Compare the2025 Mazda CX-90VS 2025 Nissan Pathfinder

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

Safety

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The CX-90 Premium has a standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-90. But it costs extra on the Pathfinder.

Both the CX-90 and Pathfinder have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S 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 CX-90 and the Pathfinder have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mazda CX-90 is safer than the Nissan Pathfinder:

	CX-90	Pathfinder
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	116	150
Neck Stress	318 lbs.	348 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	255	312
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	42.3%	45.1%
Neck Stress	96 lbs.	216 lbs.
Neck Compression	83 lbs.	93 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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mazda CX-90 is safer than the Nissan Pathfinder:

	CX-90	Pathfinder
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	31 G’s	37 G’s

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-90 is safer than the Pathfinder:

	CX-90	Pathfinder
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	104	125
Neck Tension	45 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.28 in	.63 in
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	156 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	513 lbs.	1160 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	18	65
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.39 in	.55 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	178 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 6 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The CX-90 has more powerful engines than the Pathfinder:

	Horsepower	Torque
CX-90 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	280 HP	332 lbs.-ft.
CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	323 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
CX-90 Turbo S 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	340 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
Pathfinder 3.5 DOHC V6	284 HP	259 lbs.-ft.
Pathfinder Rock Creek 3.5 DOHC V6	295 HP	270 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine):

	CX-90	Pathfinder
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	7.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.8 MPH	92.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-90 running on electricity gets better mileage than the Pathfinder:

			MPGe
CX-90
	AWD	PHEV Electric Motor	53 city/61 hwy
Pathfinder
			MPG
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	21 city/27 hwy
		Platinum 3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/25 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/23 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the CX-90 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Pathfinder:

			MPG
CX-90
	AWD	3.3 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/28 hwy
		Turbo S 3.3 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/28 hwy
		2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/27 hwy
Pathfinder
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	21 city/27 hwy
		Platinum 3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/25 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/23 hwy

The CX-90 PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The Pathfinder can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the CX-90’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The CX-90 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pathfinder (19.6 vs. 18.5 gallons).

The CX-90 has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port which lock and unlock with the power locks. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a locking fuel filler door. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda CX-90 higher (5 to 6 out of 10) than the Nissan Pathfinder (4). This means the CX-90 produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Pathfinder every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-90 stops much shorter than the Pathfinder:

	CX-90	Pathfinder
70 to 0 MPH	166 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-90 has larger standard tires than the Pathfinder (265/55R19 vs. 255/60R18). The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pathfinder (275/45R21 vs. 255/60R18).

The CX-90’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pathfinder’s standard 60 series tires. The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Pathfinder’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-90 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Pathfinder. The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Pathfinder.

Suspension and Handling

The CX-90 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Pathfinder’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-90’s wheelbase is 8.6 inches longer than on the Pathfinder (122.8 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The CX-90’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.7% to 48.3%) than the Pathfinder’s (55.5% to 44.5%). This gives the CX-90 more stable handling and braking.

The CX-90 Premium Plus handles at .85 G’s, while the Pathfinder SL pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-90 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Pathfinder Platinum (26.9 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-90’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Pathfinder’s (38.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-90 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Pathfinder (8 vs. 7.1 inches), allowing the CX-90 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-90 PHEV Premium/Turbo S’ minimum ground clearance is .4 inch higher than on the Pathfinder Rock Creek (8.1 vs. 7.7 inches).

Passenger Space

The CX-90 has 3.9 inches more rear legroom and 2.4 inches more third row legroom than the Pathfinder.

Servicing Ease

The CX-90 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.

The engine in the CX-90 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Pathfinder. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The CX-90’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Pathfinder’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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 CX-90’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Pathfinder’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-90 Turbo S has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The CX-90’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 CX-90’s optional 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 CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S has standard front air conditioned seats and the CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

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