Upgrade from a 2016 to 2017 Nissan Pathfinder and pay $170–$910 more for standard Bluetooth, an 8-inch display touchscreen, a rearview camera, and other convenient features.

Back in 1985, the Nissan Pathfinder was the epitome of an SUV, winning rally races all over the world. Decades have since softened its boxy edges, appealing to families for its spacious three-row goodness. Add to that the rise of better technology and comfortable materials, and you get the fourth-gen 2016 and 2017 Pathfinders. But does one year even make a difference?

Find out just how similar the 2016 and 2017

Nissan

Pathfinders are—and if newer is always better. We’ll take you through the pricing, general specs, fuel economy, safety ratings, and interior changes between the 2016 and 2017 Nissan Pathfinder. Let’s get started!

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2016 Nissan Pathfinder vs. 2017 Nissan Pathfinder: what’s the difference?

The Pathfinder is Nissan’s midsize SUV known for being the top pick for large families. It’s bigger than the

Nissan Kicks

and smaller than the

Nissan Armada

—so how does it stand out as the middle child?

In terms of the 2016 and 2017 Nissan Pathfinder, the biggest difference can be found in their convenience and technology. Let’s take a closer look!

Pricing

There’s no splurging required if you prefer the newer 2017 Nissan Pathfinder to the 2016 model! Depending on your drivetrain (4WD is pricier) and trim level, expect a price increase of $170–$910. The most expensive price jump is with the Nissan Pathfinder Platinum 2WD.

Take a look at the MSRPs of the 2016 and 2017 Nissan Pathfinders:

Model	2016 MSRP	2017 MSRP
Nissan Pathfinder S	$29,830	$30,290
Nissan Pathfinder S 4WD	$31,520	$31,980
Nissan Pathfinder SV	$33,150	$32,980
Nissan Pathfinder SV 4WD	$34,840	$34,670
Nissan Pathfinder SL	$36,410	$36,100
Nissan Pathfinder SL 4WD	$38,100	$37,790
Nissan Pathfinder Platinum 2WD	$41,160	$42,070
Nissan Pathfinder Platinum 4WD	$43,300	$43,760

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General specs

With a new model year comes more power. Both the 2016 and 2017 Pathfinder run on the same V6 engine, but the 2017 model kicks up the speed a notch—from 260 to 284 horsepower. The biggest change, however, comes in its heavy-lifting skills. The 2017 Pathfinder’s towing capacity increases by 1000 more pounds, which is great news if road-tripping and RV camping are your family’s vacationing staples.

Here are the engine and towing specs:

	2016 Nissan Pathfinder	2017 Nissan Pathfinder
Base engine	3.5-liter V6 engine (260 horsepower)	3.5-liter V6 engine (284 horsepower)
Transmission	CVT with OD	CVT with OD
Drivetrain	Front Wheel Drive	Front Wheel Drive
Maximum towing capacity	5000 pounds	6000 pounds

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Fuel economy

The 2017 Pathfinder may come with slightly more horsepower, but it gets the same fuel economy rating as the previous year’s model. Carrying the same 19.5-gallon fuel tank, both 2016 and 2017 models are rated for an EPA of 20 city/27 highway/23 combined. They aren’t the best numbers—especially when you’ve got the luxury

Lexus RX 450H

clocking in at 30 gallons per gallon—but, hey, you get what you pay for!

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Safety ratings

You’re in safe hands with the Pathfinder and they’ve got the accolades to prove it!

The 2016 Nissan Pathfinder received a five-star

NHTSA safety rating

. With a rollover risk of only 17.4%, its frontal barrier crash ratings are an almost-perfect 4 out of 5 stars, while it scored a perfect 5 stars for its side crash ratings. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also gives the 2016 Pathfinder its stamp of approval with a Good rating.

Then, in just one year, Nissan’s improvements earned the 2017 Pathfinder Platinum a Top Safety Pick award by the IIHS. But one thing: the headlights on all 2017 Pathfinder trims aren’t ideal. They don’t adapt to curving roads and lack high-beam assist, giving them a Marginal to Poor score in the Crash Avoidance and Mitigation category.

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Styling and interior changes

If a drive isn’t complete without a soundtrack, choosing the 2017 Pathfinder is a no-brainer. The 2017 Pathfinder’s biggest changes can be found in its standard tech and connectivity features. What once were optional features on last year’s model now come standard, including Bluetooth, a rearview camera, satellite radio, and a USB port.

Here’s a comparison of the 2016 and 2017 Nissan Pathfinder’s interior features:

	2016 Nissan Pathfinder	2017 Nissan Pathfinder
AM/FM radio	✓	✓
8-inch display touchscreen	Screen controlled by a dial	✓
Six-speaker sound system	✓	✓
Auxiliary audio input jack	✓	✓
Satellite radio	N/A	✓
Voice command recognition	N/A	✓
Bluetooth	Optional	✓
Rearview camera	Optional	✓
USB port	Optional	✓
13-speaker Bose sound system	Optional	Optional
Navigation	Optional	Optional
Blind-spot monitoring	Optional	Optional

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2016 Nissan Pathfinder vs. 2017 Nissan Pathfinder: which should you buy?

A marginal price difference, a more powerful engine, and excellent tech features that come standard? We know you know the answer—the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder is the clear winner. It’s only an extra $410 for the base trim and you get a slew of standard technology features that should’ve been standard to begin with!

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