lbs.	138 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	189 lbs.	461 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches
HIC	223	234

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 Hyundai Palisade is safer than the Pathfinder:

	Palisade	Pathfinder
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	68	125
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	268 lbs.
Neck Compression	-45 lbs.	22 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.55 in	.63 in
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	1026 lbs.	1160 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Neck Compression	-67 lbs.	67 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	491 lbs.	580 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The Palisade comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Pathfinder’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Palisade 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Pathfinder. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Pathfinder ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Palisade’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Pathfinder’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Palisade for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Pathfinder.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Palisade has a standard 180-amp alternator. The Pathfinder’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Palisade has a standard 800-amp battery. The Pathfinder’s 760-amp battery 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 Palisade’s reliability 41 points higher than the Pathfinder.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 57 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 6 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 7 more horsepower (291 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 Hyundai Palisade is faster than the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine):

	Palisade	Pathfinder
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	7.1 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.2 MPH	92.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Palisade 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 Palisade has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Pathfinder. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Palisade higher (6 out of 10) than the Nissan Pathfinder (5). This means the Palisade produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Pathfinder every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The Palisade stops much shorter than the Pathfinder:

	Palisade	Pathfinder
70 to 0 MPH	177 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The Palisade 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 Palisade offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Palisade Limited HTRAC handles at .81 G’s, while the Pathfinder SL pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Palisade Calligraphy HTRAC executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Pathfinder Platinum (27 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Palisade has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Pathfinder (7.9 vs. 7.1 inches), allowing the Palisade to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Palisade’s minimum ground clearance is .2 inch higher than on the Pathfinder Rock Creek (7.9 vs. 7.7 inches).

Chassis

The design of the Hyundai Palisade amounts to more than styling. The Palisade has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .33 Cd. That is lower than the Pathfinder (.34 to .355) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Palisade get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The Palisade has 7.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Pathfinder (155.3 vs. 148).

The Palisade has .4 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 6.9 inches more rear legroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room, 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room and 3.4 inches more third row legroom than the Pathfinder.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Palisade	Pathfinder
Behind Third Seat	18 cubic feet	16.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	45.8 cubic feet	45 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	86.4 cubic feet	80.5 cubic feet

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Palisade’s second row seats and pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the Palisade Limited/Calligraphy’s third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The Palisade’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Pathfinder’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The Palisade uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Pathfinder uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

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 Palisade’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Pathfinder’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Palisade’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 Palisade’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 Palisade SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy has standard heated front seats and second and third row heated seats also available, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Nissan doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Pathfinder.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Palisade’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Palisade Calligraphy has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Pathfinder.

The Palisade Calligraphy’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Palisade owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Palisade will cost $230 less than the Pathfinder over a five-year period.

The Palisade will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Palisade will retain 56.92% to 57.78% of its original price after five years, while the Pathfinder only retains 47.85% to 49.39%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Palisade will be $2451 to $3005 less than for the Nissan Pathfinder.

Recommendations

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Palisade second among upper midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Pathfinder isn’t in the top three.

The Hyundai Palisade outsold the Nissan Pathfinder by 25% during 2023.

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