Midsize SUVs are great vehicles for family adventures and times. Two SUVs that are sure to deliver a great driving experience are the 2023 Ford Explorer and the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder. Both SUVs come with their great features and performance, but let’s see which SUV is the one for you.
Key Takeaways
- The Explorer has a bold style while the Pathfinder has a rugged vibe.
- The Explorer focuses on a family-friendly interior while the Aviator focuses on a large, spacious interior.
- Both SUVs come with great safety and technological features.
- The Explorer has a market price of about $38,000 while the Pathfinder has a market price of about $37,000.
Exterior and Interior
The Explorer has a bold style for those who crave adventure. The Explorer has an athletic grille and strong body lines that give it a muscular look. Ford has made multiple trim levels for the Explorer to match a trim to your personal preference. As for the interior, the Explorer offers great legroom for the front and second rows; however, the third row can be a bit tight. It comes with comfortable seats and 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space, which is great for a midsized SUV.
The Pathfinder was also designed for fun; its new design comes with a round face, leveled hood, wider body, and noticeable fender flares. The larger tires, LED headlights, and U-shaped side design add to the bold look of the Pathfinder. It also comes with 14 colors and color combinations that are sure to match one of your personal preferences. As for the interior, the Pathfinder comes with three rows of seating that can seat up to eight passengers or seven passengers if you swap the second row for captain’s chairs. You will find the front seats comfortable and plenty of storage compartments throughout the car to store your things. Higher trims of the Pathfinder offer ventilated and heated seats, panoramic roof, and semi-aniline leather upholstery. However, it only comes with cargo space of abouts 16.6 cubic feet.
Performance
The Explorer has three powertrain options. The first engine is a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder that produces 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. The Base, XLT, ST-Line, Timberline, and Limited trims come with this powertrain. For those improved power, the second engine is a 3.3-liter V6 hybrid powertrain that produces 318 horsepower and 322 lb-ft of torque. The Limited Hybrid and Platinum Hybrid trims come with this second option. The last engine is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine. The Platinum trim produces 365 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque while the ST trim produces 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque with this powertrain option. The average fuel efficiency, capacity, and transmission for this model is 21 city/28 hwy MPG with a 17.9-gallon tank and a 10-speed transmission.
The Pathfinder comes with a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine that comes with 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. However, the Rock Creek trim can be cranked up to produce about 295 horsepower for a more exhilarating off-road experience. The fuel efficiency is 21 city/26 hwy MPG in front-wheel drive or 21 city/27 hwy MPG in all-wheel drive with an 18.5-gallon tank and 9-speed transmission. Though impressive, the Pathfinder still lacks good power and torque when compared to the Explorer.
Safety and Technology
Both the Explorer and the Pathfinder are equipped with great driver-assistance systems. These SUVs come standard with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, rear-cross traffic alert, and parking assistance. Each SUV comes with its own unique safety system (Co-Pilot360 and Nissan's ProPilot Assist) that gives advanced assistance to you as the driver.
As for technology, the Explorer comes with an 8.0-inch touchscreen that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Furthermore, it comes with voice-command navigation, rear-seat entertainment system, Bluetooth, and a 12-speaker system. A bigger touchscreen (10.1 inches) and other features are available for the higher-level trims of the Explorer.
The Pathfinder also comes with an 8.0-inch touchscreen that comes with NissanConnect, which is Nissan’s software interface for its cars. Along with the software, standard features available are Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless charging pad, and 13-speaker Bose system. Upper trim levels come with a 9.0-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital gauge display that includes in-dash navigation and heads up display.
Pricing
The Explorer’s MSRP range is about $37,000 – $56,000 with an average starting price of about $38,000. The Pathfinder’s MSRP range of about $35,000 – $50,000 with an average starting price is about $37,000. Both SUVs have about the same market price; however, the Explorer does have a larger MSRP range than the Pathfinder, but the different trims of the Explorer are worth its extra features, powertrain options, and perks.
Overview
The Explorer stands out with its bold look and optimal powertrain options. However, the Pathfinder focuses on family-friendly adventure for an affordable price. Both seem to be good options for a midsize SUV, but your decision will come down to what you like about each SUV and what you are willing to spend.