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2022 Nissan Pathfinder vs 2021 Ford Explorer
2022 Nissan Pathfinder ・ Photo by Nissan
The Ford Explorer and the Nissan Pathfinder helped drive the American SUV craze. Several decades ago, they set the stage for the movement that has revolutionized the U.S. car market. But while the Explorer has remained a dominant player in the segment, the Nissan Pathfinder has slipped a bit in popularity. So for the 2022 model year, Nissan is rejuvenating the Pathfinder with an all-new version. The last time Ford unleashed an all-new Explorer, it switched from a front-drive-oriented crossover platform to rear-drive architecture. Nissan didn’t go to that extreme, but it has bestowed the newest version with an off-road ruggedness that has been missing in recent Pathfinders. Furthermore, the 2022 Pathfinder has more handsome looks both inside and out. The Explorer offers far more variations than the Pathfinder, including hybrid and high-performance models. But the Pathfinder counters by being all new. Here is the comparison of the 2021 Ford Explorer and the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder.
Exterior Design
One of the Ford Explorer’s calling cards has always been its looks. Sometimes function took second place to appearance in the Explorer, but both came together in the latest iteration. Aided by its return to rear-drive architecture, the Explorer has a stance that front-drive-oriented crossovers can’t match. On the other hand, a front-drive platform like the Pathfinder’s offers interior space advantages. Of course, in essence, all mid-size SUVs look very similar; so the devil is in the details when reviewing these two vehicles. Both the Explorer and Pathfinder employ horizontal headlights flanking a brand-signature grille. The pair also use sculpted side panels and very prominent “C-pillars” behind the rear doors. In overall length, the Explorer is a little over an inch longer and about an inch wider than the Pathfinder. The biggest difference is in wheelbase. With its truck-like engine position, the Explorer’s wheelbase is almost five inches longer than the new Pathfinder. Both are among the most handsome in the segment.
: Tie
Photo by Ford
Interior Design
There is a battle being waged in the midsize segment that revolves around interior comfort and style. The interiors in both vehicles emphasize so-called “soft touch” materials while limiting the use of hard plastics. The 2022 Pathfinder expresses that with available leather seats and faux leather trim. For the first time, the Pathfinder offers 8-passenger seating as standard. It has bucket seats in front, plus two rows of bench seating accommodating up to three passengers each. The driver’s seat in the top trim is 10-way power-adjustable with 2-way power lumbar, while the front passenger’s seat is 4-way power-adjustable. The base Explorer has 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, 4-way manually adjustable front passenger seat, 35/30/35 split-fold-down second-row seats, and 50/50 split-fold-down third-row seats. The Pathfinder offers a feature it pioneered — the “one touch” seating enables the second-row seats to slide and tilt to allow easier access to the third-row seating area even when a child safety seat is present.
Photo by Nissan
Infotainment & Technology
The 2022 Pathfinder is equipped with 8- or 9-inch infotainment displays. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard across the lineup, and the 9-inch system offers wireless Apple CarPlay. Wireless phone charging is available on upscale trim levels. Bose premium audio with 13 speakers is available, as is Nissan Door-to-Door Navigation. NissanConnect facilitates Wi-Fi connections. During our test drive of several Pathfinders, we found the infotainment systems easy to understand and operate. And the Bose audio was rich and full-bodied. The Explorer has similar infotainment offerings. The base Explorer uses Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen with swipe and pinch-to-zoom capability. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is standard across the lineup. FordPass Connect including Wi-Fi hotspot capability is also standard. The Explorer’s premium audio is a Bang & Olufsen audio system with 12 speakers. HD Radio is standard on Limited and higher trim levels.
Photo by Nissan
Powertrains
While virtually every other part of the 2022 Pathfinder differs from the previous generation, the engine remains essentially the same. All Pathfinders are equipped with a veteran 3.5-liter V6 that produces 284 horsepower. In base form, the Nissan suv is a front-driver. Nissan calls the Pathfinder’s optional all-wheel-drive system “intelligent 4-wheel-drive,” and it uses some unique technical trickery to endow it with more off-road prowess. In contrast to the one-engine-fits-all of the Pathfinder, the Explorer offers a variety of powertrain choices. Base, XLT, and Limited Explorers are powered by a 300-horsepower 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine. The Explorer Platinum has a 365-horsepower 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6. The Explorer Hybrid has a 3.3-liter V6 combined with an electric motor to produce 318 horsepower. The Explorer ST has a 400-horsepower 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 and 10-speed automatic. It, like the Platinum, is a 4-wheel-drive vehicle.
Photo by Ford
Driving Impressions
After a lengthy test drive in several 2022 Pathfinders, we found the vehicle delivers good performance and predictable handling. Not startlingly different from other crossovers, we believe its buyers will be satisfied with what it offers. We had the chance to test the 4-wheel-drive system in some difficult off-road situations, and the Pathfinder handled them well. There’s no doubt the new edition of the Pathfinder has better off-pavement capabilities than its most recent precursor. While the Pathfinder’s driving demeanor is easy to sum up, that's not the case with the Explorer. Its different powertrains deliver different behaviors. The power and torque in the 2.3-liter 4-cylinder models are more than adequate, but the Explorers with the 3.0-liter turbocharged V6s offer better acceleration. It was a prime goal of Ford engineers to give the Explorer Hybrid all the drivability and capability of the other Explorers, and they accomplished that. When it comes to off-roading, we might favor the Explorer by a small margin, but the Pathfinder has gained ground there.
Photo by Ford
Safety & Driver Aids
Ford’s Co-Pilot360 technology is the standard active safety group on the 2021 Explorer. Its features include automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot warning system with cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping alert and assist, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, and rear-view camera. In addition, Explorers are equipped with hill start assist, post-collision braking, reverse-sensing, sidewind stabilization, and trailer sway control. All 4-wheel-drive Explorers have hill descent control. Adaptive cruise control is available on many trims. The 2022 Pathfinder features a comprehensive standard safety package called Nissan Safety Shield 360. It includes pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic warning, rear automatic emergency braking, driver attention monitor, automatic high-beam headlights, and rear door alert. In addition to Nissan Safety Shield 360, the Pathfinder offers driver-aid features called ProPilot Assist. The system combines lane-keeping and steering assist with adaptive cruise control to take some of the hassles out of highway driving and stop-and-go commuting.
: Tie
Photo by Nissan
Interior Space & Cargo Carrying
The Ford Explorer offers somewhat more passenger and cargo space than the Pathfinder, but the differences aren’t stark. The Explorer has 153 cubic feet of passenger room, and the Pathfinder has 148 cubic feet. With the rear rows of seats up for use, the Pathfinder has 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space. That compares to 18.2 cubic feet in the Ford Explorer. With the third-row seatbacks folded, the Pathfinder offers 45.0 cubic feet of cargo area, and the Explorer offers 47.9 cubic feet. With all the rear rows folded the Explorer bests the Pathfinder with 87.8 cubic feet to the Nissan’s 80.5 cubic feet. In its defense, the Pathfinder’s cargo bay is well-designed and accommodating. For instance, it can accept 4x8 sheets of plywood lying flat on the load floor. Explorers equipped with the 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 can tow up to 5,600 pounds, while 2.3-liter EcoBoost-powered Explorers can tow up to 5,300 pounds. The Nissan Pathfinder tops that with a maximum tow rating of 6,000 pounds, and trailer sway control is standard.
: Ford Explorer
Photo by Ford
Trim levels
The Ford Explorer offers a variety of trims and engine options, including a hybrid, while the Pathfinder keeps things much simpler. The Pathfinder vehicle lineup has four trims – S, SV, SL, and Platinum. Front-drive and four-wheel drive are available on all trims. The most luxurious trim is the Platinum, and packages on the SV and SL trims add comfort and convenience features to those models. The Explorer is available in six different trims – base, XLT, Limited, ST, Platinum, and King Ranch. The Explorer Hybrid is Limited trim. Explorers with two-wheel-drive are rear-drive, and the four-wheel-drive system is more akin to a full-time all-wheel-drive system than an off-road-oriented part-time four-wheel-drive. Both rear-drive and four-wheel drive are offered on base, XLT, Limited, King Ranch, and Limited Hybrid Explorers. ST and Platinum Explorers are four-wheel drive.
Photo by Ford
Pricing & Value
As has been made plain, the 2021 Ford Explorer lineup offers more variations than the Nissan Pathfinder. A base 2021 Ford Explorer has a starting price of right around $34,000. The 2022 Pathfinder’s starting price is very similar. A mid-level Ford Explorer XLT with four-wheel-drive has a suggested list price of $38,070 including a $1,245 destination charge. The mid-level Pathfinder SV with four-wheel drive has a list of a bit over $39,000, including a $1,150 destination charge. The luxurious Explorer King Ranch 4x4 has an MSRP of $55,595. The most luxurious Pathfinder Platinum with four-wheel drive has a starting MSRP of a shade over $49,000. That’s about the price of the performance-oriented 400-horsepower Ford Explorer ST that has a suggested retail of $49,995. Both Pathfinder and Explorer offer excellent value, but the Explorer gives buyers options the Pathfinder doesn’t.
: Ford Explorer
Photo by Ford
And the Winner Is…
Summing all this up, the Ford Explorer is offered in several variations that tailor it for particular buyers. Both the Explorer Hybrid and ST are representations of that. But for the mainstream SUV buyer, the Pathfinder and the Explorer are essentially neck-and-neck. For example, you might like the exterior design of one and the interior design of the other. With rear-drive, the Explorer is a good tow vehicle, but Nissan has gone out of its way to offer very similar — or better — capabilities in the Pathfinder. The new Pathfinder looks better, rides better, and offers more interior space than its predecessor, and we think it will get a lot of consideration from midsize SUV buyers. It is filled with useful convenience features, including some handy storage solutions, and it has a great safety and drive-convenience story. The Pathfinder will do everything the typical three-row SUV buyer wants, but because the Explorer offers more variations, we’d have to say the winner is the 2021 Ford Explorer.
: Ford Explorer
Photo by Ford