Compare the2025 Nissan PathfinderVS 2025 GMC Acadia

The Nissan Pathfinder has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Acadia doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the Pathfinder and the Acadia have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 Nissan Pathfinder has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Acadia has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The Pathfinder’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Acadia’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Pathfinder for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Nissan will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 3 visits). GMC only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Acadia.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than GMC With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than GMC.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 7 places higher in reliability than GMC.

On the EPA test cycle the Pathfinder gets better mileage than the Acadia:

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Pathfinder, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Acadia.

For better stopping power the Pathfinder’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Acadia:

The Pathfinder’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Acadia are solid, not vented.

The Pathfinder’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Acadia AT4’s standard 65 series tires.

For better maneuverability, the Pathfinder’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the Acadia Elevation’s (38.7 feet vs. 38.8 feet). The Pathfinder’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Acadia Denali Reserve’s (38.7 feet vs. 40.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Pathfinder has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Acadia Elevation (7.1 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the Pathfinder to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Pathfinder is 6.3 inches shorter than the Acadia, making the Pathfinder easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pathfinder’s middle and third row seats recline. The Acadia’s third row seats don’t recline.

Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Acadia is limited to 5000 pounds. The Pathfinder offers up to a 6000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Pathfinder’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Acadia’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

The Pathfinder’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Acadia’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Pathfinder to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Acadia doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Pathfinder Platinum is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Acadia’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Nissan Pathfinder outsold the GMC Acadia by 8% during 2023.