2026 Nissan Pathfinder

Name: 2026 Nissan Pathfinder
Brand: Nissan

Release Date: Fall 2025

Estimated Price: Starting around $39,000

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder is one of the more affordable three-row SUVs, with plenty of space for growing families. We also like that it comes standard with a good amount of tech and safety features. It may not be as refined or exciting as some of its rivals, but it gets the fundamentals right.Read full review

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Pros

Towing capacity is near the top of the class
Comfortable and quiet ride
Spacious seating

Cons

The front seats feel a bit stiff
Engine can feel sluggish when you need quick power
Less cargo space than some rivals

What's new

Updated styling for 2026
New 12.3-inch center touchscreen
Minor revisions to standard and optional feature availability
Part of the fourth Pathfinder generation introduced for 2022

Overview

Written by automotive expert Mark Takahashi

12/19/2025

Competing against such class heavyweights as the Honda Pilot and Kia Telluride is no easy task, but the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder has a litany of reasons why it's a compelling choice over other midsize three-row SUVs. Its sharply angled styling stands out from the crowd, and there's enough room inside the cabin that even adults will fit comfortably in the third row. It's also pleasant to drive, and it has the muscle to tow up to 6,000 pounds — about 1,000 pounds more than most of its competitors. For 2026, the Pathfinder receives refreshed front and rear styling, along with an updated interior that uses Nissan's newest infotainment technology.

Edmunds spotlight: Changes for the 2026 Pathfinder

The Pathfinder's design changes might be subtle, but they're there. Nissan has endowed the Pathfinder with some fresh looks for 2026, the most obvious of which are the new grille and front bumper design. Standard across the 2026 Pathfinder range is a fresh 12.3-inch infotainment display with the latest iteration of Nissan's in-house infotainment system. It comes with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Google features (like its voice assistant) built right in, and is miles nicer to look at and use than Nissan's old system. Other changes for the 2026 Pathfinder include an improved surround-view camera system and classier-looking interior materials for the top-spec Platinum trim level.

Competitors to consider

Obviously, the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and Grand Highlander, and Kia Telluride are the Pathfinder's main rivals. But there's no shortage of others. The Ford Explorer also comes in a rugged version, and the recently redesigned Chevrolet Traverse is also a solid choice.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

Driven, tested, rated by automotive expert Reese Counts

Good

6.5

out of 10

We drove the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Driving experience

7.2/10

How does the Nissan Pathfinder drive? The Pathfinder feels right on par for the class. Performance from the V6 is about even with the class leaders. The transmission can be reluctant to downshift when you're going uphill, but most of the time it shifts smoothly and unobtrusively. Braking performance is average as well.

In turns, the Pathfinder feels composed and stable. The steering feels a bit heavier than the steering in some rivals, but it's direct and makes the sizable Pathfinder easy to turn and park.

The ride is comfortable without feeling overly soft or bouncy. You feel bumps, but they don't send shocks through the seats.

The Pathfinder is easy to see out of, and the big mirrors and upright windows help reduce blind spots and aid with parking. Our test vehicle was fitted with Nissan's ProPilot Assist driver aid suite. It includes adaptive cruise control and a lane centering system. The adaptive cruise is tied to the navigation, so it can slow down before a curve in the road. It sounds nice, but we found it to be more of an annoyance than anything. The lane centering works well most of the time, but in our testing we noticed a few occasions when it tried to steer the vehicle over double yellow lines.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the Nissan Pathfinder? We didn't find the Pathfinder to be the most comfortable vehicle in its class, but it's not a bad place to spend your time. The front seats are a bit flat and firm, so comfort can wane after a long day behind the wheel.

The climate control system works well, blowing very cold without the fans imitating a jet engine at takeoff. We like the system's easy-to-use buttons and knobs too. Wind and road noise levels are pretty low.

All three rows offer plenty of space for adults, although the rear seat can be a bit of a pain to crawl in and out of.

The driving position helps too. There's plenty of adjustment, and all the controls are easy to reach. The controls themselves are also straightforward.

In-cabin tech

7/10

How’s the tech? The Pathfinder is loaded with tech. For 2026, it has a new 12.3-inch center touchscreen. The bigger size compared to last year makes it easier to find and select what you want. All Pathfinders have wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. We also like the new wireless charging pad that's designed to enhance connecting and cooling. But we think the Pathfinder still needs a few more USB charge ports to avoid having to split charging time between passenger devices.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

Storage & cargo

7/10

How’s storage and cargo? Cargo space is a middling 16.6 cubic feet behind the third row. It's tight, but there's enough space for a load of groceries or a few small bags. It opens up to 45 cubic feet with just the third row folded or 80.5 cubic feet with both back rows down. That's less than the class leaders, but the space is wide and open, so functionally it's no worse than its rivals. There's plenty of storage for small items like sunglasses, water bottles, and hand sanitizer in various bins and pockets throughout.

The Pathfinder has one of the best tow ratings in its class. Standard models can tow 3,500 pounds, but if you opt for the towing package, that goes up to 6,000 pounds, more than just about every other midsize SUV can handle.

Value

6.4/10

Is the Nissan Pathfinder a good value? The Pathfinder lines up about evenly with most rivals when it comes to cost and overall value. Build quality is solid; the interior looks and feels pretty nice, with some soft materials on the dash and a clean overall design. We wouldn't call it premium, but it feels worth the price.

That said, rivals from Kia and Hyundai offer more for less. That goes for the warranty too. Nissan includes a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, right on average for the class but well off the 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties Kia and Hyundai offer. Nissan now includes three years of roadside assistance and three oil changes with each new Pathfinder.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

MPG

3/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Pathfinder gets an EPA-estimated 23 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 21-23 mpg with all-wheel drive, depending on the trim. Those ratings are among the best in the class. We saw 22.2 mpg on our real-world evaluation route. That's lower than we expected, indicating the Pathfinder might be a bit thirstier than its estimated fuel economy.

X factor

7/10

Nissan has done a decent job of injecting some life into the Pathfinder. It's comfortable and composed on the road, but we wouldn't call it fun. Other three-row SUVs offer a little more pep or driver engagement. We do like the design. The rear end has some clear Land Rover vibes, a good thing in our mind.

2026 Nissan Pathfinder trim level differences

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder is a three-row SUV available in five trim levels: S, SV, SL, Rock Creek and Platinum. All trims are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine (284 horsepower, 259 lb-ft of torque) paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional on everything except the Rock Creek, which has standard AWD.

Which Pathfinder trim does Edmunds recommend?

We suggest checking out the SV trim. It's a good value and comes with most of the features you'll need in a three-row family SUV, such as heated front seats, a power liftgate, and a comprehensive collection of advanced driver aids.

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2026 Nissan Pathfinder video

Best SUVs Under $40,000 | Hybrid or Gas?

NOTE: This video is about the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, but since the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.

Welcome to Edmunds Great Big Small SUV Test! We've driven, tested, and rated ten compact SUVs so we can tell you which one's the best...and which one's the worst. Our test includes gas SUVs and hybrid SUVs, because we're looking for the best SUV no matter what. When it comes to compact SUVs, there are a LOT of options. From the Toyota RAV4 to the Honda CR-V to the Kia…

2026 Nissan Pathfinder

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds spotlight: Changes for the 2026 Pathfinder

Competitors to consider

Edmunds Expert Rating

Driving experience

Comfort

In-cabin tech

Storage & cargo

Value

MPG

X factor

2026 Nissan Pathfinder trim level differences

Which Pathfinder trim does Edmunds recommend?

2026 Nissan Pathfinder video

Related 2026 Nissan Pathfinder info

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