The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder offers consumers a solid alternative to segment leaders, but there’s a reason it isn’t at the top of the pack.
Family SUVs are a dime a dozen these days, and rightly so, given their popularity among the American populace. The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder makes a fantastic case for itself with competitive pricing and impressive capability. That’s not to mention the dedicated off-road model–the Rock Creek, which expands upon those feats even more so. When it comes to updated equipment and space, however, many of its competitors leave the Pathfinder in the dust.
The Nissan Pathfinder hasn’t seen much in the way of updates since its redesign in 2022. It seems the Japanese automaker is staying the course for the 2025 model year as well. A power liftgate makes the list of standard equipment on the SV and Rock Creek trims. Other than that, the Pathfinder also benefits from the Nissan Maintenance Care plan for the first two years or 24,000 miles of ownership.
Reason to love it #1: Competitive performance
The Nissan Pathfinder underwent a full redesign a few years back, but the 3.5-liter V6 engine was carried over. Instead of the previous generation’s CVT, the V6 engine comes paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. In most Pathfinder models, that powerhouse generates 284 horses and 259 lb-ft of torque. In the Rock Creek edition, performance gets a slight boost to 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque.
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Reason to love it #2: Reduced pricing
Even as tariffs threaten the automotive industry, Nissan is going the extra mile to make their most popular models more affordable. The Pathfinder SUV gets its price reduced by up to $1,170 for 2025. With that reduction in place, the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder starts at just $36,400. That’s a good deal lower than the Toyota Highlander, which is available from as low as $39,820.
Reason to love it #3: Rock Creek edition
The Nissan Pathfinder features a bold style as it is, but the Rock Creek edition takes the aggression a step further. The off-road focused model gets a boost in performance and rides on black 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. A black tubular roof rack comes standard and can handle up to 220 pounds of cargo. Water-repellant seat material and Rock Creek interior stitching and exterior badging add to the Rock Creek edition’s form-meets-function styling. A 360-degree monitor with off-road camera views makes it easier to navigate around rocks and other obstacles found on tough terrain.
Reason to love it #4: Impressive towing capacity
It’s common for midsize SUVs to offer considerable towing capability, but the Nissan Pathfinder outdoes most of its competitors. When properly equipped, Nissan’s midsize SUV can tow up to 6,000 pounds, allowing it a competitive edge over the Toyota Highlander, which tops out at 5,000 pounds of towing capacity.
Reason to think twice #1: Underwhelming cargo space
The Nissan Pathfinder seats up to eight passengers, but its cargo space doesn’t quite compare to other midsize SUVs. With the rear seats in their upright positions, the Pathfinder offers just 16.6 cu ft. of cargo space. Stowing the rear rows away increases cargo space to 80.5 cu ft. The Kia Telluride boasts 21 cu ft. of cargo space with all its rear seats in place. Folding down the rear seats brings the Telluride’s total cargo space to 87 cu ft.
Reason to think twice #2: Few changes for 2025
The Nissan Pathfinder underwent a redesign for the 2022 model year. 2023 marked the introduction of the Rock Creek edition, and the 2024 Pathfinder didn’t see any major changes. For 2025, some Pathfinder models get a power liftgate added to their standard equipment. With so few updates making their way to the midsize SUV, one could argue the Pathfinder isn’t getting the attention it deserves.
The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder isn’t a lightweight by any means, and with a pretty sweet list of standard equipment and reduced pricing, it’s hard to argue against it. Even so, some competing SUVs offer more cargo space and regular updates that keep them to stay at the top of their game. Make sure to give the Kia Telluride and Toyota Highlander a fair shake before you buy the Nissan Pathfinder.
