Head-to-head
2026 Ford Explorer vs 2026 Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder wins clearly, 95.7 to 89.6, on safety. The Ford Explorer is ahead on tech & comfort and fuel & range.
F
2026 Ford Explorer
The 2026 Ford Explorer is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Explorer RWD, is EPA-rated at 24 …
vs
A2026 Nissan Pathfinder
The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Pathfinder 2WD, is EPA-rated …
More Ford Explorer head-to-heads More Nissan Pathfinder head-to-heads Every Explorer vs Pathfinder model year
Verdict · default weights
2026 Nissan Pathfinder
Clear winThe Nissan Pathfinder wins clearly, 95.7 to 89.6, on safety. The Ford Explorer is ahead on tech & comfort and fuel & range.
Safety 2026 Nissan Pathfinder leads by 24.4
Tech & comfort 2026 Ford Explorer leads by 8.8
Fuel & range 2026 Ford Explorer leads by 3.7
| Category · weight | 2026 Ford Exploreroverall 89.6 | 2026 Nissan Pathfinderoverall 95.7 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 96.3 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 74.1 | 98.5 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 91.2 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 89.6 | 95.7 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 3 of 7 categories compared
Ford Explorer: base trim Active Base RWD · Nissan Pathfinder: base trim SV FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (15 against 44 filed with NHTSA).
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 53).
Where the 2026 Ford Explorer answers
- It lists 33 standard driver-assist features against 29.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (28.5 points against 26 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
54 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | — | $39,990 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | — | 3,498 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 with Auto Start-Stop | 3.5L DOHC 24-valve V6 VQ35DD |
| Fuel injection system | — | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | — | DOHC 24-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | — | 284 hp |
| Torque | — | 259 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 20 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 23 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 27 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.58 | 4.34 |
| Transmission speeds | 10 | 9 |
| Transmission type | automatic hybrid | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 7.1 in |
| Overall height | — | 70.9 in |
| Overall length | — | 198 in |
| Overall width | — | 77.9 in |
| Wheelbase | — | 114 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | — | 80.5 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | — | 45 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | — | 16.6 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 165 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 8 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | — | 42.3 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 39.6 in |
| Third-row headroom | — | 37.8 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | — | 44.3 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 35.5 in |
| Third-row legroom | — | 28 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 4,348 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 4,348 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 6,063 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent | Independent strut |
| Rear suspension type | Independent | Multi-link independent |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) | Dual-pinion electric power steering |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 37.4 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 350 mm |
| Front brake type | — | Vented Disc |
| Parking brake type | Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 330 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | Vented Disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 18 in |
| Wheel material | Aluminum | alloy |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | P255/65R18 | 255/60R18 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 17.9 gal | 18.5 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Ford Connectivity Package | NissanConnect Services powered by SiriusXM |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | 84 months | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 12 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | — | 60.8 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 59.6 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | — | 58.4 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
133 features · differences first, then sharedSafety28 differ · 45 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering | std | — |
| Evasive Steering Assist | std | — |
| RearView Monitor | — | std |
| Rear Parking Sensors | std | — |
| Second row side-impact supplemental air bags | — | std |
| Auto High-Beam Headlamps | std | — |
| Curve Control | std | — |
| Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold | std | — |
| Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ (base ADAS suite) | std | — |
| Front sonar system | — | std |
| Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention | — | std |
| Intelligent Cruise Control | — | std |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | — | std |
| Intersection Assist | std | — |
| Junction Assist | — | std |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children) on Second and Third Row Outboard Seating Positions | std | — |
| Perimeter Alarm | std | — |
| Personal Safety System™ (driver and front passenger – dual-stage front airbags, belt pretensioners, energy-management retractors, belt usage sensors, driver seat position sensor, crash severity sensor, restraint control module, Front-Passenger Sensing System) | std | — |
| Post-Collision Braking | std | — |
| ProPILOT Assist | — | std |
| Rear Automatic Braking | — | std |
| Rear Door Alert | — | std |
| Rear sonar system | — | std |
| Rear View Camera with Backup Assist Grid Lines | std | — |
| Side-Wind Stabilization | std | — |
| SOS Post-Crash Alert System™ | std | — |
| Speed Sign Recognition | std | — |
| Traction Control System | — | std |
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection | std | std |
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | std | std |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | std | std |
| Driver and front passenger seat side-impact supplemental air bags | std | std |
| Intelligent Lane Intervention | std | std |
| Lane Departure Warning | std | std |
| Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensors | std | std |
| Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor for outboard occupant head protection for all three rows | std | std |
| Trailer Sway Control | std | std |
| Anti-lock Braking System | std | std |
| Blind Spot Warning | std | std |
| Driver and front passenger knee supplemental air bags | std | std |
| Hill Start Assist/Hill Hold Control | std | std |
| Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor | std | std |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | std | std |
| Immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System with Easy-Fill Tire Alert | std | std |
Infotainment19 differ · 20 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Ford App – Remotely lock and unlock vehicle | std | — |
| Ford App – Locate parked vehicle | std | — |
| 12.3-inch color display with multi-touch display; NissanConnect® featuring wireless Apple CarPlay® and wireless Android Auto™ | — | std |
| 2 first-row illuminated USB-C charge ports | — | std |
| 2 second-row illuminated USB-C charge ports | — | std |
| 5G Modem | std | — |
| 911 Assist® | std | — |
| Audio – AM/FM Stereo, MP3 Capable, Six (6) Speakers, Speed-Compensated Volume, SiriusXM® with 360L | std | — |
| Ford Connectivity Package (1-year Included) | std | — |
| Ford Connectivity Package (One-time purchase – 7 years) (91D) | opt | — |
| Ford Digital Experience – 13.2" Color LCD Touchscreen in IP Center-Stack with Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ Wireless Compatibility | std | — |
| Ford Power-Up Software Update Capability | std | — |
| NissanConnect Services powered by SiriusXM® with automatic collision notification, emergency call and stolen vehicle locator, customizable alerts, dealer service scheduling and maintenance alerts; 5G Wi-Fi hotspot | — | std |
| Paddle shifters | — | std |
| SiriusXM with 360L (3-year plan) (94B) | opt | — |
| SiriusXM® satellite radio with advanced audio features | — | std |
| Steering Wheel with Mounted Features – Audio Controls | std | — |
| USB Ports, First Row and Second Row (Ford Digital Experience standard); Third Row USB included on 200A+ | std | — |
| Wireless smartphone charging pad | — | opt |
| NissanConnect Services powered by SiriusXM® with 5G Wi-Fi hotspot | std | std |
Convenience6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Door Intelligent Access (Lock/Unlock) with Push-Button Start | std | — |
| Remote engine start | — | std |
| Nissan Intelligent Key® with programmable settings | — | std |
| Power liftgate | — | std |
| Manual Liftgate | std | — |
| Powerpoints (12V) – three (3) | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin Particulate Air Filter | std | — |
| Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control | std | std |
Seating8 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's seat 8-way power with 2-way lumbar | — | std |
| Front seats Heated | — | std |
| 8-way power with 2-way lumbar (driver's seat) | — | std |
| Captain's chairs with attached armrests | std | — |
| Nissan EZ Flex® Seating System featuring LATCH AND GLIDE® tip-up third-row access technology | — | std |
| Passenger seat 6-way manual | — | std |
| Seats – Second Row 35/30/35 Bench with E-Z Entry and Armrests (17U) | opt | — |
| 3-passenger, 60/40 split bench, center armrest with cupholders, flat folding | — | std |
| Cloth seating | std | std |
Interior11 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | — | opt |
| 12.3-inch TFT meter display | std | — |
| 7-inch Advanced Drive-Assist® Display | — | std |
| Compass | std | — |
| Fine Vision electroluminescent meter display | — | std |
| Piano Black interior trim | — | std |
| Rotary Gear Shift Dial | std | — |
| Floor Mats – Black Carpet, Front and Second Rows | std | — |
| Overhead Console with Sunglasses Storage | std | — |
| Seatback pockets – front driver and passenger seats | — | std |
| Trip Computer | std | — |
| Manual day/night interior rearview mirror | std | std |
| Manual tilt/telescoping steering | std | std |
| Sun visors with extender and vanity mirror, illuminated | std | std |
Exterior22 differ · 24 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Panoramic moonroof, one-touch power tilt/sliding glass with shade | — | opt |
| LED headlights (low and high beam) | — | std |
| 18-inch painted aluminum-alloy wheels | — | std |
| 18" Spare Wheel and Jack Kit (76U) | opt | — |
| Active Grille Shutters | std | — |
| Black grille with gray accents | — | std |
| Body-colored bumpers | — | std |
| Configurable Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) | std | — |
| Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler | std | — |
| Heated outside mirrors | — | std |
| LED daytime running lights | — | std |
| LED Low and High Beam Headlamps with Courtesy Delay / Wiper-Activated | std | — |
| LED Taillamps | std | — |
| Mirrors, Sideview – Heated Glass | std | — |
| Outside mirrors – manual folding | — | std |
| Premium Paint | — | opt |
| Semi-gloss satin badging | — | std |
| Tire Inflator and Sealant Kit | std | — |
| Auto on/off headlights (ambient light sensitive, linked to front wipers) | — | std |
| Rear Spoiler – Body-Color | std | — |
| Splash Guards, Black, 4-piece | — | opt |
| Temporary spare tire (under body) – T165/90D18 | — | std |
| Privacy glass – rear door windows, rear quarter window fixed, liftgate window | std | std |
| Window defogger – liftgate glass | std | std |
Powertrain9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 5-position Drive Mode Selector (2WD) | — | std |
| Battery Saver | std | — |
| Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) | std | — |
| Engine – 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 with Auto Start-Stop | std | — |
| Idle stop/start system | — | std |
| Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor® | std | — |
| Selectable Drive Modes | std | — |
| Transmission – 10-Speed Automatic | std | — |
| Transmission oil cooler (for towing) | — | opt |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Front and Rear Suspension | std | — |
Cargo3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Tow hitch – Class III | — | opt |
| Class III Trailer Tow Package | std | — |
| 54.1-liter luggage box storage compartment with hinged lid under cargo floor, cargo area light | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPFord Explorer
Safety Signal 53 F
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 15 · 3 filed unfixed
Owner complaints 44 · 3 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (11), Unspecified (11), Visibility/Wiper (7)
Top recalls
- high Air Bags 26V581000 · 7 vehicles
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V548000 · 10,001 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V532000 · 6 vehicles
- high Seats 26V451000 · 387,911 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V343000 · 1,536 vehicles
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V205000 · 278 vehicles
Nissan Pathfinder
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 15 · 3 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Power Train (4), Unspecified (3), Service Brakes (3)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — (base trim) | $39,990 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — 12 trims | $39,990 – $51,790 7 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Explorer RWD | Pathfinder 2WD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 24 | 23 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,800 | $2,900 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi (make terms) | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi (make terms) | — |
| Roadside assistance | 5 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Ford Explorer or the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder?
The Nissan Pathfinder wins clearly, 95.7 to 89.6, on safety. The Ford Explorer is ahead on tech & comfort and fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder scores 95.7 and the 2026 Ford Explorer 89.6. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Ford Explorer or the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder?
2026 Ford Explorer: 5 NHTSA stars, grade F, 15 recalls (3 filed with no repair available). 2026 Nissan Pathfinder: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Ford Explorer and the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder?
Where the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (15 against 44 filed with NHTSA) and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 53). Where the 2026 Ford Explorer answers: it lists 33 standard driver-assist features against 29 and lists more comfort and tech equipment (28.5 points against 26 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars.