Compare the2024 Honda OdysseyVS 2024 Nissan Pathfinder

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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, driver alert monitors 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:

	Odyssey	Pathfinder
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	27%	31%
Neck Stress	184 lbs.	348 lbs.
Neck Compression	18 lbs.	53 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	95/82 lbs.	156/136 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	247	312
Neck Injury Risk	32%	45.1%
Neck Stress	101 lbs.	216 lbs.
Neck Compression	63 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 Honda Odyssey is safer than the Nissan Pathfinder:

	Odyssey	Pathfinder
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	66	84
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	83 lbs.	138 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches

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:

	Odyssey	Pathfinder
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	201 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	5 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	625 lbs.	1160 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Odyssey is 1.9% less likely to roll over than the Pathfinder.

Warranty

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Odyssey for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Honda 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

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 19 points higher than the Pathfinder.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Odyssey second among minivans in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Pathfinder isn’t in the top three in its category.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 12 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

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

	Odyssey	Pathfinder
Zero to 60 MPH	6.6 sec	7.1 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94.6 MPH	92.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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 on average about 82.8 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.

The Odyssey 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.

Transmission

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.

Brakes and Stopping

The Odyssey stops shorter than the Pathfinder:

	Odyssey	Pathfinder
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

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).

Chassis

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.

Passenger Space

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 1.9 inches lower than the Pathfinder (17” vs. 18.9”). The Odyssey’s rear step up height is 1 inches lower than the Pathfinder’s (19” vs. 20”).

Cargo Capacity

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

	Odyssey	Pathfinder
Behind Third Seat	38.6 cubic feet	16.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	92.3 cubic feet	45 cubic feet
Max Cargo Volume	158 cubic feet	80.5 cubic feet

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:

	Odyssey	Pathfinder
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	25”/56”/91”	16”/44.4”/79.8”
Max Width	50”	58.5”
Min Width	48”	45.7”
Height	54”	33.3”

Ergonomics

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’s standard Smart Entry allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Intelligent Key standard on the Pathfinder doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door. Intelligent Key is not available on the Pathfinder SL/Platinum.

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.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Odyssey owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Odyssey will cost $380 to $2785 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 54.9% to 58.5% 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 Honda Odyssey will be $952 to $7316 less than for the Nissan Pathfinder.

Recommendations

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

	Odyssey	Pathfinder
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	FALSE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	n/a

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Odyssey second among minivans 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 Honda Odyssey outsold the Nissan Pathfinder by 3028 units during 2023.