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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2026 Nissan Pathfinder Review

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

A styling refresh may be in the cards for 2026
Updated tech offerings may be part of the update
Part of the fourth Pathfinder generation introduced for 2022

Overview

Written by automotive expert Mark Takahashi

8/27/2025

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. Last redesigned in 2022, the Pathfinder is due for a visual revamp, so it's possible the 2026 model could bring refreshed front and rear styling, along with an updated interior that uses Nissan's newer infotainment technology recently introduced in the smaller Rogue.

Edmunds spotlight: Rock Creek rocks

There are plenty of Pathfinder trims to choose from, but the Rock Creek trim deserves special mention. This off-road-oriented model sports a unique grille, bumpers, off-road tires, and an upgraded roof rack for tying down extra gear. All-wheel drive is standard, and the off-road-tuned suspension adds 0.6 inch of lift. It also gets 11 extra horsepower and 11 extra lb-ft of torque over the standard Pathfinder. Put it together and this is a Pathfinder that can actually find paths, at least ones that are off-limits to the standard SUV and a lot of its competitors. Best of all, it sits in the middle of the lineup, meaning that it's not even the most expensive version.

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 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, but none of it stands out in this class. The navigation system itself works well, with clear turn-by-turn directions and an easy-to-use (if somewhat dated-looking) interface. Voice commands are limited in scope and must be spoken in a specific way to work. Our test vehicle was equipped with Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, though we had some issues with the latter. A wireless charging pad is great, but the Pathfinder needs a few more USB charge ports to avoid having to split charging time between passenger devices.

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.

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

[Editor's note: The following unofficial information is based on last year's Pathfinder. We expect the 2026 model will have a similar lineup and we'll update this section once we have complete information.] The 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?

Nissan hasn't released official information on the 2026 Pathfinder as of this writing. We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's Pathfinder, 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.