Compare the2027 Dodge Durango VS 2026 Nissan Pathfinder

The Durango has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Durango. But it costs extra on the Pathfinder.

Both the Durango and the Pathfinder have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

The Dodge Durango weighs 672 to 1030 pounds more than the Nissan Pathfinder. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

	Durango	Pathfinder
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	74	150
Neck Stress	236 lbs.	348 lbs.
Neck Compression	11 lbs.	53 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	295	312
Neck Injury Risk	26%	45.1%
Neck Stress	156 lbs.	216 lbs.
Neck Compression	86 lbs.	93 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	303/32 lbs.	236/309 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 Dodge Durango is safer than the Nissan Pathfinder:

	Durango	Pathfinder
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	46	84
Abdominal Force	111 lbs.	138 lbs.
Hip Force	236 lbs.	244 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	50	88
Hip Force	446 lbs.	461 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	194	234

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

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

The Dodge Durango’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the Pathfinder’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Durango has a standard 180-amp alternator (220-amp - Durango optional). The Pathfinder’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

The Durango’s standard 5.7 V8 produces 76 more horsepower (360 vs. 284) and 131 lbs.-ft. more torque (390 vs. 259) than the Pathfinder’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The Durango’s 5.7 V8 produces 65 more horsepower (360 vs. 295) and 120 lbs.-ft. more torque (390 vs. 270) than the Pathfinder Rock Creek’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The Durango R/T 392’s standard 6.4 V8 produces 180 more horsepower (475 vs. 295) and 200 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 270) than the Pathfinder Rock Creek’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Durango 5.7 V8 is faster than the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine):

	Durango	Pathfinder
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	7.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.9 MPH	92.3 MPH

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Durango’s fuel efficiency. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Durango has 6.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pathfinder (24.6 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Durango w/Tow N Go’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Pathfinder:

	Durango w/Tow N Go	Pathfinder
Front Rotors	15 inches	13.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13 inches

The Durango stops shorter than the Pathfinder:

	Durango	Pathfinder
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the Durango has larger standard tires than the Pathfinder (265/50R20 vs. 255/60R18). The Durango’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pathfinder (295/45R20 vs. 255/60R18).

The Durango’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pathfinder’s standard 60 series tires. The Durango’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Pathfinder Platinum’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Durango has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Pathfinder.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires optional on the Durango can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Durango offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Pathfinder; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Durango 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 Durango offers an optional 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.

The Durango 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango’s wheelbase is 5.6 inches longer than on the Pathfinder (119.8 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The Durango’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Pathfinder’s (54.6% to 45.4%). This gives the Durango more stable handling and braking.

The Durango R/T 392 handles at .85 G’s, while the Pathfinder SL pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Durango R/T 392 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Pathfinder Platinum (27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Durango GT has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Pathfinder (7.8 vs. 7.1 inches), allowing the Durango to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Durango R/T 392’s minimum ground clearance is .3 inch higher than on the Pathfinder Rock Creek (8 vs. 7.7 inches).

The Durango offers available 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 Durango has .2 inches more rear headroom, 3.1 inches more rear legroom and 5.5 inches more third row legroom than the Pathfinder.

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

	Durango	Pathfinder
Behind Third Seat	17.2 cubic feet	16.6 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	85.1 cubic feet	80.5 cubic feet

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

	Durango	Pathfinder
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	20”/50”/83”	16”/44.4”/79.8”
Max Width	49”	58.5”
Min Width	42.5”	48.8”
Height	36”	33.3”

The Durango’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Pathfinder’s (7200 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Nissan Pathfinder is only 6000 pounds. The Durango offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Durango GT can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Durango can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Pathfinder can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Durango 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.

The engine in the Durango is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Pathfinder. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The Durango’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 Durango’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 Durango’s standard rear view mirror and optional 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 Durango 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 costs extra on the Pathfinder.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Dodge Durango has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Pathfinder.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Dodge Durango retains 50.72% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 44.19% resale value of the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder after five years, which can save the Dodge’s owner up to $1343 in depreciation.