2023 Ford Explorer vs Nissan Pathfinder

• You'll be able to seat more passengers in the Pathfinder if you choose to opt for their full second row instead of their two captain seats. The Explorer only offers seven at any point.
• A better engine with the Explorer means better overall performance, especially with trailering capacity.
• There are three power trains offered on the Ford Explorer with one of them being a hybrid option for extra gas-saving abilities.
• The Explorer is the Slightly longer vehicle, which in this case allows for some extra cargo space. Passengers will have but only just an inch more space for heads and legs in the Explorer.
• The Pathfinder and the Explorer are nearly identical in price, with the Explorer being on average $1,000 more than the Pathfinder.

Many competitors seek to match up against the power of what Ford Explorers have to offer, and while they prove worthy opponents, we have yet to find many that match up to the superior potential of the Ford engine. On top of that, the Explorer offers buyers more options with their powertrains to suit a multitude of needs. Here is what you can find under the hood of the Explorer:

• 2.3-liter, 4 Cylinder Engine with 300-hp, (Gasoline)
• 3.3-liter, V6 Cylinder Engine with 318-hp, (Hybrid)
• 3.0-liter, V6 Cylinder Engine with 400-hp (Gasoline)

Another thing that this SUV does differently than most others is offer a hybrid system as a second-tier engine option. What is most impressive about Ford's hybrid system, is that it still challenges and wins in power against the Pathfinder’s engine. You're not sacrificing any horsepower when switching to this gas/electric hybrid on the Explorer. The Pathfinder also comes with a couple of engine options, still powerful in their own right, but not quite measuring up to the Explorer's potential:

• 3.5-liter, V6 Cylinder Engine (Gasoline) with 284-hp
• 3.5-liter, V6 Cylinder Engine (Gasoline) with 295-hp

As far as gas mileage is concerned with these engines, you can expect to save a tiny bit more in the Explorer, but not by too much. The Explorer gets on average 21 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway, while the Pathfinder is in close second with 20 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway.

For off-roading and trailering, the Explorer is going to be better suited than the Pathfinder. The Explorer generates 310 lb-ft of torque while the Pathfinder is doing 284 lb-ft. This comes into play when you start looking at the Explorer's maximum trailering capacity: 5,300 pounds. This far outweighs the Pathfinder's max 3,500 pounds. The Explorer comes standard with a four-wheel drive system, making it much more equipped for any type of terrain. The Pathfinder does have the option with its all-wheel drive system to switch into certain modes for sand and mud, but the Explorer can go off the path, and travel far without having to worry.