2025 Nissan Pathfinder vs 2026 Acura RDX

$36,400 · Crossover

$45,100 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The most significant numerical divergence between the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder and the 2026 Acura RDX is the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), with the Pathfinder starting at $36,400, representing an $8,700 saving over the RDX's $45,100 entry point. Performance metrics show the Pathfinder generating 284 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque, narrowly exceeding the RDX’s 272 hp, although the RDX achieves higher torque at 280 lb-ft. Fuel efficiency is identical across combined cycles at 23 MPG for both crossovers, with both vehicles achieving 27 MPG on the highway, though the RDX requires premium unleaded fuel compared to the Pathfinder's regular requirement. Size differences are substantial; the Pathfinder measures 197.7 inches long, while the RDX is 187.4 inches. Crucially, cargo volume heavily favors the RDX, offering 29.5 cubic feet versus the Pathfinder's 16.6 cubic feet.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Nissan Pathfinder

The Pathfinder offers a lower entry MSRP of $36,400 and runs on regular unleaded fuel, resulting in lower running costs.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Acura RDX

The RDX provides substantially more usable storage space, featuring 29.5 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Pathfinder's 16.6 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Nissan Pathfinder

The Pathfinder possesses a slight edge in peak horsepower output, rated at 284 hp against the RDX's 272 hp.

💰 Best Value

2025 Nissan Pathfinder

The Pathfinder provides more horsepower and requires a lower initial investment, creating a better feature-to-price ratio based on provided data.

Choose the Nissan Pathfinder if...

Budget conservation is a primary concern, given the $8,700 MSRP difference.
A vehicle running on regular unleaded gasoline is preferred over premium.
Maximum overall exterior length (197.7 inches) is needed for garage fitment or towing class positioning.

Choose the Acura RDX if...

Maximum cargo volume is essential, with the RDX offering 29.5 cu ft.
Standard All-Wheel Drive (AWD) is a non-negotiable feature, unlike the Pathfinder's FWD baseline.
Slightly superior torque output (280 lb-ft) is desired over peak horsepower.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Nissan Pathfinder	Acura RDX
Length	197.7"	187.4"
Width	77.9"	74.8"
Height	70.9"	65.7"
Wheelbase	114.2"	108.3"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Nissan	Acura
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	—
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	—
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	✓	—
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	—
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	—	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	—	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	—	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Nissan	Acura
Base Engine Displacement	3.5 L	2.0 L
Number of Cylinders	V6	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	284 hp @ 6400 rpm	272 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque	259 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm	280 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
Number of Valves	24	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Nissan	Acura
Transmission Type	9-speed shiftable automatic	10-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
[object Object]	—	✓
[object Object]	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Nissan	Acura
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	premium unleaded (recommended)
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	20/27 MPG	21/27 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	23 MPG	23 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	370.0/499.5 mi.	359.1/461.7 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	18.5 gal.	17.1 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Nissan	Acura
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	—
Cruise Control	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	—
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Manual Rear Seat Easy Entry	✓	—
Three Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	—	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	—	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	—	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	—	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	—	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Nissan	Acura
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	10.2 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	9
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	✓	—
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	✓
Subwoofer Count	—	1
Android Auto (Wireless)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Nissan	Acura
One-Touch Power Windows	1	4
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Moonroof Type	—	1st Row Power Glass
Reverse Tilt Passenger Mirror	—	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Nissan	Acura
Front Head Room	42.3 in.	40.0 in.
Front Leg Room	44.3 in.	42.0 in.
Front Shoulder Room	60.8 in.	60.0 in.
Front Hip Room	58.3 in.	55.0 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Manual	Power
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Passenger Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power
Driver Seat Heating	—	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	—	Multi-level

Rearseats

Feature	Nissan	Acura
Rear Head Room	39.6 in.	38.0 in.
Rear Leg Room	35.5 in.	38.0 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	59.6 in.	57.0 in.
Rear Hip Room	56.3 in.	50.0 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Nissan	Acura
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Diameter	18 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	255/60R18	235/55R19
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Size	—	19 x 8.0 in

Suspension

Feature	Nissan	Acura
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Nissan	Acura
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	6 yr./ 70000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	2 yr./ 24000 mi.	1 yr./ 12000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder and 2026 Acura RDX.

What is the exact fuel cost difference implied by the recommended fuel types?

The 2026 Acura RDX recommends premium unleaded, which typically carries a higher per-gallon price than the regular unleaded fuel specified for the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder. This ongoing expense will contribute to the RDX's higher total cost of ownership.

How much smaller is the Pathfinder’s cargo space compared to the RDX?

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder offers 16.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity, which is 12.9 cubic feet less than the 2026 Acura RDX's 29.5 cubic feet. This represents a significant disparity in usable storage volume.

Despite similar MPG figures, how do the drivetrains differ?

The standard configuration for the Pathfinder is Front Wheel Drive (FWD), whereas the RDX utilizes All-Wheel Drive (AWD) with its 10-speed transmission. Both models achieve 23 MPG combined, suggesting the RDX's AWD system does not penalize efficiency relative to the Pathfinder's FWD.

Is the Pathfinder significantly larger externally than the RDX?

Yes, the Pathfinder is 10.3 inches longer than the RDX, measuring 197.7 inches versus 187.4 inches. The Pathfinder is also noticeably taller at 70.9 inches compared to the RDX’s 65.7 inches.

Which vehicle produces greater rotational force, and how is the transmission speed different?

The Acura RDX achieves greater torque at 280 lb-ft, while the Pathfinder has 259 lb-ft. The RDX utilizes a 10-speed automatic transmission, which is one gear more than the Pathfinder's 9-speed unit.