Compare the2024 Buick EnclaveVS 2024 Nissan Pathfinder

For enhanced safety, the Buick Enclave’s middle seat shoulder belts have child comfort guides to move the belt to properly fit children. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages children to buckle up. The Nissan Pathfinder doesn’t offer comfort guides on its middle seat belts.

Both the Enclave and the Pathfinder have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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 Buick Enclave 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 Buick Enclave is safer than the Nissan Pathfinder:

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

The Enclave’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Pathfinder’s (6 vs. 5 years).

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Enclave has a standard 170-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 Enclave’s reliability 23 points higher than the Pathfinder.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 13th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick second in reliability, above the industry average. With 58 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick 5 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

The Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 26 more horsepower (310 vs. 284) and 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (266 vs. 259) than the Pathfinder’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 15 more horsepower (310 vs. 295) than the Pathfinder Rock Creek’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Buick Enclave is faster than the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine):

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Buick Enclave 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 Enclave FWD’s standard fuel tank has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the Pathfinder (19.4 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Enclave AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pathfinder (21.7 vs. 18.5 gallons).

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

The Enclave stops shorter than the Pathfinder:

The Buick Enclave’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Nissan Pathfinder only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Enclave offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Pathfinder’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Enclave’s wheelbase is 6.7 inches longer than on the Pathfinder (120.9 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The Enclave Avenir AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Pathfinder SL pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Enclave has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Pathfinder (7.5 vs. 7.1 inches), allowing the Enclave to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the Enclave 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 Enclave 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 Enclave has 9.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Pathfinder (157.3 vs. 148).

The Enclave has .3 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 2.8 inches more rear legroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room, 2 inches more rear shoulder room, 5.5 inches more third row legroom and 1.8 inches more third row hip room than the Pathfinder.

The front step up height for the Enclave is .9 inches lower than the Pathfinder (18” vs. 18.9”). The Enclave’s rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the Pathfinder’s (18.7” vs. 20”).

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

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

Pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the Enclave Premium/Avenir’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Enclave 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks Buick fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 23% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 18th.

If the windows are left open on the Enclave the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Pathfinder can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

The Enclave’s standard Keyless Access 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 Enclave’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 Enclave’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 Enclave 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 Enclave Premium/Avenir has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Pathfinder.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Buick Enclave has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Pathfinder SL/Platinum offers wireless charging.

Insurance will cost less for the Enclave owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Enclave will cost $460 less than the Pathfinder over a five-year period.

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