Compare the2025 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2025 Nissan Pathfinder

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Chevrolet Traverse achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Nissan Pathfinder has not been tested.

The Chevrolet Traverse’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Nissan Pathfinder does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Traverse and Pathfinder have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Traverse has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Pathfinder’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Traverse and the Pathfinder have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Traverse is safer than the Nissan Pathfinder:

	Traverse	Pathfinder
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	20.1%	31%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	348 lbs.
Neck Compression	2 lbs.	53 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	32/13 lbs.	156/136 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	234	312
Neck Injury Risk	35.9%	45.1%
Neck Stress	159 lbs.	216 lbs.
Neck Compression	48 lbs.	93 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/266 lbs.	236/309 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Traverse is safer than the Nissan Pathfinder:

	Traverse	Pathfinder
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	64	84
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	138 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Traverse’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Pathfinder’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are almost 3 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Traverse has a standard 220-amp alternator. The Pathfinder’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Traverse’s reliability 14 points higher than the Pathfinder.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Traverse first among midsize suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Pathfinder isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 6th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 15th.

Engine

The Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 44 more horsepower (328 vs. 284) and 67 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 259) than the Pathfinder’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 33 more horsepower (328 vs. 295) and 56 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 270) than the Pathfinder Rock Creek’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Traverse uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Pathfinder Rock Creek requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Traverse FWD’s standard fuel tank has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the Pathfinder (19.4 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Traverse AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pathfinder (21.7 vs. 18.5 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Traverse higher (5 out of 10) than the Nissan Pathfinder (4). This means the Traverse produces up to 5.2 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Pathfinder every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The Traverse stops much shorter than the Pathfinder:

	Traverse	Pathfinder
70 to 0 MPH	178 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Traverse’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pathfinder (275/45R22 vs. 255/60R18).

The Traverse’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pathfinder’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Traverse offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Pathfinder’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Chevrolet Traverse’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Nissan Pathfinder only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Traverse’s wheelbase is 6.8 inches longer than on the Pathfinder (121 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The Traverse RS AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the Pathfinder SL pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Traverse High Country AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Pathfinder Platinum (27.7 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Traverse Z71 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Pathfinder Rock Creek (7.8 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the Traverse to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Traverse uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Traverse uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Traverse has 8.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Pathfinder (157 vs. 148.5).

The Traverse has .3 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front hip room, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 6 inches more rear legroom, 2.3 inches more rear hip room, 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room, .5 inches more third row headroom, 4.1 inches more third row legroom and 1.9 inches more third row hip room than the Pathfinder.

Cargo Capacity

The Traverse’s cargo area provides more volume than the Pathfinder.

	Traverse	Pathfinder
Behind Third Seat	22.9 cubic feet	16.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	56.6 cubic feet	45 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	97.6 cubic feet	80.5 cubic feet

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Traverse RS/High Country’s second row seats and pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Servicing Ease

The Traverse uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Pathfinder uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Traverse’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Pathfinder does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Traverse’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Intelligent Key standard on the Pathfinder doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door. Intelligent Key is not available on the Pathfinder SL/Platinum.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Traverse’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Pathfinder’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Traverse’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Pathfinder SV/Rock Creek/SL/Platinum.

The Traverse RS/High Country’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Pathfinder offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Traverse has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Pathfinder SL/Platinum.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Traverse has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Pathfinder SL/Platinum offers wireless charging.

The Traverse’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Traverse, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Nissan Pathfinder isn't recommended.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the Nissan Pathfinder by 27% during 2024.

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