Back in the day, the Pathfinder was a boxy, truck-based SUV. Now it’s a sleek, unibody-style family crossover with a lot of appeal. Nice move, Nissan.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder has a lot going for it. On paper, it’s a solid choice and in the real world, though it has some downsides, it’s still a good option. We especially like the new Rock Creek trim level and the Pathfinder’s high towing capacity for added versatility.

Most buyers in the three-row segment are looking for interior versatility and family safety. The Pathfinder delivers on both of those, though its cargo space is a bit tight. A useful (and reachable) roof rack adds a lot to this vehicle and its stellar towing capacity is a big selling point. Being able to haul that small RV or boat to the lake while carrying your family and their stuff is something to look forward to.

We like the 2023 Pathfinder overall and consider it a top choice in the three-row family crossover segment.

The Pathfinder isn’t as snazzy to look at as is the Explorer, but it offers better towing and less variable fuel economy by comparison. The interior of the Pathfinder is more comfortable and spacious, though the Ford offers more usable cargo space.

The Honda Pilot is tough to beat, with a roomy interior, accessible seating, and large cargo space. The Pathfinder has more versatility, though, and slightly better fuel economy as well.

The Telluride is, to be honest, the benchmark for the three-row crossover segment. The Pathfinder falls short on most metrics, but has a more streamlined design and less “bulky SUV” in its look.

The base price for the 2023 Pathfinder is competitive, but most buyers will be looking beyond the base model and into the $40,000-$43,000 range when purchasing new.

The table below shows the most common trim levels and how much they will run you.

Nissan has added a new Rock Creek trim level to the Pathfinder as well as some content additions for the mid-trim SL model. The Pathfinder otherwise carries over from 2022, its fourth-generation debut model year.

The mid-tier SL model of the 2023 Pathfinder adds a wireless smartphone charging pad and two more USB ports for this year. Heated rear seating is added to the SL Premium package upgrade as well.

Building on the SL trim level is a new Rock Creek trim. This model adds just over half an inch in suspension lift, all-terrain tires, LED fog lamps, and makes all-wheel drive standard. A tubular roof rack adds versatility as well. The Rock Creek trim, which is popular on other Nissan SUVs, is an off-road upgrade that also brings some exterior and interior badging and trim pieces to accentuate ruggedness.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder has a well-vetted 3.5-liter V6 engine that outputs 284 horsepower (slightly more if premium fuel is used). A nine-speed automatic transmission mates well with that engine. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional on most trims.

On paper the Pathfinder is pretty effulgent, with a lot of goodness built in. This is a storied SUV model that has gone from a body-on-frame design in the 1990s to a unibody crossover design post-millennium. That translation has gone well for Nissan, which has sold a lot of these new Pathfinder models.

In the real world, the Pathfinder is smooth, but not terribly engaging to drive. Downshifting to add more power is hesitant as the Pathfinder errs towards fuel economy instead of power output. This is annoying at times, but not a deal breaker.

The 2023 Pathfinder is surprisingly maneuverable for its size and has a towing capacity (up to 6,000 pounds) that makes it capable of pulling a small camper trailer or boat without issue. That kind of utility is difficult to find in this segment.

Overall, the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder is a solid drive with a good feel, so long as there’s no push to get going faster.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder has good safety testing results. Recalls for the vehicle have been minor and crash testing has shown it to be very safe.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the 2023 Pathfinder five out of five stars for crashworthiness.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has given the Pathfinder its coveted top award of “Top Safety Pick+” for both its crash test results and its advanced safety systems.

Reliability could be a concern for Nissan Pathfinder buyers. Consumer Reports rates the 2023 Pathfinder as below average for reliability, but much of that is based on the previous-generation which did not have a geared transmission and suffered for it.

RepairPal and J.D. Power give the 2022-23 Pathfinder high marks for reliability.

We’re inclined to combine these and give the 2023 Pathfinder an average reliability expectation.

We recommend skipping the well-equipped, but still basic S model Pathfinder and going to the next-up SV trim level instead. This adds a lot of creature comforts like remote start, heated exterior mirrors, and adaptive cruise control.

We’d also recommend adding the SV Premium package to get the towing kit (6,000 pound capacity) and more comfortable second-row captain’s chairs. If that or the panoramic sunroof are not things you’d want, the towing package can be added individually as well. Having the towing package greatly increases the resale and versatility of the Pathfinder.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder has a standard warranty that is average for the market. No better and no worse than most others, Nissan’s warranty covers the basics.

• Basic: 3 years / 36k miles
• PowerTrain: 5 years / 60k miles
• Corrosion: 5 years / unlimited miles
• If buying used look at our best extended warranties

This new generation of the Pathfinder has only been on the market since 2022, so finding a used model may be difficult. Especially with how in-demand this SUV has been. We recommend buying new for the warranty coverage as the savings from buying used aren’t likely to be significant at this point.

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