2020 Nissan Pathfinder

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Rating6.7

Ranked #12 in 

Midsize SUV
Write Review
$31,980 - $44,910
Starting Price 
M. Hannigan's image
M. Hannigan 

Content Writer,

Updated on May 3, 2024

ProsConsWhat's New

Enthusiastic V6 Motor comes standard

No Apple Carplay and Android Auto

2020 Nissan Pathfinder comes unchanged.

Above-average MPG Figures

Sub Par 3rd Row Space

Easy ingress and Egress in the 3rd Row

Stiffer than Normal Ride Quality

Segment Leading Towing Capacity

Specs & Features

$33,670

price

284 hp @ 6400 rpm

horsepower

259 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm

torque

1 CVT w/od

transmission

3.5L 6cyl 4WD CVT

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder comes unchanged this year and still impresses us with its strong and standard V6, above-average fuel efficiency, and easy-access 3rd-row seats. Having said that, the current-gen Pathfinder was last redesigned in 2013 and by 2020 standards Nissan’s 3-row crossover SUV lacks the fitments and styling of the newcomers.

The top leaders like Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander have upgraded with time to sustain the top-rankings. The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder lacks technology features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also unlike competitors, the Pathfinder has a fixed 7-passenger seating layout and does not offer a 2nd-row captain’s chairs.

Buying Advice

The SL trim, packs in premium features like leather upholstery, LED headlights and heated seats as part of its standard features list. Hence, this is the trim that is worth shelling out the extra bucks on.

Comparative Analysis against Competition

The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder drives on its frugal motor that belts out one of the best MPG figures in the market and has an amazing 6000lbs towing capacity. Underneath the hood of the 2020 Pathfinder is a 3.5L V6 motor that shells out 284hp and 259lbs.-ft. of torque. With the EPA ratings of 23MPG, the pathfinder offers a terrific range with its massive 19-gallon fuel tank.

Available in a total of 4 trims- S, SV, SL, and Platinum, the Pathfinder can be had in both 2WD and 4WD configurations. For 2020, Nissan is also offering a Rock Creek Edition in the SV and SL trims and adds some cosmetic updates to the same. Prices for the Pathfinder range from $31,530 to over $44,000, depending on the trim and number of options chosen.

Features
6.0/10

Pricing of the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder starts at $31,680 for the base S trim which includes adequate standard convenience and safety features. The next-in-line SV begins at $34,470, SL costs $38,090 while the top-of-the-line Platinum costs $42,920. Moving up the trim ladder adds more comfort and safety tech inside. The 2020 Pathfinder uses a single V6 powertrain across its four trim levels: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. The Nissan is front-wheel-drive with an option to upgrade to an all-wheel version for $1,690.

Trims

S

SV

SL

Platinum

MSRP (FWD)

$31,680

$34,470

$38,090

$42,920

MSRP (4WD)

$33,370

$36,160

$39,780

$44,610

Key Features

SiriusXM Travel Link with 3-year trial access

Add/Upgrade to S

Add/Upgrade to SV

Add/Upgrade to SL

 

Automatic Emergency Braking

Remote Engine Start System

LED low-beam projector headlights

20" x 7.5" aluminum-alloy wheels

 

Tri-Zone Automatic Temperature Control System

Intelligent Cruise Control

Nissan Navigation System

Bose Premium Audio System with 13 speakers, including Acoustic Waveguide technology

 

EZ FLEX® Seating System with 2nd-row 60/40 split fold-flat bench seat

Blind Spot Warning

Intelligent Around View Monitor

Climate-controlled front seats (heated and cooled)

 

LATCH AND GLIDE

Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

Leather-appointed seats (1st and 2nd row)

Dual Panel Panoramic Moonroof

 

3rd-row 50/50 split fold-flat reclining bench seat

Fog lights

Heated front seats

Tow hitch receiver with 7-pin wiring harness

Moving up to midrange SV, you can add the Rock creek Edition package for $995 and can also opt for a Technology package for $980 for a navigation system, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated side mirrors.

The top-spec SL and Platinum add more luxuries, including amenities like genuine leather upholstery, heated front- and second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, a hands-free power liftgate, and LED headlights. The most loaded Pathfinder Platinum features a ventilated front seat, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a tow hitch.

We Recommend:

The SL trim is the most valuable trim, packs in premium features like Leather Upholstery, LED Headlights, and Heated Seats as part of its standard features list. Hence, this is the trim that is worth shelling out the extra bucks on.

Fuel Economy
4.0/10

Being the Slowest among its adversaries does give the Nissan Pathfinder some bragging rights in the Fuel Efficiency department. The Pathfinder excels on this front and delivers a superb 23 MPG in mixed driving conditions. What sweetens the deal is the massive range on both the city and on the highway, courtesy of a massive 19.5-gallon fuel tank.

The AWD-equipped models manage 19 MPG city, 26 MPG highway, and 22 MPG combined. Surprisingly the top-spec Pathfinder Platinum is the only all-wheel-drive equipped with bigger wheels and is rated at 19/26/21 mpg (city/highway/combined).

Model

2020 Nissan Pathfinder

2020 Ford Explorer

2020 Honda Pilot

2020 Chevrolet Traverse

2020 Toyota Highlander

MPG (City)

20

17

19

17

20

MPG (Highway)

27

24

27

25

27

MPG (Combine)

23

20

22

20

23

Fuel Tank Capacity(Gallons)

19.5

18.6

19.5

21.7

19.2

Range(City/Highway) (Miles)

390/527

316/446

371/527

369/542

384/518

The American Duo of the Ford Explorer and the Chevrolet Traverse, come in as the most fuel-thirsty among all the SUVs here and offer the least MPG figures. The Toyota is tied for the top spot with the Nissan on the same front and the Honda comes in a close 2nd.

Interior
9.0/10

The Nissan Pathfinder has evolved from a full-size brute to a family-friendly '8ute. Families will appreciate its size and cargo capacity, which has been improved since its early days. - TheCarConnection

The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder can ferry 7 people with itself without much fuss. What is even more impressive is the fact that the Nissan offers plenty of room for passengers inside, with a special highlight being the space on offer in the 3rd row. The Ventilated front Seats are comfortable on the whole and feel cushy while offering a sense of premium feel, courtesy of the all-leather seats.

Overall don't find the design of the interiors to be impressive and rather feels dated than some of the other SUVs in the segment. The build quality feels solid and exudes luxury on the whole. The Nissan Pathfinder has one of the biggest 3rd rows in its class and hence has compromised on its cargo capacity for the same. The 16.2 cu. ft. of Space on offer, ranks at the bottom half of the cargo capacity chart when compared to other SUVs in the segment.

Model

2020 Nissan Pathfinder

2020 Ford Explorer

2020 Honda Pilot

2020 Chevrolet Traverse

2020 Toyota Highlander

Passenger capacity

7

7

8

8

8

Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg)

(In.)

42.2/60.9/42.3

41.4/61.5/42.9

40.1/62.0/40.9

41.3/62.1/41.0

40.7/59.3/44.2

Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg)

(In.)

39.4/60.4/41.7

40.6/61.0/39.5

40.2/62.0/38.4

40.0/62.2/38.4

39.9/59.6/38.4

Third (Head/Shoulder/Leg)

(In.)

37.8/57.1/30.7

37.8/50.8/32.0

38.9/57.6/31.9

38.2/57.5/33.5

35.9/55.0/27.7

Cargo Space

16.2 Cu. ft.

21.0 Cu. ft. 

16.5 Cu. ft.

23.0 Cu. ft.

13.8 Cu. ft.

While all the SUVs in today's comparison offer a tremendous sense of space on the front row, the Toyota Highlander comes in short when talking of space for the 2nd and 3rd row. The Toyota however, scores high in terms of the comfort on offer and is closely matched by the Honda Pilot SUV. Talking about the best SUVs in the segment that offer the most space in the back, the Chevrolet Traverse tops the charts here with its massive 23 cu. ft. of space.

Ingress and Egress in the 3rd row are the easiest in the Nissan when compared to other adversaries in the segment. Every 2020 Nissan Pathfinder comes with a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system along with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Android Auto and Apple Carplay integration are missing, which is one downside as compared with the rivals. Also, the touchscreen graphics aren't crisp.

The SL and Platinum add standard Navigation. For audiophiles, Nissan offers a six-speaker stereo along with SiriusXM satellite radio, however, Platinum adds Bose Premium audio system with 13 speakers, including acoustic waveguide technology and DVD playback system.

Interior Features

  • Push Button start
  • Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control
  • 10 Way Power Adjust driver seat with memory and 2-way power lumbar adjust
  • Heated Second Row and Climate Controlled Front row seats
  • Perforated Leather-Appointed seats for 1st and 2nd row
  • 4 Way Power adjust passenger seats
  • Heated and Power Tilt/Telescopic Steering Column with memory and illuminated controls
  • Front Power Windows with One-Touch Up/Down

Infotainment System

  • 8' Touchscreen Display
  • 6 USB Ports and AUX connectivity
  • SiriusXM Radio, Traffic and Travel Link
  • Rear SONAR System
  • Around View Monitor
  • Speed-Sensitive Volume Control
  • 13 Speaker BOSE Audio System
  • Bluetooth, HD Radio, and MP3/WMA CD playback

Exterior
5.0/10

No longer the squared-off utility vehicle it used to be, the latest-gen Pathfinder is more about windswept curves and rounded edges.- Kelley Blue Book

The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder's design, won't actually find a lot of attention from the onlookers and passerby's, courtesy of its typical 3 row SUV styling. Though the design of the current-gen Pathfinder is a big departure from the old-gen model, it still feels like Nissan could have done better here.

The Front end resembles Nissan Cars/Hatchbacks and is both a good and bad thing as it lacks the SUV presence from the front. Its ginormous proportions, however, give it a commanding presence from the side and enhances the sense of space on the inside. The 7.0' of ground clearance on offer is just decent and Nissan could have souped up the same for added water wading capability.

Model

2020 Nissan Pathfinder

2020 Ford Explorer

2020 Honda Pilot

2020 Chevrolet Traverse

2020 Toyota Highlander

Curb Weight(lbs.)

4287

4453

4036

4362

4244

Length(in)

198.5

198.7

196.5

204.3

192.5

Width(in)

77.3

78.9

78.6

78.6

75.8

Height(in)

70.6

70.0

70.6

70.7

68.1

Ground Clearance(in)

7.0

7.8

7.3

N/A

8.0

Wheel Base(in)

114.2

112.8

111.0

120.9

109.8

Talking purely in terms of figures, the Chevrolet Traverse comes in as the longest SUV in this comparison and is then matched by the Pathfinder and the Explorer. The Explorer is also the widest of the lot while the Traverse is the tallest by the smallest of margins. The Toyota Highlander offers the most ground clearance among its adversaries.

Exterior Features:

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Safety
7.0/10

The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder is a safe car certified by the NHTSA and IIHS. The NHTSA gave Pathfinder five out of five-star overall safety ratings. The IIHS named the similar 2019 Pathfinder Top Safety pick.

Every Pathfinder comes with standard safety and driver assistance features including automatic emergency braking, tire pressure monitoring system, rear-view camera, parking sensors, airbags, LATCH, and front and rear crumple zones. The Pathfinder SV and above gets additional features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alerts. If you buy the SL and Platinum trim you will also get a standard surround-view camera system.

Available Safety Features on 2020 Nissan Pathfinder:

  • Blind Spot Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Surround-view camera system

Competition
7.0/10

2020 Nissan Pathfinder vs. 2020 Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer comes with a wide variety of engine options and has something for everyone. It sure looks better than the Pathfinder and houses a more modern design and longer feature list with it. However, the Nissan is cheaper than the Ford and is definitely, runs around the Ford in terms of build quality.

The Nissan also comes with the more efficient power train and will be much more reliable in the long term than the Ford.

2020 Nissan Pathfinder vs. 2020 Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot is one of the most well-rounded packages in this class. It offers a good blend of power and performance and is high on practicality and space as well. Both the Pilot and the Pathfinder are at a level playing field in terms of pricing and both will be equally reliable in the long run.

The Nissan on the other hand trumps the Honda in terms of power and MPG figures and has a slightly better infotainment system than the Honda as well. There is no clear winner here but if we were to pick one, we would give the edge to the Nissan here.

2020 Nissan Pathfinder vs. 2020 Chevrolet Traverse

The Chevrolet Traverse traverses long distances in ensuring that it fills the needs of the average American. The Traverse offers tons of loads of space on the inside and has the most powerful engine among its adversaries. It looks better than the Nissan as well and packs in a lot of tech inside it.

The Traverse, however, can't match the Nissan's impeccable build and frugality. The Nissan offers a terrific range with a full tank and tows in a lot more than the Chevy as well. If you aren't a tech lover guy who just wants performance, then the Nissan is the logical choice to go for.

Final Verdict

The Nissan Pathfinder, finds itself in the middle of a crowded Mid Size SUV market where each SUV offers something better or unique than the other. The Pathfinder, though not be as powerful as some of its adversaries, offers superb space, driving range and driving dynamics. It also comes in with an amazing Towing Capacity and can ferry 7 people, easily. Add to that, a sturdy build and a healthy set of safety features and you have on your hands, an SUV that will stand the test of time and perform in the same way as now, 15 years down the line.

Trims

    S
    $31,980 onwards
    • 8-Inch touchscreen
    • Dual USB ports
    • Six-Speaker sound system
    • Three-Zone climate control
    SV
    $34,770 onwards
    • Adaptive cruise control
    • Auto-Dimming rearview mirror
    • Blind-Spot warning
    • Leather-Wrapped steering wheel
    • Power-Adjustable driver's seat
    SL
    $38,390 onwards
    • Hands-Free liftgate
    • Heated front and rear seats
    • Leather upholstery
    • Navigation system
    Platinum
    $43,220 onwards
    • Panoramic sunroof
    • Premium Bose audio system
    • Ventilated front seats

Compare to similar cars

Price

$31,980- $44,910

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

6.65

Horsepower

284 hp @ 6400 rpm

Torque

259 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm

Capacity

7

Read Review

$44,500- $61,750

Gasoline

7.15

290 hp @ 6200 rpm

267 lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm

7

Read Review

$40,000- $56,100

Gasoline

7.03

310 hp @ 6800 rpm

266 lb.-ft. @ 2800 rpm

7

Read Review

$29,800- $54,395

Gasoline

6.45

310 hp @ 6800 rpm

260 lb.-ft. @ 2800 rpm

8

Read Review

$31,100- $43,265

Gasoline

7.53

250 hp @ 5550 rpm

275 lb.-ft. @ 3000 rpm

5

Read Review

$32,765- $58,250

Gasoline

7.2

300 hp @ 5500 rpm

310 lb.-ft. @ 3500 rpm

7

Read Review

$29,800- $48,300

Gasoline

8.01

193 hp @ 6300 rpm

188 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

7

Read Review

$31,550- $49,720

Gasoline

6.71

280 hp @ 6000 rpm

262 lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm

8

Read Review

$32,150- $87,400

Gasoline

7.05

293 hp @ 6400 rpm

260 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

5

Read Review

$26,990- $41,890

Gasoline

7.05

185 hp @ 6000 rpm

178 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

7

Read Review

2020 Nissan Pathfinder vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    7.3 sec15.6 sec122 mph
    5.9 sec14.4 sec142 mph
    6.1 sec14.7 sec112 mph
    6.5 sec14.9 sec115 mph
    6.6 sec15 sec114 mph
    6.8 sec15.2 sec-

    2020 Nissan Pathfinder vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      20 mpg27 mpg23 mpg19.5 gal.390/526.5 mi.
      29 mpg34 mpg31 mpg12.7 gal.368.3/431.8 mi.
      26 mpg33 mpg29 mpg18.5 gal.481/610.5 mi.
      22 mpg29 mpg25 mpg18.8 gal.413.6/545.2 mi.
      22 mpg28 mpg24 mpg19 gal.418/532 mi.
      20 mpg29 mpg24 mpg17.9 gal.375.9/519.1 mi.

      2020 Nissan Pathfinder vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        198.5 in.77.3 in.69.5 in.7 in.114.2 in.
        204.3 in.78.6 in.70.7 in.-120.9 in.
        204.3 in.78.8 in.69.9 in.7.7 in.120.9 in.
        199.4 in.77.5 in.69 in.8.8 in.115.3 in.
        198.8 in.78.9 in.69.9 in.7.9 in.119.1 in.
        196.9 in.78.3 in.68.9 in.8 in.114.2 in.

        2020 Nissan Pathfinder vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          16.2 cu.ft.137.8 cu.ft.79.5 cu.ft.
          15 cu.ft.132.7 cu.ft.68.4 cu.ft.
          47.2 cu.ft.-89.7 cu.ft.
          21 cu.ft.-87 cu.ft.
          17.8 cu.ft.153.5 cu.ft.86.5 cu.ft.
          18 cu.ft.155.3 cu.ft.86.4 cu.ft.

          2020 Nissan Pathfinder vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            79.5 cu.ft.16.2 cu.ft.79.5 cu.ft.-
            68.3 cu.ft.36.3 cu.ft.68.3 cu.ft.-Jeep USA
            83.1 cu.ft.18.2 cu.ft.87.8 cu.ft.-
            93.8 cu.ft.15 cu.ft.68.4 cu.ft.-
            75.7 cu.ft.32.5 cu.ft.75.7 cu.ft.-
            41.3 cu.ft.30.5 cu.ft.64.2 cu.ft.74 ft.

            2020 Nissan Pathfinder vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              5000 lbs.1699 lbs.4287 lbs.
              6200 lbs.1180 lbs.4513 lbs.Jeep USA
              5300 lbs.1425 lbs.4345 lbs.
              5000 lbs.1700 lbs.4400 lbs.
              5000 lbs.1605 lbs.4127 lbs.
              5000 lbs.1814 lbs.4359 lbs.

              2020 Nissan Pathfinder SUV Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and which year to avoid?

              0

              Recalls

              0

              Investigations

              40

              Complaints
              Overall Safety Rating
              Read More

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